Rear mounted spare: To cover or not to cover?

[Palko Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Palko]

Recently had some 'crazy' run up the back of my pride and joy. Anyway, while the insurance assessor was checking her out, he made the comment that most of his bush accident assessments were the result of weakened spare wheel tyres mounted on the back and not protected from UVs. He reckons that within 12 months the tyres are buggered and will blow out once on the vehicle. He advised me to put a cover on my 'now' new rear tyre. The standard hard cover is fine but not for going bush. Try putting the hard cover back on when the flat is all outta shape.

[Chuck Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chuck]

I always put my spare into the tyre rotation so it is not a problem.

[kenwahoo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kenwahoo]

Came across this article in www.rvamerica.com/rvlife/buz2.htm discussing the effects of ozone & uv on tyres. According to this expert we should all be covering unused tyres. Now I've got a good excuse to go get a decent one. :lol:

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

Re: Rear mounted spare: To cover or not to cover?

Try putting the hard cover back on when the flat is all outta shape.

That reminds me of a story the salesman told me when we were going through the pre-delivery inspection.

He had a customer who's Prado was full to the brim with camping gear etc, when he had a flat. Finding that he couldn't fit the cover over the flat, and nowhere to store his cover, he left it 'secretly' stashed on the side of the road. When he went back to collect it, it was gone! That turned out to be a very expensive tire repair.

I must remember to remove my cover when the car is full.

LFaR.

[waltec Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close waltec]

I occassionally do some work in our Darwin office. The last time I was there, the GM made the camera man go to the local tyre dealer and buy a cover for the spare in the back of the campany Patrol. He has lived in Darwin for many years, and he said he know of quite a few 4x4s that have used the spare only to have it fail not long after, due to the tyre not being covered. He also told me that there had been a few occassions where the spare had exploded whilst being on the back of the car.

He said that covers even soft ones seem to stop it happening.

Of course it is worse in Darwin due to the higher temps and probably more UV but a tyre cover sounds like cheap insurance to me.

Matt

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

I'm with you Trojan, This has to be a bit of an urban myth.......surely the same amout of exposure to the tyres on the ground as on the back?

[waltec Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close waltec]

the 4 tyres are shaded to a degree by the car, where as the spare always has the one part facing up, unshaded. The soft covers are cheap insurance either way!!

Matt

[Strahan Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Strahan]

umm if two of the tyres are in the sun then the other two are in the shade :shock:

I'm with the urban myth camp. All the tyres get the same amounts of uv.
Maybe its just coz I can't get the tyre cover over my Bf Goodies.

[kenwahoo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kenwahoo]

Re: Rear mounted spare: To cover or not to cover?

Not sure whether ought to cover or not but found a plain soft cover for $20 in one of the auto shops. As you generally get what you pay for and I prefer the look of a hard cover I started to look for one. After patiently waiting the better of this year someone finally advertised one for my Dec 1996 Prado & I got for $50. Didn't come with a key so now got to get one from a locksmith but that should be about $10. Bargain!! Thinking about cutting a hole in it so that I don't have to take cover off to fill air. Will need to get a cap to seal hole, mmmmm. I guess Toyota expects owners not to need to check the air in the spare.

ken

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Rear mounted spare: To cover or not to cover?

IMHO this is just a matter of cosmetics. You either prefer the look of a cover (soft or hard) or you don't. Personally, I can't see the point of a cover. A tyre is a tyre; it is designed to be exposed to harsh elements and the sun. 8)

[Malcur Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Malcur]

Re: Rear mounted spare: To cover or not to cover?

I'm also in the urban myth camp. I bought my Prado 2nd hand in Jan, it had BFG spare with 4 x Wranglers on the road (& no spare wheel cover). In July I swapped the 4 Wranglers for 4 more BFGs to match the spare and in Oct started a 5 wheel rotation. So far the spare has lasted fine. I will continue a 5 wheel rotation every 10k so don't foresee a problem. I prefer the look of the uncovered spare as well.

Mal

[Leethal Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Leethal]

Re: Rear mounted spare: To cover or not to cover?

I think that tyres do deteriorate from the sun and old age otherwise why would we be concerned if the new tyres we are buying are old stock or not ?

If like many of us in this forum you rotate your tyres therefore wearing them out equally then deterioration probably won't be an issue.

BUT if your spare never hits the road (or track) and lives forever on the back while the road tyres are replaced possibly more than once then the poor old spare will have issues!

Like so many topics raised here the correct answer varies on how you use your Prado

Yes I have a hard cover, it came with the Prado when I bought it.
Yes I take it off before heading off the beaten track and my tyres get rotated .

just my humble opinion

Lee

[Taresk Member Find all posts View Profile Close Taresk]

Re: Rear mounted spare: To cover or not to cover?

This doesn't help those of us with 33" tyres, covers don't come that big. Unless of course you get a vinyl one custom made (which I've been considering)

[big al Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close big al]

Re: Rear mounted spare: To cover or not to cover?

Bigest urban myth ever,in fact agood one for the myth busters.Why is this problem only relevent to prado tyres?Why not trailor,tractor,caravan or the like,tyres are known to be on the rims of these for up to twenty years uncovered.This is why myths are called myths.It was most likely born through people with under inflated cheap spares in harsh conditions. :wink:

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Rear mounted spare: To cover or not to cover?

This doesn't help those of us with 33" tyres, covers don't come that big. Unless of course you get a vinyl one custom made (which I've been considering)

ExplorOz have one that suits... 33" tyre = about 840mm.. this one fits 820-870mm tyres:

Tyre cover @ Exploroz

Mick