Spare tire covers: You’ve seen them everywhere on the backs of Jeeps and SUVs, but maybe you’ve been hesitant about getting one for your own 4x4. In this article, we’ll look at four great benefits spare tire covers provide. We’ve got soft vinyl tire covers that represent great value, and hard shell covers made of durable ABS plastic that offer high style.
If you park in the same spot regularly, the sun hits your vehicle at the exact same angle all day, every day. While ultraviolet rays have minimal effect on the 4 wheels and tires on the ground, they can cause damage to spare tires and wheels. Unlike other wheels, tailgate-mounted spares don’t rotate – so they get “sunburned” in the same spots.
Atmospheric ozone reacts with rubber in automotive tires, causing them to dry up and become brittle. This is known as “dry rot”, and cracks that appear as a result of this aren’t repairable. To prevent this, tire manufacturers blend waxes into the rubber to block ozone degradation. However, these waxes must regularly be brought to the surface of the tire in order to be effective. Because this process happens only when a tire rotates and flexes against the ground, a stationary spare tire is deprived of this much-needed protection.
Wheels can suffer too. Whether painted, polished, or chromed, the sunlight can bleach and degrade the finish. No matter which color your wheel is, uneven discoloration can occur after prolonged sun exposure - especially if that exposure is partial or angled rather than direct.
According to police who specialize in burglary and auto theft, the simple act of concealing a valuable item equates to more than half the battle of theft prevention. With modern vehicles being harder to break into and steal, thieves look for easier targets such as tailgate-mounted spare tires. Unlike wheels on the ground, spares can be unbolted and removed in less than a minute.
Because many spares have never touched the road, the rim and tire tend to be free of curb rashes, pothole bends, stone hits, and corrosive salt damage. So it’s easy to see why spares make preferable targets.
By concealing your valuable spare with a cover, you greatly reduce the odds of it being noticed in a parking lot, parking garage, or anywhere. Additionally, many of our hard shell spare tire covers offer the option of a cable lock kit, which secures the cover to the spare wheel. Add in extra time and difficulty required to cut a locked cover loose, and a thief will pass in favor of something easier. You won’t have to worry about your cover disappearing either.