I installed clear covers on H. after seeing a lot of long-term favorable "results", on/from basket-cases, that had had plastic seat covers installed on them. My excellent local upholstery shop had 'initially' advised me AGAINST installing the 'covers' (in the hot/dry desert environment). ' However, after seeing 'nothing' but positive results "on" swap-meet cars (where the ONLY "deterioration/damage" on the upholstery was where the plastic covers had deteriorated and had separated-away, EXPOSING the upgolstery to the 'elements') , I decided that I HAD TO install the plastic covers---I had been snugging-down matterss pads, over the seats, to protect them, but the seat bottoms still got dirty. I had my seats be professionally cleaned (out of the car), air-dry, and then had my shop install the clear covers--I've recently REPLACED the 'worn' clear covers with new plastic--the upholstery was in perfect condition, EXCEPT where the driver's side gold seat-beading had broken, from usage, AND also, the "vertically-oriented " seat vinyl, on the driver's bolster (what you 1st see, upon opening the door) and cracked, laterally, (again!) from "seat-usage"---I say "again", because when I 1st got H., he had a similar crackage/failure of the OEM vinyl, @ that location. Speaking of OEM vinyl, the OEM stuff ("Pellon" -backed", as the advertising stated) was actually PRETTY GOOD stuff--the Pellon was a registered trademark (of DuPont??--I've got an magazine-ad, from its manufacturer, touting its properties)--and the Pellon was another layer of woven 'something', that reinforced the vinyl. The replacement vinyl (that 'failed' "this-time", and which was again-replaced, with the 'new' clear-plastic covers, and the new seat beading) was provided by SMS (IIRC), and altho it has the correct color/texture, it's a LOT wimpier (no underlying reinforcement) than the OEM "Pellon"-reinforced vinyl. Anyway, I'm an exponent of using clear plastic seat covers. Neil V. |