[cosmic68]

There's a lot of chatter on the internet about these. Some great, some terrible.

http://www.alloygator.co.uk

As an experiment, I rang every recommended fitter in London (6) on their website and posed as a prospective buyer. They were generally favourable. They did say that they were more suited to a certain of wheel, more then others.

I know, I know-'learn to park'. :x

Anyways, any experiences on here of them? I'm getting 17" Cosmos Spoke if anyones got experience with those? Looks like they could save a small fortune if your parking skills are anything like mine...

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxmac500]

I had these fitted to my Golf and when they were removed there was damaged to the rim.
However, I cannot be sure if the damage was pre fitting (car was ex demo and they may have thought it was an easy way of getting out of repairing the wheels) or post fitting.

I did see a picture of the wheels prior to fitting and they appeared okay so I may assume that the damage may have come from the rim protector being fitted and actually moving on the rim.
However, I have to admit, my poor kerb avoidance was certainly highlighted when I had them on and there was no unsightly damage even after clumping the kerb. The protector took the brunt of the damage and as its all one colour, you don't really notice it as bad.

I will get them fitted to the MINI as I have spec'd black wheels and just know, they will be ruined in no time.

Hope that helps

 

[cosmic68]

Yes,

Mine are black too. Been having cold sweats about it as a bit of a curb magnet. Excellent driver in every other dept.

What inch wheels/alloy did you spec? And are your tyres run flats?

 

[cosmic68]

Here is an example of the horror of scuffed black alloys. It's a a colleagues. Her wheels are filthy, but the chips are tiny but SO NOTICEABLE!

 

[texy]

You might as well drive around in steelies. Why cover a good alloy, only for it not to be seen, at the risk of curbing?
In the words of Dragon's Den - "I'm Out!"
Texy

 

[cosmic68]

You might as well drive around in steelies. Why cover a good alloy, only for it not to be seen, at the risk of curbing?
In the words of Dragon's Den - "I'm Out!"
Texy

I'd rather have the ability to park properly 100% of the time then have to use a protector but they are very thin. Just run along the edge if alloy and tyre. They don't hide the alloys as such.

 

[Terry Reis]

I have a set of Black AlloyGators waiting for my Black Cosmos wheels when they arrive, hopefully with the rest of a Cooper S attached.

I was surprised how substantial they are, quite hard, was expecting them to be a bit more rubbery.

My last car (Merc E-Class) was a nightmare, the rims stood approx 4mm proud of tyres. If you so much as showed them a curb they were done.

So felt I had nothing loose by trying them with this car. Looking forward to the opportunity to fit them, currently 4 weeks overdue.

Cheers,

Terry

 

[GoKart7]

I have a solution to this problem

Buy the car

Park the car

If it needs a kerb

Go back home

 

[cosmic68]

So felt I had nothing loose by trying them with this car. Looking forward to the opportunity to fit them, currently 4 weeks overdue.

Cheers,

Terry

You more confident then me, I'm going to have them fitted. Got someone to blame when they spin off! :|

If they work as advertised, bit of a no-brainer for me.

 

[MiloMini]

Did I see a crack on the wall of that tyre? No idea if that's a problem or not! I was going to go with Black alloys but I've been persuaded not to. I am however thinking of buying a black set with winter tyres!!!

 

[Terry Reis]

You more confident then me, I'm going to have them fitted. Got someone to blame when they spin off! :|

If they work as advertised, bit of a no-brainer for me.

Actually I will be getting a local garage who I trust to fit them for me. Though about doing it myself, it's not rocket science. But they have better tools than me for jacking etc.

Cheers,

Terry

 

[palgt1]

Not sure what the problem is here with the black alloys. If you slightly damage the rim, why can't you just touch it up with black paint to cover the silver alloy below - a severely damaged alloy will have the same rough edge if it's silver or black, surely, and both will need a specialist repair ??

 

[baldyspoon]

Will these fit the mini wheels as I notice it says no good if wheels have rim mounted wheel balance weight, where do the wheel balance weights go as all my previous cars have had them on the wheel rim

 

[Terry Reis]

Will these fit the mini wheels as I notice it says no good if wheels have rim mounted wheel balance weight, where do the wheel balance weights go as all my previous cars have had them on the wheel rim

To place wheel balance weights on the rim of an alloy wheel would be an act of unnecessary vandalism. They are normally placed inside the wheel. Do not deal with any garage or tyre supplier that balances alloy wheels this way, they don't know what they are doing.

Cheers,

Terry.

 

[baldyspoon]

To place wheel balance weights on the rim of an alloy wheel would be an act of unnecessary vandalism. They are normally placed inside the wheel. Do not deal with any garage or tyre supplier that balances alloy wheels this way, they don't know what they are doing.

Cheers,

Terry.

Yes read that on a few sites on the internet, but also read that quite a few manufacturers are now sending their cars out with weights on the rim.

 

[Terry Reis]

Yes read that on a few sites on the internet, but also read that quite a few manufacturers are now sending their cars out with weights on the rim.

If a new car of mine arrived with balancing weights on the (alloy) rims, I would let them keep it. It is totally un-necessary to balance wheels this way. Adhesive weights stuck to the inside of the wheel is the only way I have seen it done for a long time now. Just not necessary to place them on the rims.