Fitting Alloygator Rim Protectors

[TonyGoose]

I bought a set of 16" IS200 wheels from a breakers and had them shod with winter tyres this year.

Was thinking maybe get my summer wheels refurbed while the winter ones were on the car.

Remembered reading here some time ago about alloygator rim protectors and decided might be an idea.

At 65 quid for the set even if refurb just delayed for another year not too much wasted.

Two of these wheels are a bit kerb damaged and the other Two aren't so bad.

I'd already done the worst 2 before I thought of doing this write up so before / after pics aren't as dramatic as they could be.

So I got a set of the Black alloygators and here's how I put them on. First some miscellaneous info :-

The pack came as a set enough to do Five wheels up to 21"

These things can be fitted with the wheels still on the car.

That's demonstrated on the alloygator website http://www.alloygator.co.uk

Winter wheels / tyres were on my car so these sat waiting to be 'gatored' and put away in their bags until spring.

Apologies if the pictures turn out a bit blurry. I've yet to do a Lord Lichfield photography course

Here's some of what you get :-

Pic shows 2 black alloygators, stainless steel gripper clips, plastic bits to cover the joins, some glue and a keyring.

Keyring is shaped with an edge to help reshape the alloygator if it takes a hit instead of the wheel.

I started by putting the stainless steel gripper clips in their slots on the alloygators with a few dabs of glue.

The slots are numbered and a chart is supplied listing which are required for relevant wheel sizes.

Here's a before picture showing a bit of the damage that's about to get hidden away.

Took indoors, deflated tyre and placed on the floor ready to fit the alloygator.

Starting next to the valve, pushed the 'tag' end of the alloygator between the rim and the tyre.

Then worked anti clockwise with a rubber mallet firmly tapping it in.

Carried on all the way round until overlapping near the valve again.

Marked the alloygator where it overlapped then cut it off approx 3mm before there.

Picture shows the join, the piece of alloygator cut off and the little plastic join cover.

At this stage I'd been all round again with the mallet and put some glue on the ends which you now can't see.

They have ridges which mesh together so put some glue there then tapped the ends firmly home with the mallet again.

Almost done. Pumped the tyre up again then checked all round with mallet that alloygator properly seated.

Few dabs of glue on the plastic join cover then fitted that - holding in place briefly while it all set.

Back outside again so here's an after picture with a bit of daylight.

Finally here's before + after picture. As I already mentioned not the best comparison.

The after one was among the worst damaged before 'gatoring' and the before one wasn't too bad.

TG

[BenIS]

I have these in red. Mega easy to fit. Not to everyones taste but i like them.