AlloyGator After Care Instructions

Taking Care Of Your AlloyGators

Congratulations on choosing to fit AlloyGator, the Award Winning Alloy Wheel Protection System!

Please read and follow our advice to get the best results from youe AlloyGators, and protect the longevity of them

You can also visit our website and view our range of ‘How To’ videos.

1: Cleaning Your AlloyGators

When cleaning your vehicle it is very important that you do not use acid based cleaning solutions.

This type of product will damage the profile in the same way that, over time, it will damage the surface of your wheels.

Many car washes use this chemical for speed and most wheel manufacturers/refurbishers will also recommend that it is avoided.

Avoid Acid Based Cleaning Solutions
AlloyGator Keyring Clean-up Tool

2: Cleaning Up Minor Burrs Using The Keyring Clean-up Tool

If the profile is damaged, it can be smoothed off using the supplied keyring. Hold at approx right angle to the AlloyGator, with the writing facing away, draw towards you as shown in the “how to” video section on our website.

It is unlikely that you will achieve a perfect result however you will, in most cases, achieve a good result which will not be noticeable unless closely inspected.

3: Machine Polished Alloy Wheels

Our product is not recommended for machine polished or diamond cut alloy wheels. Although fitting the product will provide superior protection against kerb damage, if there are existing imperfections in the lacquered wheel surface, it may increase the risk of moisture retention and accelerate wheel lacquer degradation.

Providing there is no minute damage to the wheel surface, fitting the AlloyGator wheel rim protectors will not cause damage on its own, however AlloyGator Limited and Ace CarCare Limited accepts no liability if the product when fitted causes such damage.

Despite this, we have many customers with machine polished wheels, who choose to use AlloyGators. Many customers prefer to re-lacquer the wheels should the need arise, than go to the far more costly and inconvenient trouble of removing the wheels and having them re-cut and repaired due to damage caused by kerb/pothole impact without AlloyGator protection.

Machine Polished Alloy Wheels

4: Refitting The Profile

Upon heavy impacts with pot holes and certain angles of kerbing it is possible for the profile to be pulled away from the wheel and tyre.

Although this can look quite dramatic in some cases, the product should have done its job in preventing/lessening any damage sustained to the alloy wheel/tyre.

It is very important that you do not leave the profile in this condition.

Even if several inches of the profile is pulled away from the wheel/tyre, it will still be secure, does not require removal and can normally be refitted successfully.

If you have fitted the product yourself then follow the instructions below however if you have had the product fitted by ourselves (Ace CarCare Limited) then we would always recommend contacting us to arrange maintenance:

1: If the full profile has been pulled from between the wheel/tyre, and the metal clips can be seen on the back then the tyre will need to be fully deflated, or;

2: If the metal clips cannot be seen on the back of the profile then generally the profile can be knocked back in without deflating the tyre although letting some air out will help.

3: Hit the profile ideally using a 2lb “dead blow” hammer (rubber coated hammer containing ball bearings) on the outer edge of the affected area (see fig. 5). Water or a water & car wash liquid solution will aid fitting.

4: To fully seat the profile, hit it on the inside edge using a drawing motion (pull the hammer towards you upon impact) all the way around the profile. If the tyre has been fully deflated, perform this stage with no air in the tyre, again at 15-20 psi pressure and once again at full pressure.

5: Changing Your Tyres

In most cases the tyre can be changed without removing or disturbing the AlloyGator by treating it as the rim of the wheel, i.e. keep the head of the machine a couple of millimetres away from the profile. The tyre can be removed and refit over the profile.

When changing a tyre in this way, ensure that the joining clip located by the valve is at the 2 o’clock position on the tyre machine before you start levering the tyre at the 12 o’clock position. This avoids putting too much pressure on the joint. This is the same for the front and back of the tyre when removing or refitting.

Once the tyre is fitted and sealed on the bead, follow steps I and J to fully seat the profile.

Alternatively, for very tight tyres (particularly run-flats), it is sometimes easier to remove the AlloyGator profile. This is best to do by breaking the bead as usual, securing on the tyre removal machine and then pushing the tyre down using the machines’ arm.

Starting opposite the joining clip, flip the profile off the wheel (it will be tight). Change the tyre as normal, but before inflating to seal on the bead, put the profile back on the rim. Start at the valve with the joining clip nearest you (6 o’clock position whilst on the tyre removal machine), and then stretch the profile over the wheel working your way to the opposite side.

It will be very tight, but with a slight twist and a push it is possible to achieve this without breaking the joint and should only take a matter of seconds. Now inflate the tyre to seal on the bead with the valve core removed.

The profile will most likely lift a little when the tyre ‘pops’ onto the bead. Let the tyre back down and follow steps to re-seat.

Changing a tyre following the above steps in most cases takes only a matter of 1-2 minutes longer than a normal tyre change.

Looking To Refurbish Your Alloy Wheels? Download A FREE Price Guide

6: Tyre Pressure Issues

In line with the vehicle manufacturer’s advice, we recommend that you regularly check your tyre pressure as part of your normal vehicle maintenance checks.

Fitting our product will not cause tyre pressure loss but it may in some circumstances highlight existing issues with the bead seal. If you experience any loss in pressure we recommend that you visit the FAQ section of our website for further information.

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Need More Help With Your AlloyGators?

For any additional advice or support please email us at sales@acecarcare.co.uk or call 01743 466100

Failure to properly maintain your AlloyGators particularly after any impact could in some circumstances result in the product coming loose.

Should you fail to maintain the product or address any damage caused by impact of any kind, any resulting damage will expressly be the responsibility of the customer.

Use of any acid based products, particularly cleaning agents, can cause damage to the profile. 

Warnings against the use of these products are located in our Terms and Conditions, the product fitting instructions and also the packaging. 

Any damage resulting from the use of inappropriate cleaning agents will be the express responsibility of the customer. The AlloyGator product is designed for use in normal driving conditions and up to the legal speed limit. It is not recommended for use on vehicles intended to be driven off-road or under abnormal driving conditions.