How to protect exposed spare tire from the elements??

[Heffe66413]

I use Bronco Anti Sun on my spare tire. It gives me complete peace of mind - and it is safe for the environment- made of 100% bullshit.

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[2021AreaFiftyOneOBX]

easy….

https://accessories.ford.com/products/bronco-2021-bronco-66-oxford-white-ink-spare-32inch-tire-cover

 

[JohnnyBronco]

First off, why can't you put it on the tread? Because the packaging says not to apply an oil to the tread of the tires on your vehicle? Would certainly be good advise for all of the driving tires, but what difference does it make on the spare? If you want to put it all over the spare, lube it up. When it comes time to rotate it in, hit it with some soapy water and don't do anything stupid for the first mile or two of driving. Tire dressing isn't rocket science. Don't over think it.

Agreed.

The caution against putting the tire protectant on the tread is because it makes the surface slippery and conducive to loss of traction. This is why it is suggested never to use on motorcycle tires due to their use of sidewalls during turning, more than any other type of tire - or just read the bottle of ArmorAll which says do not use on steering wheel - or side steps - for same reason, loss of traction.

But for an exposed spare which you do not intend to ever use unless you get a flat on one of the other 4, the tread is same composition as sidewalls so go ahead and plaster it with UV protectant.

Same caution comes on a bottle of floor polish, don't use on steps, not that it will harm the steps but that it will harm the person or animal that loses traction and falls down the stairs.

 

[JohnnyBronco]

You were a lucky one, to get that before it was removed from the accessories (unless it is back now) When I ordered items at year end it was not in the catalog at that point. But wouldn't the one with the dancing stallion and the rear camera properly positioned be a better choice?

 

[JohnnyBronco]

I figured you'd reply with something like that.

But in real terms, modern tire compounds are subject to degradation from time, heat cycles, temperature, exposure to chemical elements in the environment, sunlight, and ozone. But as several people have said, their experience with Jeeps indicates the spare will last a decade before it needs replacement. I had the same experience with my YJ, the spare showed no degradation even after 12 years of ownership. It took 20 years for the donut spare in my wife's Z3 to need replacement. That tire sits under the trunk in a plastic shell, with no exposure to UV light.

The good news is the Bronco spare sits on the tailgate with no weight on it, which is a plus for tire storage. It does see sunlight, as much as the other road tires see, which is the point most of us are making. So your options are: (a) UV tire protectant - if there is such a thing, (b) a tire cover, or (c) rotate the spare into the rotation regimen and replace all 5 tires once the tread wear indicators say to. But I'd bet just leaving the spare exposed gives you a good decade before it would need replacement; it's not going to degrade in the next few years. A new spare 10 years from now is going to cost $350. Not much money for just leaving it be.

My opinion is you are over-worried about this issue.

If you don't have to use it, the spare will last util the vehicle meets the crusher. How many donut spares do you imagine never come out of the trunk, let alone have their 60+ psi pressure checked? And used to be a selling point for 50's classics was to have the original spare still in the trunk.

 

[2021AreaFiftyOneOBX]

You were a lucky one, to get that before it was removed from the accessories (unless it is back now) When I ordered items at year end it was not in the catalog at that point. But wouldn't the one with the dancing stallion and the rear camera properly positioned be a better choice?

Seems to be back! The Stallion is nice too, but I opted for the vintage look.

 

[VoltageDrop]

Have a body shop paint it to match the fender flares?

 

[JohnnyBronco]

On the Z3, it rides underneath the car in a plastic clamshell. BMW being BMW, they include a Schrader Valve on the clamshell that has a hose attached to the Schrader valve on the rim, so one can keep the pressure up to spec without dropping the spare from under the car.

But after 20 years the donut spare was badly dry rotted. We were taking it out West on a 3,000 mile road trip, so I did replace it.

Our X4 has runflats, and we had a flat last year. Try to find a tire shop that will repair a runflat is like, well trying to see another Bronco on the road. Bought a pair of new runflats, have one sitting in the garage. I might look at buying an extra rim but I am dure the price will floor me

 

[Go_Galt]

This has been a great thread.

 

[MnLakeBum]

KISS theory and Occam’s Razor both apply here. Get a cover or use the same product you protect your other wheels with.

 

[We_Love_Tacos]

This thread did not disappoint

 

[feralc]

Agreed.

The caution against putting the tire protectant on the tread is because it makes the surface slippery and conducive to loss of traction. This is why it is suggested never to use on motorcycle tires due to their use of sidewalls during turning, more than any other type of tire - or just read the bottle of ArmorAll which says do not use on steering wheel - or side steps - for same reason, loss of traction.

But for an exposed spare which you do not intend to ever use unless you get a flat on one of the other 4, the tread is same composition as sidewalls so go ahead and plaster it with UV protectant.

Same caution comes on a bottle of floor polish, don't use on steps, not that it will harm the steps but that it will harm the person or animal that loses traction and falls down the stairs.

I had the same thought as you, that I can use it everywhere and just degrease it if I will use it. And that is actually what I did, the cloth I used to wipe all 5 sidewalls to remove excess product got saturated with product (it is like baby oil) so I just used the same cloth and wiped the whole thing, now the tire looks amazing from any angle, and I didn’t spray directly on the tread and at the same time the product has UV protection so I killed two birds.
For me the spare tire is part of the looks, an accessory, and I believe most people think the same, that is why the 5th wheel is replaced as well when they replace the wheels for a nicer design.
But some here are hardcore off-roaders silverback macho men warriors with no traumas to compensate for and they get offended if the truck is not as dirty as them.
“My truck ain’t going to be cleaner than me and I ain’t taking a goddamn shower”

 

[feralc]

get some 303 protectant wipes or spray and use once every couple months

Thanks I actually checked and 303 offers two tire dressings, one foam with gloss finish and another one with a satin finish. Both of them specifically to prevent dry rot and UV damage. I will try them next.

 

[Paul Gagnon]

If you don't have to use it, the spare will last util the vehicle meets the crusher. How many donut spares do you imagine never come out of the trunk, let alone have their 60+ psi pressure checked? And used to be a selling point for 50's classics was to have the original spare still in the trunk.

I still have the original, never used, spare tire for my '79 Mustang. It has no signs of dry rot and still looks brand new.

 

[dwbronco]

I was wondering this because I have never had an exposed spare tire. I purchased Meguiars endurance tire sprays which has UV protection. Instructions say obviously to avoid tread (only spray on sidewall) because the tires can get slippery. But what about the spare?? Should I spray on the tread to protect it from UV? I will be eventually rotate that tire but I’m the meantime spraying a tire dressing with UV protectant on the tread doesn’t sound as a bad idea. What do you guys think?

Leave it under a tarp in the darkest corner of your garage.

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