UV damage to tire led to custom wheel cover

[Kendal]

Any you guys had this problem?

I had to get a spare tire cover for my wheel that sits on the back of my 03? H2.

Started to get cracking on spare due to UV damage by Sun. Was going to buy one from the dealer, went to pick it up and saw how poorly it was made, the large dealer advertising and especially for the price of tag of $90 + local tax I decided I needed to rethink my plan.

Was complaining to girlfriend and she said have her mom?s shop make me one anyway I like. Why did I not think of this, as she owns a upholstery shop. Anyway she took a look and a few measurements and in a few days had a demo with this nice H2 inlay in it. She is used to making vantage car interiors and high end custom boat stuff. Said she had about $150 in it. I said scale it back and get it around $100. Anyway, she said she got it down to $120 for this one.

If you like let me know I will see if she wants to do any more, she said she can put most any logo on.

UV resistant material
Mold Resistant material
Nylon reinforced threads
Brass Grommets


Here are a couple of pics.


Cover from the front

http://photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/...ImageUnq=48889

[SUT NEIL]

Sounds great but I cannot open the pictures - windows needs to know what program created them in order to open Please advise. Thanks!

[1Sonterra]

Cannot open.....same problem as above.

[DRTYFN]

PCs bringeth teh suck. So does this down jacket looking cover.

[CO Hummer]

Originally Posted by Kendal

Started to get cracking on spare due to UV damage by Sun.

What? How do you get UV damage on the spare and not the rest of the tires? Do you park in the shade, but your spare tire sticks out in the sun?

[f5fstop]

Actually, there is some truth to this effect.
When a tire is manufactured, additives are included that prevent UV/Ozone damage, one of these additives is a UV protectent wax. When a tire is flexing, it causes an effect called "blooming." This "blooming" causes UV protectent waxes to flex within the tire and migrate to the outer side of the tire, giving UV protection to the tire. If a tire is not flexed, the outer layer of UV protectent burns off, and eventually you will get cracking in the tire.

However, it sure appears to be nothing but an Ad to sell, what I would consider to be an ugly tire cover.

[KenP]

Originally Posted by SUT NEIL

Sounds great but I cannot open the pictures - windows needs to know what program created them in order to open Please advise. Thanks!

Opened fine for me, but there sure are a lot of newbies selling stuff.

[Big Z]

03 OEM cover

[Agriv8r]

me no like

[Kendal]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

Actually, there is some truth to this effect.
When a tire is manufactured, additives are included that prevent UV/Ozone damage, one of these additives is a UV protectent wax. When a tire is flexing, it causes an effect called "blooming." This "blooming" causes UV protectent waxes to flex within the tire and migrate to the outer side of the tire, giving UV protection to the tire. If a tire is not flexed, the outer layer of UV protectent burns off, and eventually you will get cracking in the tire.

However, it sure appears to be nothing but an Ad to sell, what I would consider to be an ugly tire cover.

F5Fstop,

Thanks for the info. on the tire, this is exactly what has happened, the others are fine just the spare. Is there any way to get the UV protection back to the surface of the tire? Or should I just rotate it on the carrier.



Others,

As far as the cover, it was just an offer if you don't like it no problem.

Thanks again!

[DanimalH2]

Is there a nice Tire cover made for the SUT with a license plate holder in the middle?

[Boss Hoss]

Originally Posted by DanimalH2

Is there a nice Tire cover made for the SUT with a license plate holder in the middle?

I cannot imagine the tire cover will be SUT/SUV specific so if you like one on a suv im sure it will fit your sut. I have a one piece fiberglass cover and im sure they can be color matched to whatever color you want.







IMO, it gives an extra bit of class to a brute of a truck:

[DanimalH2]

Originally Posted by Boss Hoss

I cannot imagine the tire cover will be SUT/SUV specific so if you like one on a suv im sure it will fit your sut. I have a one piece fiberglass cover and im sure they can be color matched to whatever color you want.







IMO, it gives an extra bit of class to a brute of a truck:

Thanks....I do not think I want any more class than my ride already has I could have swore I saw a SUT for sale on ebay that had a soft cover that just went around the Tire and left the center open for the license plate grill that is already stock. It velcrode around somehow....I am going to have to look for it because the tire black I seem to get on me every time I open the tailgate is annoying unless I am in Mexico in the sand...then it just doesn't matter....but around town....it sucks.

[Agriv8r]

tire covers for 06 are same

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by Kendal

F5Fstop,

Thanks for the info. on the tire, this is exactly what has happened, the others are fine just the spare. Is there any way to get the UV protection back to the surface of the tire? Or should I just rotate it on the carrier.



Others,

As far as the cover, it was just an offer if you don't like it no problem.

Thanks again!

Best is to keep it covered with some type of cover, or rotate it around the vehicle and drive on it.
Future owner's manuals are supposed to have a notation about spares rotting out and that a spare in an enclosed area such as a trunk, only has a life of 10 years. After that it is not a safe tire to drive on.
Not sure if they will make a note of spares that hang on the back of the vehicle and are subjected to UV and ozone.