Need / Decision
Do You Need a Spare Wheel Cover? When It’s Worth Every Penny (And When It’s Not)
This is one of those questions where the answer depends entirely on where your spare tire actually lives. Most modern vehicles hide the spare under the cargo floor or stash it in a trunk well, and for those owners the question essentially does not apply — there is nothing for a cover to fit on. For everyone else, the answer is yes, almost always.
The distinction comes down to exposure. A spare hanging off the back of a Wrangler, Bronco, G-Wagon, or RV is taking everything the weather has to offer for the life of the vehicle. A spare tucked under the cargo floor of a crossover SUV is in essentially the same protected environment as a tire mounted on the vehicle.
The middle case — an aftermarket carrier on a vehicle that did not originally have an external spare — is what brings a lot of buyers to this question. If you have just added a Bandit, Sherpa, or RIGd rear bumper, the spare is now where it was not before, and the cover question is the next thing to think about.
Here is the simple decision guide by vehicle type.
You need a spare wheel cover if your spare tire is mounted externally — tailgate, swing-out, hitch, RV ladder, or rear bumper carrier. You do not need one if the spare is stored under the cargo floor or inside the cabin.
Vehicles that need a spare wheel cover
- Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, and vintage CJ — tailgate-mounted spare, fully exposed.
- Ford Bronco 6th gen and vintage Bronco — swing-out tire carrier.
- Mercedes G-Wagon (all generations) — tailgate-hinged spare carrier.
- Land Rover Defender 90, 110, 130 — rear-door-mounted.
- Suzuki Jimny, Samurai, Sidekick — rear-mounted.
- Hummer H1, H2, H3 — rear-mounted.
- RVs, travel trailers, fifth wheels, pop-up campers — ladder, A-frame, or hitch carrier.
- Toyota FJ Cruiser, vintage Land Cruiser, vintage 4Runner — rear-mounted.
- Any vehicle with an aftermarket spare carrier (Bandit, Sherpa, Smittybilt, K9, RIGd).
Vehicles that do not need a cover
- Most modern crossovers and SUVs — spare under the cargo floor.
- Sedans — spare in the trunk well.
- Modern Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Compass — under-floor.
- Modern 4Runner SR5 and Limited — under-floor. The TRD Pro and Trail Edition with an aftermarket carrier is the exception.
- Bronco Sport — under-floor.
- Most pickup trucks — spare under-bed or behind the cab.
- Most modern minivans — under-floor.
Edge cases and aftermarket carriers
Three common edge cases:
- You added an aftermarket rear bumper with a spare carrier. Common on 4Runner, Tacoma, Tundra, and overland builds. You now need a cover.
- You have an under-floor spare AND you carry an extra spare on the hitch. The extra spare needs a cover; the under-floor does not.
- You are building a custom carrier or off-road rig. If the spare ends up exposed, plan for a cover from day one rather than buying months later when the rubber has already started to age.
Frequently asked questions
My RAV4 has the spare under the floor. Do I need a cover?
No. Your spare is protected by the cargo floor. Spare wheel covers only fit external rear-mounted spares.
I am adding a Bandit rear bumper with a spare carrier. Should I plan for a cover?
Yes. Once the spare is on the bumper carrier, it is exposed to UV and weather. Order a cover sized for your spare’s diameter and install on day one of the new bumper.
My Wrangler’s spare is on the tailgate. Do I really need a cover?
Yes. The tailgate-mounted spare gets full sun and weather. UV dry-rots the rubber, salt and rain corrode the rim, and the back of the vehicle is the most-photographed angle. A cover protects the spare and personalizes the vehicle.
Can I just throw a tarp over my spare?
You can, but a fitted spare tire cover lasts longer, looks better, stays put at highway speeds, and includes a free backup-camera hole. A tarp flaps in the wind, does not seal against rain, and looks like a tarp.
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Related reading
- Are spare tire covers necessary?
- Should I get a spare tire cover?
- The complete guide to spare tire covers
