Rim Protector on a tyre
Alyssa THREE-A brand tyre
Sales Manager at Shengtai Group Co.,Ltd Passenger car tire and truck tire manufacturer in China
A rim protector is not a necessary feature of a tyre, but it can be very useful. Car wheels, especially in city traffic, are exposed to cracks and abrasions. High curbs, ramps and small objects pose a constant threat on a daily basis. The rim protector prevents wheels from getting damaged on the road.
Why don’t all tyres have rim protectors?
However, most standard tires don't feature rim protectors of any kind because they are frequently mounted on steel wheels. It is done to accommodate the reality that most steel wheels use hubcaps to provide a more desirable appearance. The absence of a rim protector allows more flexibility in hubcap styling and how hubcaps are designed and attach to the wheel.
How to check if my tire has a rim protector?
The tires that feature tire/rim protectors use several different designs. Many of these tires feature a raised rib adjacent to the bead area on their lower sidewalls or have a deeply recessed bead area to partially envelop the wheel flange. Other tires feature raised ribs at the tire's maximum section width (the distance between a tire's sidewalls measured at the widest part of the tire).
Rim protectors are designed to help protect low-profile tires and expensive alloy wheels from accidental curb damage.In light truck off-road applications, the rim protectors will also help shield the tire and wheel bead area from debris, as well as resist damage inflicted by rocks, tree stumps and other off-road obstacles.
Tires featuring one or more raised rib(s) at their maximum section width are often found on delivery vans and trailers. The raised rib's extra rubber thickness at the widest point of the tire resists damage to the sidewall and increases the amount of rubber that must be worn away before repeated curb scuffing cuts or exposes the tire's internal cords.
Of course, the tires are rubber products after all, no matter how thick the rim is protected, it is useless to encounter a very serious side impact. Choosing a good tyre and good usage habits can better protect your car.
