Do your tires have rim protectors?

Tuesday, May 11, 2010 by Tire Rack Team
Curbs, debris, cracks and crevices—the nemesis of any tire and wheel package.

But if your tires have rim protectors, you might be able to avoid accidental damage. How can you tell if a tire has a rim protector? Generally speaking, you'll want to look for thicker rubber molded at key locations on the sidewall. Standard tires don't typically feature a rim protector, as shown at right. This is because standard tires usually come mounted on steel wheels that require hubcaps. Rim protectors limit hubcap installation.

If your tire does have a rim protector, you'll notice one of three different designs: a raised rib adjacent to the bead (1), a deeply recessed bead area (2), or a scuff guard (3).
1. 2. 3.
The first two typically help protect low-profile tires and alloy wheels from curb damage. And if it's used in light truck applications, the rim protector will shield the tire and wheel bead area from debris, rocks, tree stumps, etc. The last type of rib protector is typically found on delivery vans and trailers. The raised rib features extra layers of rubber which helps the tire last longer against repeated damage from curbs.

But, regardless of the type, every rim protector does one thing: protect the tire's internal structure and the wheels they're mounted on.

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Comments on Do your tires have rim protectors?

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 by sheppie:
what tires 255/55 r18 have deeply recessed bead area
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 by Nuno:
Hello, I need some help to figure out what's best for my car. I've already spoken to 2 different tire companies, and I got different sizes for what's possible on my car. First of all, it's a 1998 Mercedes E320 sedan (base model). I bought the rims already, and they're staggered (front-19 X 8.5 / rear-19 x 9.5). I was given 2 different tire scenarios...both tire companies told me that I could do 245 x 35 x 19 in the front, but they both differed in the rear. One said that I could do 275 x 35 x 19, which would give me the same tire height as the rear tires (this because I want a little bit of drop in the car from the rear to the front, which will come from the inch difference in rims). The other said that I could also do 275 in the front, but that I could only do 30s, not 35s... Can you please help me find out, and consider that I do want that drop? Isn't the wheel well the same in the front as it is in the rear, and would I be able to do 35s in the rear? Iv'e already considered weight factors from passengers in the rear, but how much more weight are we talking about to get it to rub?

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