Do RV Tire Covers Really Matter?
Your RV tires keep you rolling down the road safely, so it’s important to keep them in good shape. A little preventive maintenance will not only help you avoid RV tire blowouts but it will prolong the life of your tires as well.
Many RVers use tire covers when they’re parked longer than a few days, or when the RV is sitting in storage, to help keep their tires in good condition. But RVers have debated for years: do these tire covers really make a difference? They are designed to protect your expensive tires from the elements, however, some say they are not worth the money or the hassle.
What are the benefits of covering your RV tires?
RV tire covers like these will help protect your RV tires from sun damage. Over time, UV light can cause fine cracks in the sidewall, leading to slow leaks or even tire failure.
Tire covers also keep out moisture from rain or snow, and they’ll keep rust and dirt from collecting in the wheels and rims. Tire covers may additionally protect against oxidation, which causes premature drying and cracking in the tires.
More ways to protect your RV tires from UV damage
Some RVers don’t bother with tire covers as there are other ways to protect them from sun damage. The great part about these alternatives is that you won’t need to worry about storing the bulky tire covers.
- Spray your tires with 303. You can also spray your tires with 303 Aerospace Protectant for sun protection. The spray can be used on any vinyl, plastic, or rubber surfaces including RV slideouts. It protects from UV light and helps prevent cracking and fading.
- Keep your RV stored in an RV carport. If your RV will be sitting in storage for a while, consider keeping it in an enclosed RV carport. They provide much better protection for the entire RV in all types of weather conditions.
What Kind of RV Tire Protectors Should You Get?
So, do you really need to use tire covers? It depends. If your RV is stored outside, or you have a stationary RV, it may be worth the $30-40 for that extra protection. Considering how expensive RV tires are, the cost of RV tire covers is a great investment. However, if you are on the move often, you may not find much use for tire covers unless you’re parked for a few days or longer at a time.
“The protection wheel covers give very much depends on your RVing style,” Says iRV2 member Wryly Blithe. “If you spend most of your time parked somewhere, wheel covers will give you a great deal of protection against UV damage. On the other hand, if you spend most of your time on the road then the few days here and there you can actually use the wheel covers isn’t going to offer much protection in the long run.”
A variety of RV tire covers can be purchased online and in stores. Some RVers will even match the tire covers to the exterior color and graphics on their motorhome. There are also RV tire covers available that have a universal fit depending on the tire diameter.
Explore Land makes a set of durable tire covers that can fit on any truck, SUV, trailer, or motorhome. The brand ELUTO also makes a set of waterproof tire covers at about the same price of $29.
Can you make your own DIY tire covers? Yes!
If you’d rather save the money, you could also consider making your own DIY tire covers. They may not look as nice as store-bought covers, but if your RV’s hidden in storage, the appearance may not make a difference.
Pangani Tribe shows how to make a $5 tire cover from a chopped-up tarp in this video:
Save Money, Track your RV tire maintenance
RV tire covers are only the first step to preventative maintenance. You will also want to regularly clean and inspect them for damage, monitor the tire pressure, and replace old tires every 3-6 years.
The best way to keep track of all your maintenance is with an online tool such as RV LIFE Maintenance. Not only can you keep all your maintenance records and documents in one place, you’ll receive timely reminders via email when maintenance is due and potentially avoid a costly repair or serious accident. Learn more on MaintainMyRV.com.
We winter in AZ and our fifth wheel has slides on both sides that cover and shadow the tires. I don’t use covers but I like the idea of the homemade tire coves and will keep that in mind if and when I do need them. I do park the unit on rubber garden stepping stones purchased at big name hardware stores to keep the tires from loosing any oils in the rubber.
I was told the makers of 303 protectant would not provide testing documentation to prove 303 protectant, protects RV tires. Goodyear recommends to just use soap and water to clean the tires. Goodyear in their Endurance RV tires if I read right indicates you don’t have to cover their tires. They also indicate their tires are good for six years unless they wear out from milage.
How about using black plastic yard bags?
Not sure about the phrase “THE COST” Tire covers will last a lot longer than that Harbor Freight crap tarp, but whatever!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hear all kinds of terms, will last longer, save money, reduces ozone damage, etc
But give me specifics, will my tires last 50% or 5% longer, please.
That will only bake them
We are advised to buy new tires every six years. If replacing tires every six years, it seems unnecessary to cover them as doubtful truck tire sidewalls are going to deteriorate that quickly. Maybe load range B tires on light weight trailers would benefit from covering over their six-year life, yet a load rang E to H tire, that can even be retreaded, covering certainly seems like a lot of effort and expense for little gain.
Tire Covers definitely will help preserve your tires,but will give longer life wear of tires. You also have made Sun screen matrial that snap on to side of your unit that protects your tires they don’t touch tires. Looks nice. Semper fi
Another example of big manufacturers not putting their thinking caps on and addressing outside issues such as this. They love slides. How hard would a mechanical outer wheel well slide be?
My experience with tire covers..On my 5th wheel. I always covered the tires.. the tires cracked and showed signs of failure on the inside sidewall and cracks along the bead of the tire.. that would have caused tire failure if I continued to operate with there tires.. they were high end g rated tires..ultimately the covers were a waste of time and I highly recommend a 5 year replacement plan no matter how well you care for the tires..
