Learning Center

To be direct, yes, airbag-compatible seat covers are considered safe if they allow the airbag to deploy in third-party testing.

But for those who want to know more details, this article is for you.

Airbags are relatively new in automobile history. They were heavily considered for passenger vehicles in the 1950s, according to The Rough Road to Airbags. The concept was brought to Chrystler, but they weren't interested. Ford and General Motors experimented with prototypes but couldn't mass-produce them. 

But it wasn't until 1990 that the first collision with two cars deploying airbags was recorded. Since then, airbags have saved over 50,000 lives.

So what are airbag-compatible seat covers, and why are they important?

What are airbag-compatible seat covers?

Seat covers are considered compatible airbags when holes or flaps allow the seat airbag to deploy. They're considered safe for installation.

When you install seat covers on a newer (2012+) vehicle, you're almost guaranteed to cover up an airbag in the side of your seat. If your seat cover doesn't allow the airbag to deploy, you will likely be smashing your head and upper body into the side of the vehicle in the event of a crash. That's not something fun to think about, but it's true.

Watch this video and see how the torso airbag in the seat works with the ceiling airbag to protect the driver from hitting the side of the vehicle:

That doesn't mean you shouldn't install seat covers on your vehicle. Just don't install cheap, universal-fit covers. But watch out; even well-known manufacturers don't always have airbag-safe covers.

If the seat cover doesn't mention anything about compatibility, and you see straps or anything covering the side airbag, it's probably best not to install it in your car, truck, van, or SUV.

Which brands of seat covers are compatible with airbags?

In our research, we've found the following top brands to be considered safe:

• Covercraft
• Wet Okole
• Canvasback
• ShearComfort
• TigerTough

We haven't looked to see if these brands (other than TigerTough) have been independently tested, but according to their websites, they're considered safe with airbags. We suggest you only install seat covers that are independently tested and verified for airbag compatibility by a qualified third-party laboratory.

So TigerTough seat covers are airbag-safe?

Yes.

TigerTough seat covers have been independently tested and verified by MGA Research Corporation in Troy, MI. Watch the airbag deploy in under 30 milliseconds in the testing video below:

Whether you're installing truck seat covers or if they're for your car or van, check and make sure that the cover will allow your airbag to deploy. You owe it to yourself and your passengers.

Why are they important?

When adding aftermarket parts to your vehicle, you need to ensure that you don't hinder any of the safety features of your truck, van, car, police vehicle, etc.

All vehicles today have airbags in the steering wheel and passenger side dash. Most vehicles come with them in the side of the seat back. Some cars have airbags in the A-pillar (by the dash), the B-pillar (by your head when you're in the seat), the ceiling, and other locations in the vehicle.

We HIGHLY recommend checking your owner's manual before modifying your vehicle's interior to ensure you aren't compromising your and your passengers' safety. And when you're ready to install seat covers, be sure they're compatible with your airbags.

We get it a lot; people looking for seat covers for vehicles that we don’t cover, crazy colors, or other really custom stuff that we don’t do.

So here’s who we’re right for and who we’re not

First off, let’s start off with who we’re not right for. That way, if you’re in that category, you don’t have to waste any time.

• If you’re looking for seat covers for a passenger car, minivan, or a custom dog hammock, we’re probably not your best option.
• We’re not the right fit if you’re after seat covers featuring the logos of your favorite sports team, vehicle manufacturer, or motorcycle. While we do offer stock and custom embroidery, we don’t license copyrighted logos (it’s too expensive, and we prefer to invest that money in high-quality materials).
• If you want seat covers that are two-tone, alligator skin, or come in wild colors, we’re not the right company. Same goes if you’re looking for extra foam padding, heated covers, or similar extras.
• If you need a seat cover that can be quickly installed to take the dog to the vet or haul landscaping equipment in the backseat of your family truck, we might not be the best fit. Our seat covers take 15 minutes to install per seat and about half that time to remove. So, this one’s up to you.
• Lastly, we’re not cheap—and there are three key reasons why:
• Made in the USA: We don’t outsource our manufacturing. While we could cut labor costs by sending production elsewhere, we choose to support American workers and pay fair wages.
• Top-notch materials: We use the toughest, highest-quality materials available to ensure you get the best seat covers out there.
• Custom-fit designs: Every seat cover is designed specifically for your vehicle. That means we bring trucks to our factory and spend hours making sure each cover fits perfectly.

If we’re not right for you, no hard feelings. We’d rather you find out now than after you spent your hard-earned dough and ended up disappointed.

