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The Complete Guide to Spare Tire Covers (2026): Materials, Sizes, Installation & Custom Designs

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A spare tire cover is one of those small accessories that quietly does a lot of work. It looks like decoration. It functions as protection. It lives in the most-photographed spot on the vehicle. And the difference between the right one and the wrong one shows up two, three, five years out, when the spare you actually need is either still in good shape or no longer safe to use.

The buying process for first-time owners has a few specific decision points: material, size, attachment system, and whether to customize. None of them are complicated on their own, but they connect to each other in ways that are worth understanding before you place the order. This guide covers all of them.

What is below is the long version — the one document we send people who want the full picture before they pick. It pulls together the material comparisons, sizing rules, custom design process, and the things that stay constant across every cover we ship.

If you want the short version, every section also stands alone and is linked from the related-reading list at the bottom.

A spare tire cover is a custom-fitted protective shell that mounts over the round face of a rear-mounted spare tire to shield it from sun, rain, dust, and minor abrasion — while also serving as a personalized graphic on the back of an SUV, RV, Jeep, or trailer. The best covers use UV-resistant materials (Marine Grade Vinyl, PU Leather, PVC, or Polyester), use either an elastic band or drawcord attachment, and are sized by overall tire diameter (not rim size).

What a spare tire cover is, and why every external spare needs one

A spare tire cover is the soft-shell protective layer that wraps the front face and sides of a rear-mounted spare tire on a vehicle that carries its spare externally — on a swing-out tire carrier, a hitch-mounted spare carrier, a tailgate-mounted spare (Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, G-Wagon, Defender), a rear bumper carrier, or an RV ladder mount. The exposed spare collects daily UV degradation, rain, mud spray, and brush abrasion if it is not covered.

A quality cover does four jobs at once:

  • UV protection. Spare tire rubber dry-rots fastest from sunlight. A cover blocks the UV that hardens and cracks the sidewall.
  • Weather management. Rain, snowmelt, road salt, and pollen all degrade rubber and rim finish. A weather-tough cover keeps the spare drier and cleaner.
  • Theft deterrence. A covered spare is less visible. The Marine Grade Vinyl + Anti-Theft Kit adds integrated locking hardware for street-parked vehicles.
  • Personalization. The wheel face is a perfect round canvas for a fan-art tribute, family name, hunting design, military honor, or business logo.

If your vehicle stores its spare under the floor or inside the cargo area, you do not need a cover. The moment the spare is mounted externally, a cover pays for itself within the first year by extending tire life and rim finish.

The five material grades, compared

We offer five material grades. They are all UV-resistant and water-tough to varying degrees; the difference is durability, lifespan, attachment style, and best use case. Pick by how often the cover is exposed to weather, how harsh your climate is, and whether you need anti-theft.

Polyester — $69 (Budget)

Lightweight polyester with a drawcord attachment. up to 2 year lifespan. UV-resistant printing. Best for daily-driver vehicles parked in covered or shaded spots, or fair-weather seasonal use. Easy to swap seasonally between designs.

PVC — $99 (Trail-rig pick)

Water-resistant, abrasion-tough. Smooth surface cleans up easily by hand after a muddy trip. Elastic band attachment. up to 3 year lifespan. Best for trail rigs and weekend off-road builds where mud, dust, and brush scratches are routine.

PU Leather — $129 (Premium look)

Premium matte-black finish that pairs cleanly with OEM aesthetics on Jeep Wrangler, Mercedes G-Wagon, and Ford Bronco. Elastic band attachment. up to 3 year lifespan. Best for daily drivers prioritizing a factory-finish appearance.

Marine Grade Vinyl — $169 (Heavy-duty, the workhorse)

1 mm heavy-duty marine vinyl, drawcord attachment. up to 5 year lifespan rated for Florida coastal sun, Arizona heat, and sub-zero winters. The pick for year-round outdoor parking.

Marine Grade Vinyl + Anti-Theft Kit — $199 (Top spec with anti-theft)

Same Marine Grade Vinyl material with integrated locking hardware built into the drawcord. Up to 5-year lifespan. The premium option for street-parked vehicles in busy neighborhoods where covers tend to disappear.

For most buyers, Marine Grade Vinyl is the right answer: it lasts five years outdoors, the colors stay sharp, and it handles what North American weather throws at it. Budget shoppers should consider PVC for trail-day use or Polyester for shaded daily-driver spots.

How to measure your spare tire (correctly, the first time)

The single most common mistake first-time buyers make is sizing by rim diameter (“I have a 17-inch wheel”). That is wrong. Spare tire covers size by the overall tire diameter — the actual outer diameter of the inflated tire, including rubber.

Three ways to measure (any of these works)

  1. Read the sidewall. Tire-size codes like LT255/75R17, 265/60R18, or 33×12.50R17 tell you the height of the rubber. Use the reference table on our sizing guide to convert to overall diameter.
  2. Tape measure across the tire. Measure straight across the spare, edge of tread to edge of tread, through the center. That is your diameter.
  3. Look up your stock size. We publish stock tire diameters for every common vehicle on the vehicle-specific size pages linked below.

Common stock sizes by vehicle

  • Jeep Wrangler JK / JL stock (LT255/75R17): 32″ cover
  • Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JL (LT285/70R17): 33″ cover
  • Lifted Wrangler on 35-inch tires: 35″ cover
  • Ford Bronco 6th gen stock (LT255/75R17): 33″ cover
  • Bronco Sasquatch / Wildtrak (35-inch all-terrains): 35″ cover
  • Toyota 4Runner stock (LT265/70R17): 32″ cover
  • Mercedes G-Wagon W463 and W463A stock (265/60R18): 33″ cover
  • RV trailer ladder-mounted spare: typically 28″–32″

Custom sizes are free at checkout. If your spare is non-standard (vintage build, lifted custom, oversized off-road), send the diameter at checkout. We cut from 14″ to 37″ and beyond at no extra cost.

