Learning Center

It's not something you typically plan for, and honestly, it's hard to imagine why you'd ever need to do this, but let's talk about dealing with a sudden paint spill while in transit. Yes, it sounds like a scene straight out of a slapstick comedy, but if you ever find yourself in this sticky situation, here’s how you can manage it without turning your vehicle into abstract art.

Expect the Unexpected

First things first: You’ll unlikely ever need to clean up paint from your vehicle’s interior if you aren’t a professional painter. But, hey, life is full of surprises; sometimes, those surprises come in colorful, liquid form. If your paint cans decide to go rogue and burst open, knowing what to do next can save you a lot of hassle—and cleaning bills.

So here’s how we cleaned it up in another one of our torture tests.

Essential Supplies and Process

Get lots of paper towels. More than you think you'll need. Paper towels will be your first line of defense, helping to soak up the spill before it spreads too far and dries.

Then grab your favorite multipurpose vehicle cleaner. Ours was the cheapest one in the Walmart auto-detailing aisle.

1. Soak up as much of the paint as possible with the paper towels.
2. Spray the seat with a multipurpose cleaner.
3. Continue wiping up the mess with paper towels.

After using paper towels to remove as much paint as possible, we tackled the remaining mess with an all-purpose auto interior cleaner we picked up from Walmart. This step was crucial in removing any residual paint and making sure our vehicle's interior was clean and free from any lingering odors or stickiness.

Wrapping Up

Once you've managed the immediate crisis, take a moment. It's all good—really. A paint spill in transit isn’t the end of the world, though it might feel like it in the moment. Clean up as best as you can, and toss those covers in the wash. In the meantime, keep those windows down to air out any lingering fumes.

Durability is often a top concern for anyone shopping for a seat cover, especially in environments where wear and tear are part of the daily grind. That's why we decided to put TigerTough seat covers to the test in an unconventional but incredibly telling way: by using a power sander to simulate years of abuse in mere seconds.

Testing the Toughness

To start, we wanted to make sure our equipment was up to the task, so we gave our sander a quick test on some rust to ensure it was working at full capacity. Once confirmed, we focused on the real challenge—seeing how well TigerTough seat covers could handle the friction and force. Were we nervous? A little.

Going to Town

With the sander fired up and ready, we treated the seat cover like a surface prepped for painting—intense and thorough. The aim was not just to test the toughness of the CORUDRA fabric, but to see if the cover could still look good after being put in the ring with the sander.

The Results

Using 80-grit sandpaper, which is pretty coarse and unforgiving, we went to town on the seat cover. The result? Only minor scuffs. The cover remained perfectly intact, showing off its robustness and ability to withstand harsh conditions. And the seat underneath was unscathed.

This wasn’t just a minor scratch test; it was a full-on assault, and the TigerTough seat cover came through with flying colors.

Were we surprised? Not really. We know that our covers are tougher than Carhartt in friction tests, but torturing our own product is always a little intimidating.

Summary

This test clearly demonstrated why investing in high-quality, durable seat covers like TigerTough can be worth every penny. Our sander test shows that these covers are built to last for anyone in industries where vehicles take a beating or for those who just want the peace of mind that their seat covers won’t give out. And hey, if you’re not into TigerTough, there are plenty of other great seat covers for work trucks out there.

If you couldn’t guess, we love seat covers. Not only are they our livelihood, but they’re also an affordable way to preserve your seats and improve the resale value of your car, truck, SUV…and UTV. We’ve reviewed some of the top brands in seat covers for trucks, but we want to explore options for side-by-sides since that’s a growing market. 

But we need to warn you: There aren’t many options. Initially, it looked like there were maybe ten or so brands available, but then we discovered that one manufacturer resells its covers under private labels. There's no shame in that, but we quickly realized that some of the brands we were seeing were, in fact, just one brand (sometimes relabeled).

And whenever we do these reviews, we try to find only legit manufacturers and websites. If something feels spammy, we don’t include it. We also dig into the facts–if a company doesn’t list info on their site, we contact their customer service team to learn more.

So, let’s compare the top side-by-side seat cover brands. For pricing, we’ll use a 2023 Polaris Ranger Crew 1000 XP.

Ruff Tuff: Most Variety

We’re no strangers to Ruff Tuff. We recently reviewed their truck seat covers so we expect the same quality from their UTV covers. We love that they’re made right in the USA in good ole Utah. Their Dura EZ care seat covers seem to be a good choice, but they have other fabric options as well. According to their customer service, the Dura EZ Care is made of a 600-denier poly-canvas blend.

