Spare Tire Covers: Personalize and Protect Your Spare

DIY

Wheels and Tires

Mark Bach

November 04, 2021

Mark Bach

November 04, 2021

There are so many places where you can store your spare tire - opens in new window or tab.. The list of stow-away spots includes under the cargo area, up on the roof, and especially on the tailgate—where a mounted spare becomes part of your car's exterior style.

But wherever it ends up, covering your spare has many benefits. Here’s why you might need or want one.

A cute and colorful pit bull dressed up this spare tire cover for the Jeep Wrangler.

Personalization: The number one reason to add a spare tire cover is to add a little flair to your ride. You can show off a logo of your favorite car brand, sports team, pastime, or pet. It lets the world know who you are.

A decorative spare tire cover can complement other branded car accessories, such as floor mats - opens in new window or tab. and seat covers - opens in new window or tab..

UV Protection: Leaving a tire exposed to sunlight allows UV rays to degrade the rubber compounds - opens in new window or tab.. It speeds up the inevitable aging process. On the other hand, a heavy-duty tire cover can block the sun's harmful UV rays and thereby extend the tire's life. A cover also keeps moisture from collecting on the rim, thereby preventing rust - opens in new window or tab..

Before and after. Which has a cleaner look?

Security: An exposed tire can attract the attention of a thief. Meanwhile, covering that tire makes it harder for a bad guy knowing what you’re carrying. Covers also make it difficult for thieves to size up locks or security cables - opens in new window or tab. protecting the spare tire.

Hide an Ugly Wheel: When you upgrade their rims, you might want to save money by avoiding the cost of a fancy fifth wheel. But do you want to leave an “orphan” rim visible to the world? A spare tire cover is an easy and cost-effective solution.

Shop now for a spare tire cover - opens in new window or tab.

Spare Tire Cover Types

Spare tire covers come in three standard designs (and material). Before you purchase any of these varieties, it's important to measure the tire size—especially the wheel width—to confirm a good fit.

Soft Vinyl or Cloth

Vinyl spare tire covers comes in many different styles. This one depicts an Aztec calendar.

A vinyl or cloth cover is usually sealed with heavy-duty elastic or a drawstring. Slip the cover over the spare tire, and center it so the hem holds the tire in place. Depending on weather conditions, you can expect a soft cover to last for at least three years.

We recommend that you wipe it down occasionally with an all-purpose cleaner—and apply a vinyl protectant - opens in new window or tab. to ensure long life.

Hard Cover for the Perimeter

The perimeter design often comes with a lock.

Another option is to enclose the perimeter of the tire with a metal band. A hard fiberglass disk is placed over the tire and is held in place by the metal band. These bands are usually secured with a small padlock for extra security.

The style is often found on recreational vehicles. You can clean these hard spare tire covers as part of your regular washing routine. A variation is to attach the rigid fiberglass to a vinyl fabric around the tire’s perimeter.

One-Piece Fiberglass

A deluxe carbon-fiber spare tire cover for the Mercedes G Wagon.

A third option is to install a single fiberglass cover. These spare tire covers are usually not offered with any logos or personalization—but you could design and add your own art. The rigid fiberglass helps to reinforce the rugged looks of many SUVs. A snazzy upgrade is to get a spare tire cover made of carbon fiber to match similar trim.

Regardless of which spare tire cover you choose, don’t forget to check the spare tire’s pressure every few months.

About the author

Mark Bach

Mark C. Bach has oil in his veins and remembers feeler gauges and brake springs. He has a love for all things that move, especially old-school muscle cars. Bach writes for a variety of outlets, including Chevy Classics and FuelCurve.com, and maintains Route66pubco.com.

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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.