Do I really need wheel covers?

So my darling dearest has purchased a 2017 Jayco Flight.
I want this camper to last and useful for us for may summers.

I start weekend trips once a month in early March and end in early December.
We also do a week or two with us and the dog and a few long weekends.
Some of my early spring trip and my late fall trips will be with the trailer fully winterized.

I see some people put wheel covers on their campers and tarps or full wraps.
I will have the trailer out monthly except for January and February...so, do I need to invest in such things?
Our parking area for the trailer is out of direct sunlight between houses than the garage is at the west end of our concrete driveway, so the trailer itself only gets early eastern light on one end and noon sun.

Na, I wouldn't.  I get full afternoon sun on mine, all the way till dusk.  I cover mine throughout the winter, Nov-April,  kinda to keep the sun off the rubber, kinda to keep elements off, hoping the wheels stay looking good longer.

You will get mixed comments about a cover.  First of all, no tarps or wraps, only covers intended for Trailers, they have to breath or you'll have mold.  Again, many don't cover, I do.  Something about keeping the sun off my graphics.  Covering is a pain in the xyz.  Getting out swim noodles, covering sharp corners, ect etc.  (sidenote: make sure you leave refrigerator open when not in use, or it will mold inside)

But, for me, Covering it's worth it.  In the spring, I uncover, and she is pretty darn clean.

It's strictly cosmetic, so suit yourself.

We parked outside for many years, including full sun, and never used tire covers.  We thought it a waste of money.  Some people insist you need them and others insist you shouldn't use them.  Take your pick!

ArdraF

I may have misinterpreted your question. A "wheel cover" is basically a hub cap that covers the entire metal wheel (aka "rim") instead of just the hub. Many tralers don't come with full wheel covers but they are available as options or aftermarket.

But if you are talking about tire covers, the things you drape over the entire wheel and tire to keep the sun off, they may have some value in reducing the amount of ultraviolet light that can shorten tire life to some degree. The amount is debatable and varies widely with usage and environment. I've never found them a benefit, but your mileage may vary.

Wheel covers. especially if they match the RV's color wise. Look real good but are basically a waste of money.  I have seen covered wheels age faster the their in-use fellows.  (Spare tire. Wife's van)

Now I do (or have in the past) Used WHITE wheel covers as projection screens for my holiday scene projectors. but alas. Those aged out and are how crumbles.

I think they are a waste of money and can be a PIA to put on. If you are really concerned, just get a piece of 1/4" plywood and lean it up against the tire. Only do the side which would see the sun.

I do cover my wheels, and have done so for a long time. I do it to keep the tires and wheels clean. And it's not a bad idea, according to the Michelin tire web site on tire care.

AGING, WEATHER CHECKING, AND
OZONE CRACKING
During the pre-trip inspection, be sure to check the
tires for signs of aging, weather checking, and/or ozone
cracking ? these show up as tiny cracks in the rubber
surface on the sidewall of the tire. If the cracks are less
than 1⁄32? deep, the tire is fine to run. Between 1⁄32?
and 2⁄ 32?, the tire is suspect and should be examined by
the Michelin dealer. If the cracks are any deeper than
2⁄ 32?, the tire should be replaced immediately.
Here are a few tips to help you protect the tires from
these common damage conditions:
1) Keep the tires properly inflated.
2) Keep the tires clean.
3) Avoid prolonged exposure to heat, cold, or moisture.
4) Avoid prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays.
5) Cover the tires when the vehicle is not in use.
6) Do not park near electric generators or transformers.
7) Do not store vehicle in an area where welding is being
done or in a garage that has mercury vapor lamps.
LONG TERM STORAGE OF RV TIRES
Unless the RV owner is a full-time RV-er, the vehicle
probably spends some time in long-term storage. But
what the RV owner probably didn?t know is that rubber
tires age when not being used. So, if the owner must store
the RV, a cool, dry, sealed garage is the best bet. Also,
some storage surfaces can cause tires to age faster. That?s
why Michelin recommends placing a barrier (cardboard,
plastic or plywood) between the tire and the storage
surface.
Here are some other steps the RV owner can take to
help reduce the aging effects from long-term storage:
1) Thoroughly clean tires with soap and water before
placing into storage.
2) Cover tires to block direct sunlight and ultraviolet
rays.
3) Store out of a high ozone area.
Note: When a vehicle is stored, tires should be inflated
to the inflation pressure indicated on the sidewall.
Before removing the vehicle from long-term storage,
thoroughly inspect each tire ? this includes sidewalls,
tread area, and pressure. If the tires have lost pressure, be
sure to inflate them to the correct pressure before driving.
PROPER CLEANING OF RV TIRES
Like the rest of the RV, it pays to keep the MICHELIN?
tires clean. Road oil will cause deterioration of the rubber,
and dirt buildup will hold the contaminants next to the tire.
As with the cleaning of any rubber product, proper
cleaning methods must be used to obtain the maximum
years of service from the tires. A soft brush and the
normal mild soap that you would use to clean the RV
may be used. If you use a dressing product to ?protect?
the tires from aging, use extra care and caution. Tire
dressings that contain petroleum products, alcohol,
or silicones will cause deterioration or cracking and
accelerate the aging process.
In many cases, it is not the dressing itself that can be
a problem, but rather the chemical reaction that the
product can have with the antioxidant in the tire. Heat
can add to the negative reaction. When these same
dressing products are used on a passenger car tire that is
replaced every three to four years, it is rare to see a major
problem. However, in most cases, RV tires may last much
longer due to limited annual mileage, and the chemical
reactions have much longer to take place.
TIRE REPAIR
Even the best drivers can drive over a nail, and the best
tires can pick up that nail or screw and go flat. If you pick
up an object that causes a flat with a Michelin?
RV tire, the
repair must be made to the inside of the tire to be repaired
properly. To do this, the tire needs to be demounted and
inspected on the inside of the casing for any other damage
that the object may have caused. See the MICHELIN? truck
tire dealer for the proper repair and damage inspection.
TIRE INSPECTION
The MICHELIN? RV tires should be inspected
thoroughly at least once a year, and any time the owner
drives in rough or rocky terrain, or when the owner is
having their RV serviced. This inspection should include
both sidewalls, the tread area, and the valves, caps, and
any valve extensions. Inspect for nails, cuts, bulges, aging,
or fatigue cracks and weathering or ozone cracking. Also,
check between the duals for objects lodged between
them. See the Michelin dealer at once if anything
unusual is observed.
On a regular basis, rub the palm of your hand across the
face of the tread on your front tires to feel for any feathered
wear from ?toe? alignment problems. NOTE: Be careful
since severe wear can expose steel belt edges that are very
sharp. A ?toe? misalignment problem can be caused by
impact with a ?chuck? hole in the road. Bad ?toe? wear can
be hard to find visually, but can be felt very quickly with
the hand. This type of alignment problem can wear rubber
off the tread of the tires in just a few hundred miles.