Ruff Tuff is a distributor, so you can purchase directly from them, or from other resellers like UTV Direct, Seat Cover Solutions, and Covers and Camo. This is the manufacturer we mentioned. They’ve definitely found their corner in the UTV seat cover neighborhood.

Quick facts

• Made in the USA
• Limited 1-year warranty
• No returns
• Many color options 

Price: $267

Mudderswag: Neoprene Option

This company specializes in seat covers for mud lovers. They don’t even make seat covers for trucks, which is probably why we hadn’t come across them before. We love a good niche seat cover company, so Mudderswag was a fun discovery.

All of their covers are made of black neoprene and customized to fit your particular side-by-side model. Neoprene is a great option for seat covers, and we imagine these would be similar to Wet Okole seat covers in terms of fit and how they react to water.

They have a 30-day return policy, but we couldn’t find any warranty information. At the time of publication, their customer service hadn’t yet responded.

Our hesitation with this brand is that they haven't posted on social media since 2019 and their lack of response from customer service.

Quick Facts

• Only available in black
• Made of neoprene
• 30-Day return policy

Price: $210

Carhartt: Best Reputation

We’ve been around the block with Carhartt a time or two. We’re super familiar with their truck seat covers, so we have a pretty good idea of what their Polaris seat covers are like. 

Keep in mind that these are going to look and feel like Carhartt’s trusty workwear. So they aren’t totally waterproof, but they’re washable. They also wear faster than other materials. It looks like their side-by-side covers don’t include headrest covers. That’s not a deal-breaker, but we just wanted to lay all the facts out there for you.

We need to be upfront: these won’t fit a 2023 Polaris Ranger Crew 1000 XP, but we wanted to have a Carhartt option here. 

Also, we couldn't find an actual photo of these seat covers, only renderings. 

Quick facts:

• Won’t fit all Polaris models
• Made of Carhartt Cotton Duck
• Made in the U.S. and Mexico
• Limited 1-year warranty

Price: $230

Kemimoto: Best Price

This was the least expensive (and legit) seat cover we came across. (Remember those spammy sites we mentioned? Lots of those are in this price range.) Available in two colors, Kemimoto boasts about having waterproof, durable seat covers. We like that!

We don’t love the elastic around the edge. Elastic wears out, and it wears out even quicker in the elements. Once the elastic is shot, the seat covers just won’t fit the same. That custom seat cover will fit more like a loose pair of movie-watching sweats.

These are made in China, and according to their customer service team, their covers are made of 1680D fabric. We don't love admitting it, but we're not sure if this is accurate. Denier can be measured in a few ways (but there's really only one correct way), and based on the flexibility of the Kemimoto fabric, we think this would traditionally be measured as an 840D fabric.

Quick facts:

• Made of 1680D oxford
• Limited 6-month warranty
• 40-day return policy
• Two color options
• Waterproof

Price: $90

TigerTough: Best Warranty

We're brand new to the side-by-side game, but this has been in the works for nearly a year. Seat covers are our bread and butter so we're super excited for this product release. 

“Since we’ve been making seat covers for work trucks for over 30 years, it just makes sense to keep expanding our line of seat covers for more vehicles and equipment that are getting used and abused daily. We started covering law enforcement vehicles in 2016, construction equipment in 2022, and now side-by-sides.

I’m excited to get these into service because when you look at industries where people are using their Ranger or Gator as a tool to do their work like construction, first responders, and rentals, the seats take a beating. We’ve had massive customer demand for these and now they’re finally available.”

- Sheldon Zitzmann, Marketing Director

Since the natural habitat of a UTV is rather wild, we supply our side-by-sde covers with an unconditional lifetime warranty. If you wreck your seat covers, we'll replace them. 

Quick facts:

• Made of 1000D CORDURA®
• Unconditional lifetime warranty
• 30-day return policy
• Two color options
• Waterproof

Price: $337

Overall Best Side-By-Side Seat Cover

That’s up to you. Each brand has its benefits and pitfalls, and there are only a few UTV seat cover options to choose from (don’t worry, we looked). Ultimately, you just need something that’s going to do well in the elements and protect your seats for years. We always suggest U.S. products and something with a strong warranty. But, it’s best that you find something that meets your budget and your needs.

WeatherTech is famous in the world of vehicle interior protection. (We admit, that world is pretty tiny, but their presence in it is robust.) They've been in business for decades, are made in America, and offer a decent warranty. What's not to love?

We want to compare WeatherTech with TigerTough seat covers and share our in-the-trenches experience so that you can make an informed decision. We’ll be looking at this as objectively as possible by pointing out the facts, but we’ll be comparing the features and performance with TigerTough.

