Alloy wheel rim protectors such as AlloyGator are an innovative automotive wheel accessory that protect your alloy wheels from curb rash and scratches while giving your vehicle a luxurious customized appearance.
If you’ve recently purchased a set of AlloyGators for your vehicle and have questions on how to install it at home, we got you covered.
The installation and removal processes are simple to do with some basic automotive tools. We’ll have your vehicle ready for the road in no time with our quick step by step guide.
What is an alloy wheel protector?
Types of Alloy Wheel Protectors
What are the best wheel rim protectors?
AlloyGator Wheel Rim Protector Installation Guide
How to Clean your Wheels and AlloyGators
How to Remove AlloyGator Wheel Rim Protectors
What is an alloy wheel protector?
An alloy wheel protector is a popular automotive exterior accessory for drivers looking to protect their rims from damage and scratches caused by impact with a curb or pothole. Also known as alloy rim protectors, wheel edge protectors, or wheel rim guards, wheel protectors are physical attachments that are typically constructed of nylon or a strong plastic material, and connect along the border of an alloy wheel and the tire.
Leading brands such as AlloyGator are available in 14 colours, allowing car enthusiasts to also personalize their vehicles while protecting their rims at the same time.
It first became popular in Europe with luxury car owners looking for a way to protect their expensive rims from deep scratches, while adding some personalized flare as well. It has since become adopted in North America for all types of vehicles including sedans, hatchbacks, Jeeps, pickup trucks, and SUVs; essentially any road vehicle with alloy wheels up to 24 inches in diameter.
Types of Alloy Wheel Protectors
Tire Trap Wheel Rim Protectors
The most popular type of alloy wheel rim protectors on the market fit directly between the wheel and tire, trapping along the edge where the two meet.
They’re typically constructed of a plastic material, with the more durable brands using a tough nylon composite for more robust protection. The purpose of course being to provide a barrier for your rims in the event that you drive over a pothole or hit a curb, which is common while parking or driving in wet or snowy road conditions.
The most popular brand of tire trapping rim protectors for alloy wheels is AlloyGator, which are held in place with its diamond gripping technology.
AlloyGator requires the tire to be deflated for installation, and uses its patented designed locking teeth, diamond grips, and stainless steel clips to securely fit in between the wheel and tire.
They typically cost around $130 for a set of four alloy wheel rim protectors, and are well worth the durable protection and personalization that they offer.
Bond on Rim Protectors
Another wheel protection option on the market are bonding rim protectors that stick to the border of your rims using a strong adhesive. They’re often constructed of a thermoplastic material and have a lower profile design.
Bond-on wheel protectors can be a convenient option as they’re typically simple to install, with only a few tools required to complete the installation process.
Higher grade bond-on rim protectors can provide adequate protection against common low impact contact against a curb or small pothole. However, they do not provide the same level of protection against heavy impact curbing as the more durable AlloyGator wheel protectors offer.
What are the best wheel rim protectors?
There are many options available on the market that claim to protect your alloy wheels against impact, however only a few offer the durability and personalization that most desire.
AlloyGator has established itself as a leading brand manufacturer of alloy wheel rim protection worldwide with nearly 15 years of product development. They have been highly engineered and tested in order to provide superior wheel rim protection to take the heavy impact of driving over potholes or curbing your wheels.
AlloyGators are made from a tough blended nylon composite material which is flexible and will not damage your alloy wheels during installation, yet strong enough to offer superior rim protection. They’re also designed with an impact modifier and added UV stabilizer in order to maintain durability through various climate and weather conditions.
AlloyGators are designed to fit most alloy wheel and tire combinations with a rim diameter between 12 and 24 inches. Aside from providing superior protection, AlloyGators give your rims a clean profile and are available in 14 colour options, allowing you to personalize your vehicle however you desire.
Between its durability, ease of installation, and personalized colour options, AlloyGators are widely regarded as the best alloy wheel rim protectors on the market today.
AlloyGator Wheel Rim Protector Installation Guide
Installing a set of AlloyGator wheel protectors is simple to do at home in less than 45 minutes if you have the right automotive tools handy.
Required Tools to Install AlloyGators
- Tire jack
- Soft rubber mallet
- Air pressure gauge and tire compressor
- Flat head screwdriver or tire lever
- Sharp handheld cutters
- Thin washable marker or piece of chalk
- Tire lube or water and basic dishwashing soap
- Microfiber cloth
1) Use Suitability Gauge
- Use the suitability gauge provided in the packaging to determine if your set of wheels and tires are suitable for AlloyGators.
- Insert the green end of the gauge at a 45 degree angle into the gap between the wheel and tire as far as it will go.
- Gently bend or lower the gauge so that it follows the shape of your alloy wheel.
