Are spare tire covers necessary

Are Spare Tire Covers Necessary?

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If for nothing, spare tire covers add beauty and appeal to your vehicle. A very important fact about these spare tire covers is that they are mostly universal, which means that one spare tire cover can serve many tires even when they are of different sizes.

Apart from this aesthetic function, do these covers have any other function or role they play in the use of spare tires? This article will make every effort to find out what really is the use of spare tire covers apart from just adding beauty to the cars.

Are Spare Tire Covers Necessary? Yes, spare tire covers are actually very necessary since they contribute much more than just beauty to both the tire and the vehicle.

To start with, your spare tire will definitely get exposed to the harsh rays of the sun without any sort of protection.

You should also know that any prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays will cause premature tire cracking in the sidewall,   as well as the weakening of its rubber fabric too.

This excessive exposure to sun rays makes your spare tire less structurally sound for regular uses.

Can you drive without a tire cover?

Certainly, one can drive without spare tire covers. To make matters very clear, spare tire covers are at best serving mainly aesthetic functions in tires.

They usually cover the lug nuts and the rims while at the same time equally protecting them from dust particles and any damage. Though using a car without any spare tire covers gives it a minus look really. That is what we mean by aesthetics.(Read Also: Will Mercedes Wheels Fit Audi?Find Out Here!)

Are black tire covers okay?

Indeed, black tire covers are okay for all intents and purposes. For instance, the dark coloured tire covers that completely wrap around them have been judged as the best of them all.

It is common knowledge that the sun can burn most things up with time and destroy their material compositions.

This has been the cause for the damage of garments, roofing sheets, vehicle exteriors, painted buildings, and in fact, pretty much anything that is in constant contact with the sun will eventually be eaten up by it. As a result of the destructive effects of the sun, you are highly advised to cover your tires.

Should I cover a spare tire?

Yes, you should please endeavour to cover a spare tire. First, by covering your spare tires, you are essentially protecting them from dust particles and any wilful damage as well.

Furthermore, if your spare tires are constantly exposed to the rays of the sun, it is just a matter of time before they will eventually get fully degraded by sun rays. To prevent this degradation from happening, you should always cover your tires.

There is still another important reason why many people use spare tire covers, which is the additional beauty it confers on your truck or car. If your truck does not spot these tire covers, it is really a minus in its looks.

How are tire covers measured?

Unless you know the correct size of your tire, it is not possible to buy a tire cover for it.  If you must know how to get your correct tire size, there are basic necessary steps you must take to find out. First, measure the distance from the ground to the top of the tire.

Take for example a tire in whose notation there are three last numbers as 175. These last three numbers simply refer to the width of the tire. If these numbers were to be 4.83 for instance, it will again mean that the tires are 4.83 meters wide.

The next two digits following the width give you what is generally known as the aspect ratio. If the value of these numbers is given as 80, for instance, it will also mean that you will take 80 per cent of the section width.

For example, on a tire with notations ST/175/80-R-16, you would take 80 per cent of 175, which is roughly about 140 mm. Next, convert this value to inches and multiply the result by 140. It will amount to about 5.526 inches.

Note that the last two numbers are the wheel diameter. Essentially, therefore, for a tire labelled as ST 175/ 80/ R-16, you will have to multiply the aspect ratio of 5.526 ×2, which would give you about 11.052. Add this value to the 16-inch wheel diameter and your height would be 27.052.

Do tire covers prevent dry rot?

Yes, tire covers actually prevent dry rot, especially very dark covers. They are able to do this by reducing the exposure of the spare tires to the mercy of the drying and bleaching actions of the sun on the materials of the tire.

Over time, if this exposure continues, your tire is bound to be intrinsically degraded such that its rubber integrity is essentially lost. The darker the tire cover, the more effective is its ability to provide this needed shield for the tire. So, yes, tire covers prevent dry rust.

How do you keep tires from dry rotting?

It is easy to keep tires or protect them from dry rotting when you prevent the access of sun rays from getting or falling directly onto the materials of the tire.

The more effectively you do this, the more protection you are giving your tires. It is for this reason that black tire covers are most preferred to any others because they give more efficient protection than other covers do.

The sun is able to degrade the materials of any substance over time. Conversely, when you protect the rays from falling directly onto the object, you are basically forcing the rays to fall on the cover instead, which will in turn become degraded. That’s the basic idea.

What size tire cover do I need for a 14-inch tire?

There are various types of tire cover brands from different manufacturers that will give adequate cover to your 14-inch tires. Most notably, all 14-inch tires usually have diameters of between 26  and 27 inches.