If you don’t want to read this all, the bottom line is, WeatherTech Seat Protectors are disappointing. Yep, we went there. We know they’re a great company, but their seat covers have many common problems seat covers can face. You can read our WeatherTech Seat Protector review if you'd like more in-depth information.

We ordered charcoal Seat Protectors to cover a 2023 Ford F150. We’ll start with the construction, then go into the individual parts, performance, and pricing.

Watch the video comparison

Installation

Installation was a breeze on the WeatherTech Seat Protectors. It took us under three minutes to get one cover installed. If you’ve ever put a bib on a kid, you’ll be a pro at these. Two straps connect behind the seat, one under the seat, and a stretchy strap around the headrest posts.

TigerTough takes longer. You’ll have to install all three pieces; getting a secure fit takes time.

Design and fit

WeatherTech’s Seat Protectors have a one-piece design and only lay on the front of the seat, and the back is wide open. Think hospital gown.

They offer six variations of their seat cover to fit thousands of makes and models of vehicles. 

TigerTough seat covers come in three pieces and wrap the entire seat, more like coveralls. We customize seat covers to snugly fit thousands of trucks, vans, and SUVs.

Headrest

Well, this section is weird since WeatherTech doesn’t cover headrests. 

They have a strap that goes around the bars of the headrest, but they don’t cover the portion where your head will be. So, all the oils, dirt, grease, etc., will transfer from your head onto your headrest. 

But ironically, you can’t install WeatherTech Seat Protectors unless you have a headrest, or the cover won’t be secure on your seat.

TigerTough’s seat covers have a separate headrest portion that secures with hook and loop so that your headrest remains unscathed.

Seatback

Appearance

The front of the seat back (we know that sounds weird), the part where you rest your back, is where WeatherTech has a standard dog logo patch. Some reviewers didn’t love this logo (we suspect they’re cat people), but it’s harmless.

At TigerTough, you can have a blank seat cover or custom embroidery starting at $19 per seat. This is all about looks, so let’s move on to function.

Function

WeatherTech’s Seat Protectors cover the front of the upright portion of your seat, but they are bare on the backside. See what we mean about the hospital gown?

Two hook and loop straps connect on the back, but they dangle and feel awkward. It would be nice if there were a way to secure the extra length of unnecessary straps. 

You can purchase an additional seat back protector from WeatherTech for $55 each if protecting the back of the seat is important to you. (We’re looking at you, parents.)

TigerTough seat covers wrap around the seat for complete protection and to keep the covers secure. We use the same material on the front as we do on the back. If you'd like to add seat back pockets, that's an option too.

Seat crease 

Since WeatherTech Seat Protectors are one piece, there’s no great way to make a clean crease in the seat. On the plus side, it will catch your crumbs and debris. On a back seat with kids, we could see the benefit of having a crumb-catcher.

The TigerTough seat cover comes in three pieces, so the seat bottom and back are separate, giving you a clean crease.

This is as functional as it is aesthetic. A good fit will keep the seat cover in place, but if you want it to look one way or the other, that’s your preference. 

Seat bottom

WeatherTech has a skirt that goes around the base of the seat. This covered the seat controls on the 2023 F-150 we tried it on. No attachments run under the seat to secure this, so the cover tends to shift as you get in and out of your vehicle.

In comparison, TigerTough seat covers are meant to tuck into the plastic trim of the seat and secure under the seat with straps for a snug fit.

Airbag safety

This isn’t an area to gloss over, and it’s the reason we wouldn’t put WeatherTech Seat Protectors in our own vehicles. Having airbag-compatible seat covers is necessary for your and your passengers' safety.

WeatherTech says not to install their Seat Protectors if the securing straps cover the side seat airbags.

💡 Quick history lesson: most cars made after 2014 will have side airbags due to federal regulation, many deploying from the seat.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that between 1996 and 2012, 2,252 lives were saved by side and curtain airbags–before regulations were even put into place. At that time, only 42% of vehicles on the road were equipped with side airbags. That percentage is much higher now.

We know you take safety seriously, whether it’s in your personal vehicle or if you’re managing a fleet. So if you’re considering WeatherTech Seat Protectors, look to see if the securing straps will cover any side airbags. If they do, find a better option.

Price

This area is perplexing. Each WeatherTech Seat Protector for a captain or bucket seat is $150 each. So protecting your front seats would be $300. Adding back protection to fully cover your front seats with WeatherTech would cost over $400. And you still don’t have your headrests protected.

To fully cover your two front seats with TigerTough, it will be $297 (we used a 2023 Ford F150 for spec). Plus, your headrests are covered.

