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I noticed at an event recently that a small number of the larger MHs had silver fabric wheel covers. Some on both sides and some on one. What is the logic? something to do with the heat of the sun or UV? if so how serious is it?
Or are they just the lastest fashionable accessory that has been clearly exploited by a manufacturer/retailer.
______________________________________________________________ Powys, Paradwys Cymru
"Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools." Douglas Bader CBE
They help prevent the UV from sunlight destroying your tyres by ageing them prematurely, and when a new set of boots is going to set you back £1500 you can see the logic
Thank you, a sensible answer, but how quickly does UV age the tyres? I still suspect a commercial scam. Maybe I'm sceptical by nature but I've never seen any other type of vehicle in the UK with them on.
______________________________________________________________ Powys, Paradwys Cymru
"Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools." Douglas Bader CBE
I still suspect a commercial scam. Maybe I'm sceptical by nature but I've never seen any other type of vehicle in the UK with them on.
I wouldn't think a commercial scam, but not so much needed in the UK for obvious reasons but you will see plenty of home made or improvised covers abroad.. tyres are worth protecting, weakened tyres can blow out .. and as Keith mentioned expensive to renew for a large motorhome or RV
....and a lot of motorhomes sit around for weeks on end under a fairly considerable load even when the 'van is empty. 'most' other vehicles as you put it sit around for a weekend at most.
Just my humble opinion anyway and one of the many reasons our motorhome does lie still for more than two weeks at the absolute most.
Hi
Most commentators would recommend replacing tyres that are 5 years old for safety reasons, and as said, the sun is maybe not so damaging in the UK but it is still worth trying to protect your "investment" any way you can. Have a search on this site for a tyre blow out demo thread, I cannot remember where it is but if you find it, watch the video and it will explain everything you don't want to know
Thank you, a sensible answer, but how quickly does UV age the tyres? I still suspect a commercial scam. Maybe I'm sceptical by nature but I've never seen any other type of vehicle in the UK with them on.
If you have a browse of the tyre manufacturers web sites all of them caution against UV damage to tyres, especially in long term storage. One of them, I forget which, goes into a lengthy description of the damage which is made worse by a combination of sun and rain. Having seen extreme sidewall cracking on my old rig after just four years, (MOT failure) I can understand the need for sun-block on your tyres. As other people mention , most manufacturers recommend a tyre life of just five or six years, in optimal conditions. Something to remember when buying a used M/H or RV. Tyres have a date code, see here for more info:
it is indeed the UV from the sunlight that can make tyres age prematurely. Not the heat.
This is not a problem if the vehicle is frequently moving, because then the UV-protective chemicals which every tyre contains and which break down at the surface are replenished from the inside. But if standing on the same spot for weeks in a row this premature ageing can be an issue.
So wheel spats can be useful. However it does not matter whether they are commercially or self-made.
Best Regards,
Gerhard
______________________________________________________________ Euramobil Sport 585DS (C-class):
interesting. I can see ther logic, but none of the replies answer one part of the original question - why just motorhomes?
A lot of other vehicles eg trucks sit around, or it least the trailer bits do, those tyres must cost a fortune! I know MH's stand around for a long time, but presumably the sun attacks a tyre in motion aswell!
You'd think some sort of sidewall protector could be devised - the tread bit is less likely to be in the sun - then it could stay on all the time - a sort of soft frisbee thing made of reflective material that covers the whole wheel.
Perhaps I could invent such a thing. Maybe some graphics could be added, make them a fashion accessory, or a visibility aid... (d'oh! Just told you lot now...)
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