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Old 09-30-2022, 08:37 AM   #1
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Tire cover questions

I've heard that the covers extend the life of the tires by reducing UV damage. Does anyone have info/experience on...

1) Best set of tire covers for a skoolie

2) What material is used for anyone that wants to make their own covers

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Old 09-30-2022, 10:33 AM   #2
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Interesting timing... Lacroix Cuiser (one of my favorite Youtube channels) just put out a video this morning about tire safety. In it, Yvan says that oxidation causes tires to break down, not UV exposure. That's news to me, as I have also been looking at tire covers thinking that UV was the main problem.

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Old 09-30-2022, 10:36 AM   #3
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I have heard the same. After paying several hundred per tire, I bought covers for my front tires which are exposed where I park under a carport. They are inexpensive online, though you get what you pay for. If I made my own, I'd use Sunbrella, an exterior fabric used on boats.
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Old 09-30-2022, 10:46 AM   #4
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As I think about making tire covers, I am first thinking about what other goals would be important or helpful to include in the design (construction, not aesthetic). I believe that it will help narrow down the choices and design options.

First goal is to keep UV off the tires. This could simply be a curtain or panel that attaches under the body, Or they could be form fitting covers that attach to the tire.

How they attach should be considered. You do not want to make yourself a pain.

As should how they: will fold up, where they will be stored, and how.

They could be made of anything that will hold up outside in the sun. I have seen them made out of car cover material, but they could also be made of 6 mil black plastic, reflectics (sun shade material, or Mylar.

Myself, I am getting stuck thinking about how to attach them so that I won’t have to get under the bus to secure them. They need to be secure enough so that big winds will not blow them off or make a ton of racket whipping them around!

I think that there are some creative opportunities in wheel covers, but I will probably stick to chemical UV protectants.
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Old 09-30-2022, 10:51 AM   #5
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Sonbrella is a great choice!

It is very durable.

Watch out if you use awning grade, as it is super stiff and will show where it is folded.
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Old 09-30-2022, 11:05 AM   #6
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Here's the covers I just got. Comes 2 covers to a box. I really like them.
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Old 09-30-2022, 11:52 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peterjk View Post
Here's the covers I just got. Comes 2 covers to a box. I really like them.
What company did you go through?
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Old 09-30-2022, 12:04 PM   #8
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After spending quite a lot on six new Yokohama tires a few years ago, I now always use tire covers on the sunny side of the bus; the other side is always in shade. I use Adco 3976 Ultra Tyre Gard covers in the OS (43”- 45” diameter) size, and they fit my 12R22.5" tires perfectly. I don't use the supplied Bungie-and-ball retention straps, but they don't blow off in the wind (so far...). And just in case anyone's asking, yes, I did drive the bus a few feet one time before I realized the covers were still on, but they weren't damaged; I now keep the Adco box on the dash gauge cluster to remind me that they're on. As the follicly-challenged denizen of Springfield would say, D'oh!

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Old 09-30-2022, 12:15 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peterjk View Post
Here's the covers I just got. Comes 2 covers to a box. I really like them.
Ha ha, I'm glad I checked out your link, because it make me realize I was mixing up radius and diameter when shopping for these things. My tires are 10R22.5s so I had a set of 23" diameter covers in my shopping cart, which only would have been useful for covering my fool head if I had actually ordered them.
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Old 09-30-2022, 12:59 PM   #10
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Quote:
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What company did you go through?
Click the hyperlink in my post.
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Old 09-30-2022, 02:10 PM   #11
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DIY tire covers

Sewing machine that can do heavy stuff. And. The seat covers from the seats.

Takes a lot of effort. I think vinyl covers for the windows could be made out of the vinyl.

William
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Old 09-30-2022, 03:04 PM   #12
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Dang! I already junked most of the seats
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Old 09-30-2022, 08:17 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Deadbolt0804 View Post
Dang! I already junked most of the seats
I would think that you would want the fabric to "breath"
Nothing good would come from trapping all that moisture...

but, I've been wrong before....at least I think I was wrong, sometime ago hmmmmmm
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Old 10-01-2022, 12:51 AM   #14
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If you're making your own, there's no reason why they have to be attached to the tire. You could make covers that attach to the wheelwell, perhaps with snaps or something. This would give some airspace between the tire and the cover.
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Old 10-01-2022, 06:21 AM   #15
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Plywood works well. My neighbor painted wheels on his.

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Old 10-05-2022, 03:12 PM   #16
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I have two different pairs:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...0?ie=UTF8&th=1

The first set are a bit nicer but the second are dirt cheap if you buy used. 5 years in the sun with both sets, no real complaints.
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Old 10-05-2022, 05:37 PM   #17
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It is most likely I will wear out my tires before they age out, based on current useage.


As for the air not sun I have to disagree, tires that have a lot of sun on them crack on the sunny side not the inside where they do not get sun. Just a personal observation. I am lucky enough to be parked in shade at home, so not to worried about it. I do think tire covers are a good idea for those parked in the sun.


Sunbrella is a good choice, my wife has made boat covers with it. I seem to recall that it should be cut with a hot knife rather then scissors.
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