Abstract: A cover fabric for a V belt having increased flex and wear-life, and a method of making the cover fabric. A fabric is bias cut into a continuous strip of fabric. The individual fibers in the continuous strip are impregnated with an elastomeric polymeric material effective to increase the flex and wear-life of the fabric when used as a cover fabric for V belts. This impregnation is accomplished by immersing the strip in a fluid mix having a viscosity of about 2000 cps or less, the mix including a fluid carrier, an elastomeric polymer (e.g. a polychloroprene compound) and a dark pigment. A coating of an elastomeric polymer (e.g. another polychloroprene compound) is applied to the strip, the strip is stretched in its width direction to increase the angular relation of the threads of the fabric relative to its longitudinal axis, and the thus coated strip is dried. The continuous strip is ultimately slit longitudinally of itself into a plurality of tapes, and the tapes are used to cover a V belt.