TYRE RIM PROTECTION - WHAT IS IT AND DO YOU NEED IT?

Posted On 16 Mar 2022

You need to protect every part of your vehicle. If you do, it’ll give you the best performance, last longer, and cost you less money to run.

And because they’re the only parts of your vehicle that make contact with the road, it’s especially important to pay close attention to your tyres. That includes the rims, which are also susceptible to damage. Protecting your rims goes a long way toward protecting your wheels as a whole.

What are tyre rims?

Rims are the central section of the wheel, the part used to fix the tyre to the vehicle. When you replace your tyres, the new tyres will usually be fitted to your existing rims unless there’s an issue, such as corrosion or damage.

What are alloy wheels?

Alloy wheels are what rims are called when manufactured using a combination of aluminium and magnesium. The combination allows for a stronger construction that is able to deal with the pressure and heat the tyres will create when driven.

What are tyre rim protectors?

Rim protectors do what their name suggests: they protect the rims. They’re strips of plastic or rubber that fit across the edge of the rims to prevent damage that can occur when catching the kerb.

Rim protectors are available in colours that match your tyre and rim, or in bright colours that allow for a pop of personality.

Why you need to protect your tyre rims

Rim protectors aren’t a necessity, and many drivers choose not to use them. However, that does come with a risk, as rims are susceptible to damage, such as if you were to catch the edge of the kerb.

Depending on the severity of the damage to your rims, it can cause a number of other issues, such as damage to the tyre itself, vibrations while driving, and problems with wheel balancing.

What sort of tyres require rim protectors?

Rim protectors can be fitted to most tyre types, but it’s a case of personal preference. But anything you can do to protect your tyres is worth considering.

Low profile tyres

Rim protectors are more commonly used on low profile tyres, which have a much shallower sidewall, and therefore larger rims. The larger and closer to the road the rim is, the more likely it is to be damaged.

High profile tyres

High profile tyres are less likely to require rim protectors, as the rubber from the tyre often contours further than the rim itself, offering protection.

The benefits of rim protectors

There are a number of benefits for fitting rim protectors to your vehicle:

Protect the rim from damage by absorbing most of the impact
It’s much cheaper and quicker to replace scuffed rim protectors than it is to replace a damaged rim
Adds a layer of customisation to your vehicle, which you can easily do yourself

How are rim protectors fitted?

Each brand of rim protector may require a slightly different technique to fit them to the wheels - some are self-adhesive, while others slot or clip into the rim itself.

You can easily fit self-adhesive rim protectors at home by yourself. They will come with easy-to-follow instructions and shouldn’t require any tools you’re not likely to have already.

Any other types of rim protectors may require a specialist to fit on your behalf. Before you decide to purchase rim protectors, make sure you know exactly how they’re fitted if you do intend to fit them yourself.

Asking a professional to fit rim protectors will increase the cost, but it will be less than if your rims were to be damaged and had to be replaced.

So, do you need to protect my rims?

Not many of us can say we’ve never scuffed our tyres on the kerb, and damage to your rims can lead to bigger problems, such as damage to the tyre itself, which will of course cost us money.

It’s better to be safe than sorry. When fitted, rim protectors don’t affect your driving in any way, but do add peace of mind just in case you do stray a little too close to the kerb.

Rim protectors aren’t required by law, but it’s important that we do everything we can to make sure our tyres are as well looked after as possible.

It’s especially important to consider using rim protectors if your vehicle has low profile tyres, which are more susceptible to damage than other tyre types.