Michelin representative at a FMCA rally a few years ago stated tire should be replaced every 8 years no matter what. Dont know were 5 yrs recommendation came from so can’t speak to that.
BTW little things like that can often be a big selling point.
Good article but leaves out one very important point: Covers or not, tire replacement is necessary after about 5 years regardless of road miles on tires.
Present day tires have UV protection manufactured in the tire. I use tire covers when my RV is in storage… can’t hurt.
We talked to our tire folks (Discount Tire) and they advised that it is NOT UV but OZONE that attacks the tires and that the binding agents (glues) that hold the layers together that break down, invisibly weakening the structural integrity. THAT is why reputable tire companies will not touch a tire over ten years old. There was a massive lawsuit many years ago with Sears where “they” added air to a perfectly good looking tire which self destructed later and Sears was held liable because “everyone” knew the tire was an accident waiting to happen. We stopped by Discount to get air check and was advised that tires were within months of their time limit. Tires looked like new ( mostly parked, high end Michelin truck/4×4, which our van was) and figured it was a scam. Took off and 200 miles later, right rear tire failed catastrophically and we rolled our Class B at 65 mph on Interstate. Had just stopped for lunch 50 miles earlier and done a regular walk and touch tire check. Have I previously driven longer times; YES. But never again. PLEASE check your tire date code and write it down somewhere.
I have suffered two blowouts at highway speeds both caused by cracked sidewalls. First was on Donners Pass east bound into Reno. Right rear inside dual tire blew out the sidewalls. Made it into the city limping and bumping along.
Second time was on I-40 east bound near Nashville, right front blew out which resulted in a 5 hour roadside emergency repair. Both times it caused me to replace at least 2 ties at over $1000. It could have been avoided had I paid more attention. Tire safety is life safety…..and can be very expensive if ignored.
Whenever we go into storage I cover mine. I had Maxxis installed on our last 5th wheel after our short break-in trip. At roughly $800 for set of five the five minutes it take to put on the cover seems like good insurance. To me well worth the effort.
And I don’t consider them bulky at all…
I had a rear inner tire on my 36′ rig blow out at 65 MPH and it sounded like a cannon went off! It took out my entire mud flap assembly, metal cover over propane feed lines and a big hunk of my storage compartment. Bought the used rig from a dealer a few months earlier and was on return trip to Kentucky back to Arizona. Had the tires checked over before returning home due to a slow leak and the Goodyear tires really good but I was un aware of the actual age or mileage on the tires. I would suggest that you always protect your tires by keeping them covered, proper air pressure checked always replace them regularly. Its costly but so is the damage and the accident that could occur! I’m still nervous on trips three years later and it was quite scary!
That exact example you describe is exactly why I replace my tires every 3 years, not 5. For my travel trailer, the $600 it costs me to replace the 4 tires at the conclusion of the 3rd year is short-money considering the massive cost associated with a blow-out. If the tire shreds and damages the underside of the RV, breaks, wiring, fender, etc, along with the potential roll-over you describe, the $1200 you will spend over a 9-year period is the best insurance you can buy.
we bought a rv 1st thing I did put new tires on. 5 year is plenty long enough fomer trucker a blowout is never fun.
That exact example you describe is exactly why I replace my tires every 3 years, not 5. For my travel trailer, the $600 it costs me to replace the 4 tires at the conclusion of the 3rd year is short-money considering the massive cost associated with a blow-out. If the tire shreds and damages the underside of the RV, breaks, wiring, fender, etc, along with the potential roll-over you describe, the $1200 you will spend over a 9-year period is the best insurance you can buy.
A good tire, properly maintained should last much longer than 3 years. I agree with 6 – 7 years. A good tire will, in fact, last longer than that. It’s just not worth taking the chance.
Replace your tires every 3 years – cheap insurance!
I have tire covers, but rarely use them. I have high-end 19.5″ wheels and use the waterproof tire covers to keep the RV park sprinklers from adding water spots. I always replace my tires when they are due to be replaced no matter what.
This reminds me of putting a cover on our gas grill one autumn to protect it from winter weather. Expert advice says the grill covers help prevent rust and corrosion. However, by spring, the grill’s gas burners and supply lines were rusted so bad we had to replace them. We live within 1000 feet or so of Puget Sound, classified a marine environment. I suspect that covers on steel wheels in certain climates might have the same consequences.
I met Bob from the 303 company circa 2002 at an RV rally and learned the value of the tire and decal protection you get from the use of 303 spray. I gave my tire covers away and have protected our RV’s tires and decal trim ever since. Absolute protection.. We have been full timers since 1994 and on our 6th Motorhome. .
I don’t find tire covers effective. I recently replaced my 5 year old tires. I found that the inside side walls were severely cracked on the side wall and tire bead areas.. the tires were ready to fail and a cover would have not helped the inside areas.. only the outer sides..
You should be replacing your tires at 5 years anyway. The Sun will not cause damage in that period of time. Do you put tire covers on your tow vehicle or car?