I've just had a wheel off yet again for DIY repair of relatively minor rim scuffs but a real pita to get back perfect.

 

Is it worth rim bands / alloygators  to save this very occassional lapse of concentration on supermarket kerbs / urgent moving out the way of emergency vehicles etc etc

 

Also not sure about the look? I'd have to go for silver, or maybe black.

Or is there truly a superior rim protection wheel ? I am quite sold on the RS3 tyres where I can, but I supposed I would consider a tyre if it had really superior rim protection as well as being an amazing tyre and hopefully not ridiculous priced.

Anyone used them ? I'm wondering also what the wheel looks like underneath the supposed "Protection" ? Anyone revealed what alloys are like after they come off ? If they look just as battered underneath defeats the point lol.

 

Please note: Comments of " my driving is so superior I never scuff my wheels" are unhelpful and just not needed here, thanks, just go and post on trainspotters monthly website or something

 

Wife has alloygators fitted to Fabia Monte Carlo as no rim protection from the low profile tyre. 

 

Have saved a lot of money on potential refurbs. 

 

Not had had to change any yet but imagine rim will be fine - the alloygator being the sacrificial material vs the kerb. 

 

I think it enhances the look on the car. 

 

I can can get some photos but Monte rims so not direct comparison. 

 

Ryan

@vRSAnt I've just had 4 new Goodyear F1 Asymmetric 3 fitted this morning. The rim protector looks quite decent on these, probably not foolproof but much better than the Continental Sport Contact 5 that were on previously, which had no protector at all.

 

 

Edited 19 May, 20188 yr by ahenners
fixed image size

Thanks, your rim protection looks marginal - same issue as my RS3.

I suspect on contact you might get scrapes as I have, unless the side on picture is deceiving and there is a slight lip of rubber beyond what can be seen ?

 

The fault here really is the design of the alloy unfortunately very prominent. Probably better to give up on expecting tyre rim protection and just get a product.

 

I might do that. Alloy gators sounds like one to go for over rim blades, I will give it some thought I think, I actually prefer the clean alloy look over the protector but I think the alloygator is the more discrete of the 2 possibly. Might give them a go but then I have to choose colour against my black car - black or silver !! Not keen on bold colours.

The browser doesn't seem to allow click in to zoom but had a look via my mobile where I can see the side on much more clearly, actually it does look like it offers some protection on your tyres, even if slight.

So definitely a better tyre choice.

81.90 on black circles ea or about £100 fitted, so not so much more in price either, thanks

Just had a look at the pictures of those and they do look like a good investment.

 

The black ones look much better than the coloured ones. Just screams ricer having something like that

1 hour ago, vRSAnt said:

The browser doesn't seem to allow click in to zoom but had a look via my mobile where I can see the side on much more clearly, actually it does look like it offers some protection on your tyres, even if slight.

So definitely a better tyre choice.

81.90 on black circles ea or about £100 fitted, so not so much more in price either, thanks

 

It is probably slight at best, like you say I think the design of the alloy is part of the problem. Something like those alloy gators would obviously provide more protection. The Contis I had provided zero protection so these should be better at least. Quieter and more comfortable too.

 

Price wise they were £92 fitted in my work car park (black circles normally charge more for mobile fitting) plus I got a £60 Amazon Gift card for buying 4. 

Zero rim protection from tyre on monte wheels. 

 

Photos of gator. 

That gator doesn't look too bad.

 

Have a mate who swears by them, even chaving up his 911 with some - looked truly awful!

On 5/19/2018 at 14:36, ahenners said:

@vRSAnt I've just had 4 new Goodyear F1 Asymmetric 3 fitted this morning. The rim protector looks quite decent on these, probably not foolproof but much better than the Continental Sport Contact 5 that were on previously, which had no protector at all.

 

 

 

There is something wrong with your statement there

I have the Contis and they have a HUGE lip protector.

I am gonna guess there are different variations of these tires, since I had them also on the Saab and I don't recall so big rim protection.

I will try to make a photo and post later.

1 hour ago, Jaco2k said:

 

There is something wrong with your statement there

I have the Contis and they have a HUGE lip protector.

I am gonna guess there are different variations of these tires, since I had them also on the Saab and I don't recall so big rim protection.

I will try to make a photo and post later.

 

You are correct, I just remembered I had the MO (Mercedes Option variant) of the CS5 rather than the standard CS5. Perhaps these don't have the lip or it's less prominent. 

Hmmm hmmm... I looked carefully at @ahenners pic now and I am gonna say the issue is with Skoda rim designs.

I am going to post later a pic of the same tire on the Seat rims and you will see how much more protection there is.

Granted that the size I have is 235/35/19 and usual Skoda size is 225/35/19, which might explain some, but not all the difference.

 

--edit--

 

Just zoom in on this picture and see what I mean:

 

Edited 21 May, 20188 yr by Jaco2k

I didn't realise quite how much wider the octy is....so no wonder its a far bigger proposition navigating supermarket curb curves etc!

 

As I switch between the 2 perhaps struggling to really appreciate the size differences !

 

My Fabia 1 vrs is just 1650mm......oct is 2,017 ! That's 367mm wider lol ( or almost 15 inches ladies )

 

So, these are Continental SportContact 5 in 235/35/19 size - checkout the size of that rim protection:

 

 

It must be that there are different variations of this tyre, some with and some without rim protection.

This one is particularly huge - there is over one finger width of lip there.

I had Alloygators fitted to my new Vrs 19” alloys .

Went for these as they are fitted between wheel and Tyre not stuck on rim 

i have two sets not fitted yet but one will be going on my winter set. The dealer i bought them from won't sell them anymore so i got them v cheap. He said that grit and dirt gets between the gator and alloy and damages the alloy surface especially if its painted. For that reason im not putting them on the Xtremes. AS3s have a decent lip anyway which would gove some protection.

Edited 23 May, 20188 yr by JohnnyType2

Wow that sounds like a bit of a failure of the product intention, no rush to buy these for me either, may review at tyre time instead.
No sale kid.

 

I'm no stranger to alloy repair now anyway, in fact now the one I just repaired is outdoing the others on finish standard and so I will have to do the other 3   Which are mostly fine but just could do a top up, they look weathered.

Plus I had chance to have a play at doing the really awful corrosion on the wheel badge edges in red,

which whilst best described as a bit pikey certainly looks a lot better than it did and gives some ideas.....
Also had some slight overspray in places on that rim repair to the tyres is something to be desired lol rushing the job haha
but will muck up quick so shouldnt be noticeable

You want to see them before, for such a low impact momentary impact you would have hoped, but scratched to buggery lol
 

Not perfect but acceptable now

Yes I know I need to blacken the tyre wall now lol

i fancied some of these but looking on the u tube it appears that they can have the problems described and can be liable to coming off even if the professionally fitted ones,but they do appear to protect the wheel

I went to the Skodafest and new looking Extreme envy kicked in and now I am less bothered about the protection lol