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Here’s a question I hear all the time…
“Should I get a tire cover for my Jeep?”
My typical answer?
…Damn right you should.
Theft prevention, customization, and weather protection are some reasons I recommend a Jeep tire cover.
There are also reasons I advise against tire covers…
However, the pros still outweigh the cons.
In this article, I break down the pros and cons of tire covers. If you decide to take the plunge, there’s also a section explaining how to remove and add a tire cover.
Let’s waste no time…
Do You Need To Cover Your Jeep Spare Tire?
| Benefits | Downsides |
|---|---|
| Prevents Theft | Wheels Can Look Better |
| Great For Customization | May Not Have Camera Cut-Out |
| Weather Protection | Finding The Correct Size |
| Hands-Off | Might Not Be Necessary |
The Benefits
Choosing the best tire covers is the first step to ensuring you reap the benefits.
…stay away from the cheap and low-quality brands.
Once you’ve found what you’re looking for, here are some of the benefits you can expect…
1. Prevents Theft
When a thief wants to steal a tire, it can be time-consuming.
…not the type of issue a criminal wants to deal with.
They want something that’s quick, easy, and valuable. That’s why it’s common for thieves to target your spare tire, rather than the actual ones.
Unbolting and removing a spare tire takes minutes.
While a tire cover doesn’t stop all robberies…
…it sure as hell helps.
Some hard top covers come with a locking mechanism, which requires keys to access.
If you’ve got a standard tire cover, you can purchase a cable lock.
2. Great For Customization
Let’s be honest…
We all love customizing our Jeeps, right!?
So why neglect the spare tire?
It’s one of the first things people see when driving behind your Jeep on the road. You may as well make it stand out.
You don’t go for boring tire covers, either.
Nowadays, you can find some great looks:
- American flags
- Funny phrases
- Eye-catching designs
- Plain and mysterious
Whatever your preference, there’s something for everybody!
I recommend looking at the color scheme of your Jeep and finding something that matches.
3. Protection From The Elements
Most people forget that their spare tire is at the mercy of the elements.
This is even more prominent if you’re driving in difficult terrain like sand.
…and even when parked in your driveway.
Heavy rain, hailstones, thunderstorms, and even UV rays pose a big risk. Having a tire cover provides an additional layer of protection, saving you money in the long run.
In addition, most tire covers are UV resistant.
That will protect your tires’ rubber in hot climates, helping it to last longer.
4. It’s Hands-Off
Once you install a tire cover, it’s hands-off. You don’t need to worry about maintenance, apart from occasionally cleaning the tire cover.
To minimize the time you spend cleaning the tire cover, I recommend applying some type of protectant.
The reason to apply a protectant is because water will run down from your roof onto the tire cover.
The Downsides
1. Wheels Sometimes Look Better
Sometimes it’s best to ditch a tire cover.
…If you have a bada** wheel attached to the back!
Mud tires look excellent as spares, and I wouldn’t recommend covering them up. On the flip side, highway tires are bland and look better covered.
That’s just my 2 cents.
1. Tire Cover May Not Have Camera Hole
On most Jeeps, the back camera comes through the middle of the spare tire.
…that’s why it’s important to choose the right tire cover.
Choose the wrong one and it will be covered.
You need to look for one that already has a camera hole. Providing you’re using a standard tire cover (not a hard top), you can cut the hole yourself.
But it might look sh*t.
Just saying.
With that being said, not all Jeeps have a backup camera. It’s mainly the newer models, so you might not have anything to worry about.
3. Finding The Correct Size
Don’t just snap up any tire cover you find online.
…because it might not fit your spare.
You want to check your tire size beforehand. Tire size can normally be found in the owner’s manual.
If you can’t locate the owner’s manual…
Here’s another way:
- Look at the sidewall of your tires
- You will find a sequence of numbers → 125/80R12
…see the below infographic:
Once you have this information, here’s how to choose the correct size Jeep.
…let’s use 125/80R12 as an example:
125*80/500/2.54+12= 19.8”
The numbers highlighted in blue are the same with every tire when measuring size.
And the other numbers in red are based on your tire size.
In the example above, you would need a 51cm or 20” tire cover.
4. It May Not Be Necessary
If you only use your Jeep occasionally as a pleasure cruiser or for the weekend mudding bender you might not need to worry about a tire cover.
It’s likely parked in a garage most of the time and not exposed to the elements where the cover really comes in handy.
FAQ
How Do You Remove A Jeep Tire Cover?
It is so easy to remove a Jeep cover like the one in the video.
- Simply peel the edges of the cover over the tire. Make sure to do that gently!
- Then pull on the strap that is tightened around the backup camera to release the clasp and remove the tire cover!
How Do You Put A Tire Cover On A Jeep?
Putting the tire cover onto your Jeep’s spare tire is really easy.
Just follow the same steps above but in reverse.
- Attach the strap and cover that tightens around the backup camera
- Pull the cover tight around the edges of the tires and… there you have it!
Where Is The Spare Tire On A Jeep Wrangler?
The spare tire is typically mounted onto the back of the tailgate of a Jeep Wrangler.
Occasionally Jeep owners will opt to have their spare tire inside a roof rack on top of the Jeep.
This is either because the tire is too large for the back of the Jeep (or too heavy) or personal preference of not wanting it on the back of the Jeep!
In Summary
Overall, I would recommend getting a tire cover for your Jeep.
The pros definitely outweigh the cons on this one.
By putting a cover over your spare tire you are increasing its longevity and preventing it from getting weak with its constant exposure to the elements!
Want To Learn About The Latest Jeep Tips & Tricks?
If you enjoyed this read, then be sure to check out my other articles. I have a lot of Jeep informational content to choose from. It’s time to take your Jeep knowledge to the next level, huh!?