- If the wheel edge finishes in the green portion of the gauge then AlloyGators are suitable for your wheels and tires.
- If it’s in the red portion of the gauge we do NOT recommend installing AlloyGators on that specific set of wheels and tire combination.
- We also do not recommend installing AlloyGators if your gross vehicle weight, which includes your cargo and passengers, is over 5,500 lbs.
2) Lay out all AlloyGator Installation Components
- Once you’ve determined that AlloyGators will fit in between your alloy wheels and tires with the suitability gauge, lay out the remaining components in the packaging.
- Seeing all of the components and required tools laid out on a table or clear space in your garage will make the installation process move along quicker.
- The exact number of components can vary depending on which generation of AlloyGators you purchased, but they commonly include:
- 4 x AlloyGator alloy wheel rim protectors
- 6 x AlloyGator embossed joining clips
- Stainless steel securing clips for all 4 AlloyGators up to 24 inches
- 2g AlloyGator super bond adhesive
3) Confirm your Wheel Sizes
- If you’re unsure about your rims exact wheel size in inches, you can identify the size from the tire sidewall eg. 275/55R21. The final two figures are the wheel size in inches ie. 21 inch.
4) Insert Stainless Steel Clips into AlloyGator
- Dab a small amount of glue in the slot where the first steel clip will be inserted.
- Insert the steel clips provided in the packaging into the AlloyGator, serrated edge first.
- Ensure the clips, aka grippers, sit flush into the slots and retaining groove.
- Follow the numbered slots and clip all points starting from the end until you reach the number that corresponds with your wheel size eg. 21. This is the final point to clip.
5) Jack up Vehicle and Fully Deflate Tire
- Choose one wheel and tire to start with, eg. front passenger size, and jack up your vehicle until the wheel is cleared off the ground.
- Fully deflate the tire using a compressor/decompressor gauge.
6) Spray Rim and Tire with Lubricant or Mild Soapy Water
- Wipe or spray your rim and tire with a tire lubricant or mild soapy water along the surface where the AlloyGator will be installed.
- Wipe away any dirt or residue around the edge of the rim prior to installing the alloyGator, ensuring it's still lightly lubricated.
- You can also lightly lubricate the inner part of the AlloyGator itself.
7) Insert the AlloyGator between the Rim and Tire
- Starting at the valve, insert the end of the AlloyGator between the rim and tire and firmly tap it in with a soft rubber mallet.
- Working counter-clockwise, firmly tap the top of the AlloyGator with the mallet, striking towards the centre of the rim, ensuring it’s as far as it will go.
- Continue tapping the AlloyGator between the wheel and tire around the rim until it overlaps back at the valve, ensuring that the ends mesh together along the locking teeth.
8) Mark and Cut Overlapping Section of the AlloyGator
- It’s recommended that you leave 2mm - 5mm between the ends to allow for stretching.
- Using a thin washable marker or piece of chalk, or even the cutters themselves, mark the overlapped section in line with the first tooth on the tab end.
- Pull the overlapped end back from the rim and use sharp cutters to cut along the marked line.
9) Connect both ends of the AlloyGator
- Align the side that has the grooves underneath the tab with the teeth.
- Gently tap the AlloyGator back into position with the soft rubber mallet, ensuring the ends mesh together along the locking teeth.
- Using a screwdriver or tire lever, apply a small amount of pressure to slightly pry out the AlloyGator from the locking teeth.
- Run a small amount of glue along the teeth between the two ends prior to tapping it all the way in.
- Firmly tap them in place, hitting at a right angle to the wheel to ensure the ends line up with each other.
10) Firmly Tap in Place the Entire AlloyGator
- Now that the AlloyGator is aligned and nearly fully in place, firmly tap it again, starting at the top-centre of the rim, moving in a counterclockwise direction all the way around.
- Do the same for the joint, tapping square on across both ends at the same time ensuring equal pressure is applied.
- Avoid hitting one side more firmly than the other.
- Re-inflate the tire to 10-15 PSI and repeat tapping the AlloyGator for another full rotation.
11) Re-inflate the Tire and Set AlloyGator in its Final Position
- Re-inflate the tire in accordance with the recommended tire pressure found in your vehicle’s handbook.
- Use the soft rubber mallet to tap the AlloyGator again, starting at the top-centre of the rim, moving in a counterclockwise direction all the way around.
- This will set the AlloyGator in its final position.
- There should be a slight gap but no more than 1 mm between the AlloyGator and the wheel.
- However, there should Not be a gap at the back of the AlloyGator, between itself and the tire.
12) Connect Joint Clip on AlloyGator
- Apply 3-6 dabs of the provided glue evenly on the underside of the joint clip and push the peg into the hole in the AlloyGator.