WeatherTech: $410 (no headrest protection)
TigerTough: $297

Overview

Even if we didn’t work for TigerTough, the facts all point to WeatherTech being inferior. They don’t cover as much, aren’t a custom fit, cost more money, and there’s a good chance they’ll prevent your airbag from deploying.

Even their customers have a hard time justifying the cost of these seat covers when you look at recent reviews:

"WeatherTech should stick to floor liners. Their advertising for this product is very misleading. Be advised the seat cover does not cover the back of the seat and head rest. They are simply velcro strapped in the back to hold it on. And they don't fit, just flapping around. They really look cheap, but cost a lot. They requested my vehicle make and model so the cover would be custom fit. Wrong! They don't fit and are downright ugly! You will be sorry if you buy it. Needless to say, I returned it."

^{George S., Arizona
May 24, 2023
WeatherTech Seat Protector reviewer}

There are many seat covers on the market, so if TigerTough isn’t right for you, there’s probably an option that’s safer and more affordable than WeatherTech.

In construction, tar smears on vehicle seat covers isn't abnormal. A paving company we work with told us about a little secret formula they've been using: brake cleaner and a putty knife to tackle tar on their seat covers.

This method wasn't something we found in any standard cleaning guide, but it was intriguing enough to put to the test.

The Experiment Takes Shape

With a healthy dose of skepticism and a can-do attitude, we launched this experiment. (Can you believe they pay us to do this?)

Our first step was, admittedly, a bit overzealous. We applied the tar liberally, more than was probably necessary. After letting it sit and dry for a couple of days, we came back to assess the situation.

Getting Down to Business

Equipped with brake cleaner and a putty knife, just as recommended, we got down to the nitty-gritty. It was a straightforward process: apply the cleaner, let it soak in briefly, then gently scrape away at the tar. This wasn't a quick wax-on-wax-off kind of job. It required about 15 minutes of diligent work, but to our surprise, the tar came off completely without leaving any damage to the seat or its cover.

A Word of Caution

Even with this success, it's important to note that this isn't your average cleaning hack. Brake cleaner is strong stuff, designed for mechanical parts, not fabric. And while a putty knife can be a handy tool, there's always a risk of nicking or cutting the material if you're not careful.

So, while we can vouch for the effectiveness of this method in our experience, it's not something we'd recommend without reservations. It's critical to use this approach with caution, understanding the potential risks to both safety and the materials you're working with.

And just like grease on seat covers, we'd recommend tossing the cover in the wash after removing tar. 

This unconventional cleaning method goes to show that sometimes, the most effective solutions come from the field, born out of necessity and practical know-how. However, it's always crucial to balance innovation with caution, particularly when dealing with powerful chemicals and manual tools. For those in the blue-collar sectors, where ingenuity meets hard work, such experiments can be part of the job. 

At TigerTough, we're all about getting stuff done, no fluff, no buzzwords. We take pride in down-to-earth solutions that hit the mark. That’s why we invented StringLock, a nifty little fix to a big headache.

StringLock is our answer to: how can we make securing seat covers less of a pain? We fully admit that getting our seat covers on is difficult. But StringLock makes it simpler. 

Ok, but where the heck is this seat cover string? It's hidden. It's part of the seat cover bottom and cinches around the seat bottom between the cushion and the plastic trim. The string ends feed through and dangle under the seat for fastening.

The magic happens when you slide the seat cover string ends into this little gadget and clamp it down. Boom, locked into place. Just like that, your cover’s not budging, no matter how much you jump in and out of your seat.

Why did we come up with this? Simple. Tying those seat cover strings in knots was turning into a chore.

"We've always had strings on our seat covers... But to make them work correctly, you had to tie these two ends together in a series of knots that would give a Boy Scout anxiety." 

Sheldon Zitzmann, Marketing Director

And so, StringLock was born. It's a simple way to lock the strings together and not need to tie any crazy knots. Making your life easier, one seat cover at a time, is what we’re here for. 

How StringLock Works

The Invention of StringLock

We faced an issue during those early days: tying seat covers was a hassle. Feedback was clear – knots were a pain. And it felt a little amature.

We needed a better solution. That's where StringLock stepped in. It's our simple fix. No more crazy knots. Slide the strings in, clip it shut, and you're done. "We invented StringLock to cut the knot-tying headache," because who's got time for that?

It all started with this sketchy drawing. (See what we did there?) 

Then we handed it over to the professionals, and they created the official, which were patented.

StringLock's birth was just us doing what we try do best—listening and then delivering a hands-down simpler solution.

