Spare Tire Cover Zippers

DocB · **Posted:** Thu Dec 07, 2017 9:38 pm

What's the trick to reclosing the zippers on the spare tire cover? Can't get them closed for the life of me and am worried about the cover blowing away.
It was always a very tight fit over the OEM wheel and tire, but now it is impossible to close the zippers even half way.
Recently broke both handles off the zippers trying to close them with a pair of pliers while approximating the two sides of the zippers together.
This is not that technical, but just wondering what you geniuses could advise or suggest on this topic. (And getting rid of the cover is not an acceptable answer from some of you who can tear down and rebuild the engine in your sleep).
Fire away!

CGman · **Posted:** Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:24 pm

I gave up and bought one with elastic and string.

Locked KJ · **Posted:** Fri Dec 08, 2017 1:15 am

Heat gun and some patience. Try and warm the whole thing evenly and it should stretch into place.

APC9199 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 08, 2017 9:03 am

I've had a hard plastic cover with faux leather and elastic since I bought my Jeep, so I'm not really familiar with the zipper style like yours, but one thing I've learned over the years from camping (tents, sleeping bags, duffel bags, etc) is that keeping the zippers waxed (like candle wax or parafin) makes life so much easier. They work more smoothly which means they don't take as much effort to close when things get tight, and they also don't snag the piece of fabric that always seems to find its way in there (probably not a problem in your case). You might give this a try in addition to what others have suggested since it is good for the life of the zipper either way.

casm · **Joined:** Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:05 pm **Posts:** 694

Our KJ didn't come with a spare tyre cover when we bought it, and I didn't want the spare UV-rotting, so I bought one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Fasmov-Wheel-Lib ... B016NUG5OA

$11.99 with free Prime shipping, and no zippers. It's been on there for a couple of months and I have zero complaints; it's also cheap enough that if it does disintegrate, I'll just get another one and call it good.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Fri Dec 08, 2017 10:38 am

Heat it some with a hair dryer and spray a little WD-40 on the zipper!
or
get a cover that has no zipper and uses an elastic cord with a clamp similar to the one below!

I have this one on my Jeep!!! :lol:

DocB · **Posted:** Sat Dec 09, 2017 1:19 am

Thanks. Great ideas! I guess a new cover it is.

krb · **Posted:** Wed Dec 13, 2017 7:58 am

Mine came without one as well. I found them for $13 on ebay with free shipping. Even if it only lasts a couple years that's cheap enough to buy several.

I bought a gasser parts vehicle that has the factory one on it that I may switch to, maybe. It looks like the spare has to be off to replace it.

GordnadoCRD · **Posted:** Thu Dec 14, 2017 4:36 am

How would one remove or replace the spare tire with the cover on?

krb · **Posted:** Thu Dec 14, 2017 5:41 am

Ha, ha, that does sound kind of stupid doesn't it?

It was cold & rainy so I didn't spend a lot of time at it but in the few minutes I spent messing with it, it looked like the way it was made you needed to unzip it, take the spare of the mount and then remove the cover from the back of the tire?

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Thu Dec 14, 2017 11:38 am

krb wrote:

Ha, ha, that does sound kind of stupid doesn't it?

It was cold & rainy so I didn't spend a lot of time at it but in the few minutes I spent messing with it, it looked like the way it was made you needed to unzip it, take the spare of the mount and then remove the cover from the back of the tire?

Or maybe someone installed it incorrectly? :roll:

Spare Tire Cover Zippers

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