Dry Rot On Spare Tire

Too old to be crawling under the pickup to retrieve the donut spare tire, and the "Xtra Tire" mount at $44 has proven to be useless, at least for my '05 Colorado. So I smeared the donut with "One Grand E.R.V. Dressing" tire protectant and now the tire is simply lying flat in the pickup bed under chain and padlock.

Is the tire more susceptible to UV rays and dry rot lying flat in the bed?

If so, should it be covered? I see spare tires mounted on the backs of jeeps, etc. are covered with ? canvas ? vinyl ? and was wondering if they are protective. Thanks.

Reply to
Jack
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Yes, tires are susceptible to breaking down due to UV exposure.

nate

Reply to
N8N

In the bed it can get the direct sun and that can damage it quickly compared to hanging under the car. . Covers can go a long way to protect it. How often do you have to use it? Last two tires that went flat on me, I was able to add some air and drive the car to get it fixed. I don't recall driving on a spare for over 20 years now. Not like years ago as a teenager and we bought either used tires or re-caps. I don't miss those "good old" days. Aside from trucks, can you even buy a re-cap?

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

Yes you can buy retreads, we got them for the farm vehicles all the time.

The tire won't get trashed being in the bed. My '83 Ranger had the spare in the bed by the driver's seat and it had been there for 10 years - no problems. It was a SPARE tire, so it wasn't like I took it off-roading.

As for run-flats - I sure don't depend on that stuff, not to mention it can detonate on you when you go to remove the tire (or so I've been told, I've never actually seen this). I'm sure glad I didn't have run-flat or canned air for my truck when the rear tire got shot out at a High Power competition from a riccochet - last time I park my truck in THAT spot.

Reply to
Eigenvector

Don't know about exploding but the can label does say the contents is flammable. 2+2=?

Also, the biggest reason not to use the fix-a-flat junk is that the tire can never be plugged or remounted. That stuff coats the tire and nothing sticks to it. So a tire that might have been repaired with a plug or patch is now worthless. The stuff makes a real mess on the tire machine as well, that doesn't make for a happy mechanic.......

Reply to
Jackson

I think the dressing you smeared on the spare will be fine unless you live in the desert, in which case you could stuff it in a trash bag, too. The tire will be up by the back of the cab and out of the wind.

Vin - Automotive Recall lists, Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) and Crash Test Videos at

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Reply to
OldRoads

A spare tire cover would fit nicely and protect it from the Sun's damaging rays. Just an observation, of my spare on the back of my crv.

tom @

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Reply to
Just Joshin

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