Which Tyres Should Be Fitted To Protect Alloy Wheels?
In comparison to the past when alloy wheels were only for the specific few, most modern day cars now come with alloy wheels as standard. Whilst alloy wheels make your vehicle look great, they can be hard to maintain and keep them looking smart and fresh. Street parking means your alloy wheels are at a higher risk of getting damaged much more easily on curbs and ramps. Alloys can get scratched and dented against the hard concrete, this could mean that you could be facing more regular repairs if you do not take the right precautions to extend the longevity of your alloy wheels.
What tyres can protect my alloy wheels?
There are two types of tyres that can protect your alloy wheels. These consist of High profile tyres, and low profile tyres. Tyres with rim protector features are also great for protecting your alloy wheels from damage during driving and parking.
High Profile Tyres
So what is the profile of a tyre? This is the distance between the rim of the wheel and the edge of the tyre that comes in contact with the road. Although no set definition has been set out for high profile tyres, if there is a significant distance between the edge of the rim and the road, then your tyres may just be considered high profile. If you are looking to check if your tyres are high profile, you can see if the sidewall of your tyres extend beyond the alloy wheels when inflated fully.
Low Profile Tyres
A low profile tyre is when the side height from the rim to the road is smaller than it would be with its brother, the high profile tyre. It will also be relatively small in comparison to the tyres cross section width. You will find that low profile tyres are usually fitted as standard in higher performance vehicles such as sports cars. This is because low profile tyres are great for vehicles that have larger tyres in both width and rims. This then positively affects the performance of the vehicle on dry roads, especially with cornering and braking. Low profile tyres also mean that the driver has more control over the car whilst not compromising on how the vehicle looks. Low profile tyres are also known to increase the visual appearance of a vehicle.
Alloy Rim Protectors
Having tyres that include alloy rim protectors is one of the sure ways to protect and extend the life of your alloy wheels. Only available on a selection of tyres, this feature has an extra reinforced section of rubber that is around the contact area of the tyre and the wheel. The benefit of this is that the protruding rubber protects the alloy wheel from curbing when parking as the rubber will be in contact with the curb rather than your alloy wheel. Corrosion is also a big contributor when it comes to the damage of your alloy wheels. The tyres wheel protector creates a large seal that protects any part of the wheel from corrosion, therefore improving the longevity of the wheels life.
Brands That Supply Wheels With Rim Protectors
Many well known brands supply tyres for all types of vehicles that include rim protectors in their design. These brands are as follows; Dunlop, Bridgestone, Continental, Michelin, and Hankook. You will notice these markings on the tyres sidewall that have rim protectors included in the design: RFP (Rim Fringe Protector), FP (Fringe Protector), MFS (Maximum Flange Shield), FR (Felgen Ripen), FSL (Felgenschutzleiste) or ML (Mit Leiste). If you are still unsure, a professional will be able to help you decide which tyre is best for your vehicle.