Now, who we ARE right for

We make seat covers for work. And by work, we’re talking blue-collar, hard work. Contractors, pest control, last-mile delivery, service trucks, and law enforcement, just to name a few industries. 

The people who use our seat covers are typically doing some of the following:

• Multiple entry/exits every day
• Getting dirty
• Wearing tools and/or weapons on their belts
• And, most often, a combination of all three

TigerTough Ironweave seat covers are made from 1000-denier CORDURA, some of the toughest material we can find to wrap around your seats. In fact, it has a higher abrasion rating than Kevlar. We use it because while it’s almost impossible to tear, it’s easy to work with, it’s water-resistant, and it’s made in the USA.

You’ll probably notice that our covers have no decorative stitching (aside from the optional embroidery, if you choose that) and very few seams. That’s because seams and stitching are the weakest points in anything sewn together. Since our customers use their vehicles as tools in their toolboxes, we’re doing everything possible to eliminate weak points.

Actually, a customer who goes by the name R00ster said it best. He’s a farmer from Virginia and says

R00ster goes on to say he throws grease guns, screwdrivers, and fencing tools (even his chain saw) on his seats and doesn’t worry about it anymore.

We build seat covers for people like R00ster. The people whose day-to-day jobs are the ones that make the lights come on, the food hit your plate, the gas come out of the pumps, and the packages show up on time. Ours are some of the best work truck seat covers on the market, and we're darn proud of that.

If you’re looking for a seat cover that isn’t luxury but most definitely is built for work, TigerTough is the best choice. 

Both. How's that for an answer?

What Are You Doing?

If you're slapping some purple, fuzzy, Tweetie Bird covers on your Camry, they're probably an accessory. Even if you're the kind of person that gets bored with a plain, boring, gray interior like everyone else has and wants to spice things up with an epic camo pattern, they're still an accessory.

When your seat covers become a part of your work truck, that's when the story changes. When your truck's covers are in place to prevent your day-to-day from tearing up the seats in your vehicle, then you can start calling them a necessity.

Construction workers, linemen, roustabouts, and roughnecks know what we're talking about. They've got work to do, they don't have time to worry about keeping their truck sparkly clean. Not when you've got some of the dirtiest, toughest jobs out there. Those fleet managers know that quality seat covers are a necessity if they want to get anything for their trucks when they're done with them.

Travis from Black Hawk Energy Services talked about it here: An Extra $3000 In Resale Value

Bryan from Anderson & Wood Construction has proved they're a necessity here: North Dakota Construction Trucks Look Like New

And Dan from the Hollis, NH Police Department would tell you they're a necessity: Here Is Why

So often, fleet managers and owners look at work truck seat covers as an accessory. They're right if they're just trying to make their trucks look cooler, but if they're committed to making their fleet as efficient and cost-effective as possible, seat covers for their work trucks are necessity

Interested in seeing if they'd help you have better equipment, happier drivers, and more money? Grab a sample and let us know what you think.

I'd Like A Sample

When you're managing a fleet of vehicles, you probably don't think about something as simple as a seat cover being able to erase some pains. There are many ways that using custom seat covers can benefit your company and make you a more effective fleet manager. Here are a few of our favorites:

1. Improve Your Resale Value

This is probably the biggest one. (That's why its number 1). Using seat protection on your fleet vehicles will definitely improve the resale value of your vehicles. By installing TigerTough custom seat covers when the truck is new, (Your upfitter can do it for you) you preserve the seats from all dirt, grease, and wear that happens over the life of the truck.

2. Improve Driver Morale

Nobody wants to get into a vehicle that has a broken down, worn out interior. Custom covers prevent that. TigerTough's Ironweave fabric will stand up to the abuse that a fleet vehicle takes far better than the factory upholstery will. Your trucks will look better and your drivers will be happier because of that.

3. Save Money on Maintenance

Investing a few hundred dollars in proactive seat protection will pay off big time. According to Law and Order Magazine, small problems will quickly become big problems. Once a vehicle starts to have a few minor issues (a light not working, a cracked windshield, a torn seat) the operator starts to care less for the vehicle and neglect will result in bigger problems.

4. Customize Your Fleet and Promote Your Brand

This is where the custom comes in. TigerTough seat covers are available with custom embroidery so you can promote your company's image, a safety message, or whatever you wish. There is very little that we can't do to customize your seat covers.

5. Be More Comfortable

Over time, the foam in the seats of a vehicle start to break down and the seat loses its support. TigerTough covers hold the seat in place, offering more support and comfort over the life of the vehicle.

Check out all the reasons heavy duty seat covers will benefit your fleet.