- Hold in place for 20 seconds to let the adhesive bond.
- The installation for the first AlloyGator is now complete!
13) Lower the Wheel and Remove the Tire Jack
14) Repeat Steps 3 - 14 for Remaining 3 AlloyGators
15) Check Tire Pressure for All Four Tires
- One hour after completing the installation, please check the tire pressure for all four tires to ensure there is no loss of air.
- Thereafter, regularly check the tire pressure in accordance with your vehicle’s handbook.
Summary of AlloyGator Installation Steps
- Use the suitability gauge to determine if AlloyGators will fit your wheels and tires
- Confirm your wheel size
- Insert the stainless steel clips into the AlloyGator
- Jack up your vehicle and fully deflate the tire
- Spray and wipe the rim and tire with tire lubricant or mild soapy water
- Insert the AlloyGator between the rim and tire
- Mark and cut the overlapping section of the AlloyGator
- Connect both ends of the AlloyGator
- Firmly tap in place the entire AlloyGator
- Re-inflate the tire and set the AlloyGator in its final position
- Connect the joint cover on the AlloyGator with adhesive
- Lower the wheel and remove the tire jack
- Repeat Steps 3 - 12 above for the remaining three AlloyGators
- Check the tire pressure for all four tires one hour after installation
It was that easy! Now you're ready to ride in comfort knowing your rims are protected with the best alloy wheel protectors on the market.
How to Clean your Wheels and AlloyGators
When cleaning your vehicle and alloy wheels, it’s recommended to use normal car shampoo and rim cleaning products that are safe to use on delicate finishes such as chrome.
Avoid harsh cleaners and thick brush on tire shines. It’s important to not use acid based cleaning products as these sprays and chemicals can damage the surface of your wheels, along with the profile of your AlloyGators.
Use a microfiber cloth to lift any remaining dirt, dust, or residue.
If the profile of one or more of your AlloyGators is slightly damaged with minor burrs and curb rash, it can be smoothed off using a small blade or key ring.
Hold at a right angle to the AlloyGator, and draw towards you across the wheel protector. Repeat multiple times until the burrs on the AlloyGator have smoothed out.
How to Remove AlloyGator Wheel Rim Protectors
If your AlloyGators are ever damaged from heavy or repeated impact, or you simply want to place them on a separate set of tires or wheels, the removal process is easy to complete at home in a few simple steps.
Required Tools for Removing AlloyGators
- Tire jack
- Soft rubber mallet
- Air pressure gauge and tire compressor
- Flat head screwdriver or tire lever
1) Jack up Vehicle and Fully Deflate Tire
- Jack up your vehicle until the wheel with the damaged AlloyGator is cleared off the ground.
- Fully deflate the tire using a compressor/decompressor gauge.
2) Remove Plastic Joining Clip
- Slowly remove the plastic joining clip using a flat head screwdriver.
- If the AlloyGator isn’t damaged and you plan to reuse it for another set of tires and wheels, try not to damage the joining clip as you remove it.
3) Carefully lift up Profile around the Joint Area
- Use the flat head screwdriver to slowly pry out the connecting edge of the AlloyGator's profile.
4) Firmly tap face of the AlloyGator
- Use a soft rubber mallet to firmly tap the face of the AlloyGator on the side which has the hole in it.
- This will help release the glue and open up the joint.
5) Slowly pry the AlloyGator off the Tire and Wheel
- Once the joint is open, carefully pry the profile of the AlloyGator out of its seated position between the tire and the wheel.
- Use a flat head screwdriver or tire lever to slowly pry the profile in an upward motion, starting with the end of the AlloyGator without the hole.
- Once the end of the profile is free from the tire and the wheel, carefully pull it out from its position across the tire wall in an outward motion to prevent any damage to the wheel from the stainless steel clips.
6) Re-inflate the Tire and Lower the Vehicle
- Re-inflate the tire in accordance with the recommended tire pressure found in your vehicle’s handbook.
- Use the car jack to lower the vehicle.
- Repeat Steps 1 - 6 if any other AlloyGator needs to be removed.
Summary of AlloyGator Removal Steps
- Use a tire jack to clear the tire off the ground
- Fully deflate the tire
- Remove the plastic joining clip
- Carefully lift up the profile of the AlloyGator around the joint area
- Firmly tap the face of the AlloyGator with a soft rubber mallet
- Slowly remove the AlloyGator off the tire and wheel
- Re-inflate the Tire and Lower the Vehicle
Now you're ready to install a single AlloyGator replacement or whole new set altogether on your vehicle.
We hope this step by step installation and removal guide was helpful to get your vehicle road ready with best in class AlloyGator wheel protectors for your next driving adventure!