Backup-camera hole — free, centered, fits any vehicle

Modern Wranglers, Gladiators, Broncos, and G-Wagons have a factory rear-view camera mounted in the center of the spare-tire carrier. A spare tire cover that does not accommodate the camera blocks the view.

We include a free centered backup-camera cutout on every cover — no surcharge, no special order, no production delay. Just select the “with camera hole” option at checkout. The hole is centered and sized to fit any factory or aftermarket camera position.

If your camera is in an unusual position, send a photo at checkout and we will cut to the exact spot. No extra fee for non-standard positions.

How attachment works (drawcord vs elastic band)

The cover slides on in under a minute, no tools or hardware required. Two attachment systems:

Elastic band (PU Leather, PVC)

An internal elastic band stretches over the tire and grips behind the tread. The cover pulls flush against the spare for a snug, factory-style appearance. Easy to install and remove for tire access. Best for daily drivers who want the cleanest look.

Drawcord (Polyester, Marine Grade Vinyl, Anti-Theft Kit)

A drawcord wraps over the tire and tightens with a pull-and-clamp at the back of the wheel. The advantage: fully adjustable — fine-tune fit on any spare diameter, even non-standard sizes. Stays put at highway speeds; handles off-road vibration.

Both systems remove in seconds for tire access. Both stay put through highway driving, off-road washboard, and freeway crosswinds. Pick whichever fits your material preference — the difference is largely cosmetic.

Custom designs — what is possible (and what is included)

The wheel face is a strong round canvas for personalization. The in-house design team produces custom artwork in fan-tribute style for any subject — vehicles, animals, sports, military, family memorials, business logos, and pop-culture themes — with these guarantees:

  • Free design proof. We mock up the design before printing. No design fee.
  • No minimum order. One cover is fine.
  • Approval-first. Nothing prints until you sign off on the proof.
  • Free customizations. Add a name, jersey number, build year, GPS coordinates, family name, in-memory-of tribute, or unit insignia at no extra cost.
  • OEM paint matching. Color-match to factory paint codes including Granite Crystal, Sting-Gray, Sarge Green, Bright White, Cyber Orange, designo Manufaktur, and more. Send your paint code at checkout for a free match.

Most custom orders ship within 5–7 business days after design proof approval.

The things that stay constant across every cover

A few specs are fixed across the entire catalog. They never vary by design or material grade:

  • Free worldwide shipping with tracking, 6–12 business days.
  • Free centered backup-camera hole on every cover, sized to fit any camera position.
  • Free returns and a full refund if you are not satisfied within 30 days — no restocking fees, no return-shipping charge.
  • Approval-first proof on every custom order. Nothing prints until you sign off.
  • Anti-theft hardware is only available on the Marine Grade Vinyl + Anti-Theft Kit ($199) — not on other materials.
  • Custom sizing is included at checkout for any tire diameter from 14″ through 37″ and beyond.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know what size spare tire cover I need?

Size by overall tire diameter (the number on the sidewall, like LT285/70R17), not rim size. Stock JK / JL Wranglers take 32″; Wrangler Rubicon JL and Bronco 6th gen take 33″; lifted Wranglers and Sasquatch builds take 35″. If your size is not standard, send your spec at checkout — custom sizing is included.

Are spare tire covers waterproof?

Marine Grade Vinyl handles sustained wet weather under rain, snow, and salt air. PVC is water-resistant. PU Leather and Polyester are water-resistant. Marine Grade Vinyl is the most durable for year-round outdoor exposure and the spec we recommend for vehicles parked outside in coastal humidity, Florida sun, or sub-zero winters. (Pressure washing is not recommended on any of our covers, regardless of material — clean by hand with mild soap and lukewarm water.)

How long does a spare tire cover last?

Marine Grade Vinyl (both the standard and Anti-Theft Kit versions) carries an up to 5-year lifespan. PU Leather and PVC are rated for up to 3 years. Polyester for up to 2 years. All five materials use fade-resistant UV printing rated for prolonged sun exposure.

Can I customize my spare tire cover with a name or family logo?

Yes — add a name, jersey number, family or fan-club name, in-memory-of tribute, build year, GPS coordinates, or business logo at no extra cost. Free design proof, approval-first, no minimum order. Send the wording at checkout or use the custom spare tire cover page.

Does the cover come with a backup-camera hole?

Yes — included free on every cover. The hole is centered and sized to fit any vehicle’s backup-camera position, including Wrangler JL, Gladiator JT, Bronco, G-Wagon, or any aftermarket camera. Just select the camera-hole option at checkout.

Can I install a spare tire cover myself?

Yes — the cover slides on in under a minute, no tools required. Elastic-band covers grip behind the tread automatically. Drawcord covers tighten with a cord at the back of the spare. Both stay put at highway speeds.

Are spare tire covers really necessary?

If your spare is mounted externally (rear carrier, ladder, swing-out, tailgate, hitch), yes — the cover protects the rubber from UV dry-rot and the rim from corrosion. A $69 cover extends spare life by years. If your spare is under the floor, you do not need one.

Browse the spare tire cover catalog

1,000+ ready-made designs across animals, sports, vehicles, holidays, patriotic, military, and lifestyle. Or design your own with a free proof — no minimum, no design fee. Free worldwide shipping in 6–12 business days.

Browse all spare tire covers → · Start a custom design →

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