Benefits of Using StringLock

Switching to StringLock from the old-school knot-tying routine is like upgrading from chalk reel to a laser level. But it’s also better than elastic options some other companies use. Here’s why it’s a game changer:

• Ease of Use: Forget about needing a manual or a YouTube tutorial just to figure out how to tie a secure knot (but no judgement if you need that YouTube video). StringLock is as straightforward as it gets. Slide in, clip, done. It’s that easy, which means no more frustration or needing special skills just to keep your seat cover in place.
• Reliability: With StringLock, it’s a one-and-done deal. Once you lock it in, it stays put. This means your seat cover isn’t going anywhere, no matter how much you move around. And when you need to take off your covers for a cleaning, just unclip and unthread the string.
• Time-Saving: Cut down the install time significantly since you don’t have to deal with knots. More time working, less time fiddling with your seat covers to get them just right.
• Durability: Unlike elastic, the string won’t stretch out. Meaning your seat cover stays put.

Simple Yet Effective

So there you have it, the lowdown on StringLock, our simple yet mighty solution. It's all about making sure your seat covers stay put, hassle-free, without needing to become a knot-tying wizard or relying on unreliable elastic. Ease of use, reliability, and saving you a heap of time – that's what StringLock brings to the table. And you won't find another brand of seat cover with it.

Each TigerTough custom seat cover is shipped with step-by-step color instructions on installing them on the exact vehicle they were specifically designed for. 

So if you ordered seat covers for your 2017 Toyota Tacoma, you’ll get instructions on how to install those covers in a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. Pretty nice, right?

There are covers in the seat cover world that look awful because the installation process is confusing or inadequate. It’s a common problem with seat covers. We addressed this head-on by making installation as straightforward as possible.

And in case you toss your instructions in a moment of confidence and need a few pointers along the way, you’re in luck because we record installation videos for every vehicle. 

Since each vehicle is different, each seat cover install will be different. 

We’ll walk you through what a typical installation looks like.

Watch the video version

Before you start 

1. Lift and remove the headrest.
2. Lean the seat back.
3. Remove any straps on the underside that hold the carpet up.
4. If you have a Ford, unclip the plastic connectors under the seat–they might feel like they’re going to break, but they will come off.

Installing the seat bottom cover

1. Make sure you start with the correct seat cover–passenger and driver’s seats are different, so just look for the tag.
2. Line the seams up.
3. Push the top flap of the seat cover between the seat back and the seat bottom.
4. Take the strings and put one between the seat and the center console and cover and one between the seat cushion and plastic on the door side. These need to go down and under the seat, not straight back and behind the seat.
5. Tuck the cover between the cushion and the plastic trim around the seat.
6. Go behind the seat and find the strings you ran through the sides of the seat.
7. Run them under the seat. Look at your specific instructions to see if you need to run them behind or in front of the seat mounts. 
8. Pull them as tight as you can.
9. Find the StringLock.
10. Run the strings through each side of the StringLock as tight as possible and clamp it (the tighter, the better!).
11. Run the front seat flaps over any seat-adjusting bar and under the seat.
12. Pull tight on the front and back flaps and fasten them underneath the seat.

Installing the seatback cover

1. Make sure the airbag tag is on the door side of the seat.
2. Slide the cover over the seat.
3. Press the cover down around the plastic headrest mounts.
4. Go to the back and tuck the carpet flap up into the seat cover.
5. Push the front flaps through the seat crease and fasten them on the backside.

Lastly, installing the headrest cover

1. Put the headrest back in, but don’t put it all the way down.
2. Take the cover and make sure the long flap is in front.
3. Tuck the flap to the back and secure it.
4. You can put the headrest down now if you’d like.

How easy was it?

We’ve installed other seat covers (check out this Carhartt install we did) and must admit that ours take longer. Since our covers come in multiple pieces, you’ll get a better fit, but it will take a little while to get those pieces where you want.

We say to expect to spend up to 45 minutes per seat on installation. 

According to Hunt Tested:

“If you’re looking for a seat cover that you can throw on for the weekends and then take off during the week, this cover is likely not the best choice. While you certainly can remove and reinstall these covers, the process is involved enough that I wouldn’t want to do it frequently. To get a precision fit, you give up being able to quickly and easily take the covers on and off.”

Wrapping it up

These aren’t the easiest to install, but they’re also not rocket science. If you’ve ever stepped foot on a job site, you can install these. And we can assure you that every installation step helps give you the best-looking fit on your new seat covers. 

Every vehicle installation is going to vary a bit. But we won’t leave you in the dark. You’ll get detailed instructions, an install video, and you’re always welcome to contact us if you’re stumped. And if you want to skip the installation altogether, check out one of our 850+ dealers.