So, you could use any cover such as #CE 27430 for black or #952963751307 for white. There are other options available too. If you want to know more, check Amazon for them. Some of the commonest 14-inch tire covers are:

(1). Yanking Spare Tire Cover, Universal Fit for Jeep, Trailer, RV, SUV, Truck, Black Water Proof Soft PVC Tire Covers.

(2). Moonet Tire Covers for RV Wheels.

(3). SDJGNSSDF Spare Tire Cover Life is Good Wheel Covers.

(4). Joytus Tire Covers.

(5). Loebuk Happy Camper Spare Tire Cover Protector.

How long do wheel covers last?

All things being equal, tire covers can last for as long as between 10 to 15 years. It should however be noted that your tire covers also last longer depending on how you use them too. During washing, make use of only recommended washing chemical agents and rinse thoroughly before drying.

The covers are primarily meant to stand between the tire and sun rays. However, they too can be spared by parking the vehicle as much as possible away from sun rays.

In this way, you are protecting both the spare tires as well as the covers too. Doing this will make them last much longer than most other covers used carelessly in comparison.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Can I put any hubcaps on my car?

Yes, you can install hubcaps on your car if you wish. Installing hubcaps and wheel covers on your car, it will instantly change it.

These accessories can be installed without the need for any tools whatsoever. However, in some instances, you may have to remove the lug nuts from your wheel before you can do it well.

Are tire covers universal?

Yes, for the most part, they are. This is because they are able to cover a very wide range of spare tires in everyday uses, regardless of their sizes. Some common universal tire covers are Trailer RV Censiher Spare Wheel Tire Cover, Aebistry Tire Covers for RV, GRAET peopled Dust Proof Wheel Tire Cover, among many others.

What are some of the ways to protect your tires from premature degradation

It is only logical to understand the fact that tires, by the nature of the uses to which they are put, are bound to suffer premature wear and tear if they are not treated carefully. Though this is true, how fast they depreciate is a factor that is dependent on several things also.

One, if you drive carefully and within the permitted speed limits by law, as well as avoid hitting obstacles as may be found on the roads, you are saving your tires, by so doing, from early wear and tear,  and also the tendency to get a blowout.

Two, it is customary to clean vehicle tires every so often. Whenever it is time to clean your tires, use only the recommended cleaning agents according to the manufacturers. On the issue of using tire shiners, use only those recommended safe on your tires according to the experts or the manufacturers. Three, never drive on deflated tires.

If you do this, you are basically increasing the rate of wear in the tires. Similarly, keep your tires pressurized within the specified range. In other words, neither underinflate nor over deflate your tires, which means that you should always keep them within the recommended pressure values.

On the issue of parking your vehicle, make sure that, as much as it is realistically possible, park your vehicle in a shaded or covered area and not in glaring sun rays. Doing this will also safeguard and protect your tires too.

Conduct regular visual inspection of your tires, especially after any long journey. In this way, you are likely to detect any early signs or symptoms of tire trouble. This identification will enable you to take countermeasures before the complaint worsens.

Traditionally, tires are known to lose a certain PSI( per square inch) every thirty days. It is for this reason that you should always check up on your tire pressures and top them up to give them the protection they deserve.

Most modern vehicles are equipped with what is called the TPMS( tire pressure monitoring system), equipment that constantly keeps a close tab on your vehicle tires and promptly alerts you of any development that may need your attention.

How we apply the brakes also matters a lot in how long our tires actually last. For instance, if you are fond of applying the brakes arbitrarily and more often than is usually necessary, as well as over pressing on the brake pedal, even when doing so is not really necessary.

There is a good chance that your tires won’t last as long as they should. Drive carefully and within legal limits, which will enable you to comfortably apply the brakes in a way that will not constitute any tire threat to your tires.

All things being equal, if you adhere strictly to these pieces of advice by driving carefully and treating your car well, there is the chance that you will have as few complaints as possible.

Are Spare Tire Covers Necessary – Conclusion

Covering your tires with a spare tire cover protects them from the devastating effects of sun rays, and so does parking it in shaded areas or covered garages too. These are some of the ways to protect your tires from what is commonly called dry rotting.

The use of hub caps on tires also helps to protect them from dust particles and any wilful damage by either the weather or vandals.

Never carry any cargo in your vehicle in excess of that which is beyond the specified load-carrying capacity of your tires. If you do this, either deliberately or otherwise, you are essentially inviting trouble for yourself and the vehicle too.

So, refrain from it. Finally, whenever you are cleaning your car either at home or a commercial car wash centre, be sure that injurious chemicals are not used on both the car’s bodywork or its tires.

This is one of the commonest ways through which you can get your car destroyed prematurely. As a result, make sure that only recommended chemicals and cleaning agents are used at all times.

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