Have you ever covered your car tires?? I'll just leave that there.

cavie said:

Have you ever covered your car tires?? I'll just leave that there.

Click to expand...

Just going to say - car tires and RV tires do not "see" the same kinds of use.

Yeah, but they see the same kind of sun.  As many things alike as are different.

When I was a young man, 20k miles and/or 3-4 years was the typical lifetime of any tire. Few if any tires had UV-prevention chemicals in the rubber compound. In fact, most tires were just that: plain old rubber.  Back then it made some sense to try to extend the calendar life of a tire that didn't get many miles. Modern tires use rubber-synthetic compounds impregnated with UV-resistance chemicals have belts of steel or a synthetic fiber, and last 7-10 years even if abused.  A cheap tire is still good for 40k miles or more.

Car tires usually wear out. RV tires age out. If you rolled your RV tires as much as you do your car tires, they would probably last a lot longer too. Using the tire keeps the compounds in the tire migrating toward the surface providing better protection for the tire. Parking it for long periods tends to dry them out and cause premature sidewall cracking. Car tires and RV tires are treated differently.

Tires age out no matter amount of use, or lack of use. The rubber is only good for 5-6 years.

Tire will get old, crack and dry out while is a warehouse and never see the light of day.

cavie said:

Tire will get old, crack and dry out while is a warehouse and never see the light of day.

Click to expand...

True indeed.

However,  Take two tires made today, put one in a warehouse.  Take the next tire, put it outside in the sun.  The one outside will get sidewall cracks much faster.

I'll bet a steak dinner 

You live in Ontario. You use the trailer most of the year, so the tires get plenty of use. The tires are only exposed, part of the day, to what little sun there is in Jan and Feb in Ontario. I would not worry about sun damage to the tires. 

Here in NM I cover my spare when I am in storage. It faces the south and is exposed to 100 plus temps most of each day.

Snow load and ice are another subject and that is what I would worry about in Ontario.

Thank you everyone!

I am going to pass on the covers for the tires.... seems like a waste of cash...
Also think the trailer cover will be more of a pain in the tail then it is worth!!

I nnthink you are making a mistake not using tire covers. If Michelin states; 4) Avoid prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays.
5) Cover the tires when the vehicle is not in use.
That is what I would do and I do it. Michelin is far more knowledgeable about tires than the forum members.

COvering tires prolongs the life of the tire.

A simple piece of FRP or plywood will do the trick. Just keep the sunlight off them

If you owned the tire factory, and your product is known for cracking, you would recommend the same thing. Kinda helps cover the manufacturers butt. The tires will either wear out or age out long before the degradition of not being covered has any real effect to the user

unless they blow out doing thousands of dollars damage. I know first hand.

other sources
http://rvservices.koa.com/rvinformation/rvmaintenance/you-winterized-your-rv-but-did-you-prepare-it-for-storage.asp

https://www.goldeagle.com/tips-tools/how-protect-your-tires-cracking/

more sources on request