Is this a project or a life hack? I don’t know. Either way, if you’re in a situation where you regularly have to get as close to a high kerb as possible you’ll know the pain of scuffing a wheel. In which case, you really need this kerb protector, put together from some rubber trim intended for boats and a few masonry screws. There are actual products out there for this (though not many) but they’re all either plastic you stick to your wheels (and look awful) or they’re huge bulky foam bars with yellow stripes on them. This is a bit subtler looking.
My wife (who’s Canadian) informs me this project isn’t going to translate to my North American readers. The kerbs there are far more sensible and have a slope on them; so I guess this one is for us Brits.
WARNING
I posted this on Reddit and the same question was asked over and over; “Won’t you be fined by the local authority?”. I own this kerb outside my house, it’s an unadopted street which means I don’t need permission to modify the kerb as long as it’s safe. If you live on a publically maintained road, do not do this or you will be in trouble.
What you’ll need



The main ingredient here is the kerb protector itself. As I said, it’s actually rubbing strake designed for the sides of boats and yachts . It’s far more understated than the few products out there designed specifically for this purpose and around the same cost. I’d also say this is going to be more durable as it’s made from solid rubber. At £8 a meter it’s pretty reasonable too.
Step-by-step
Time needed: 1 hour.
- Roll out the entire length
Make sure you roll out the whole length you’re planning to use so it’s positioned correctly. You may also need to trim it using a utility knife.
- Mark your first fixing point
Use one hand to hold the trim firmly in position and then drill through the centre using a 5mm masonry bit. It should go straight through the rubber and then mark the kerb, stop once it’s lightly marked.

- Drill the pilot hole
Move the rubber trim out of the way so you don’t damage it. Using a decent power drill with a hammer setting carefully drill a 40mm deep pilot hole in the place where you have just marked the kerb.

- Fix in place
Using 40mm x 6mm concrete screws and an appropriate bit drive through the rubber trim and into the pilot hole you just made. Be careful not to overdrive the screw or you risk splitting the rubber.

- Mark out the rest of the fixing points
Using a ruler or tape measure mark on the kerb every 150mm. These will be your fixing points so be careful not to place any too near to the end of a kerb stone. Drilling too close to one end increases the chances of blowing out the face of the kerb. If one of your pilot holes falls near (within 40mm) of an end then just move it in a bit and carry on spacing from there.

- Repeat steps 2-4 until you finish
Take care as you go along to always flex the trim out of the way of the drill bit and chuck so you don’t damage it when drilling.

- Admire your work
Et voila! No more scuffed alloy wheels, no matter how close you have to park to the kerb.

Tips & Tricks
- Make sure to always remove the dust that piles up on the back of the trim when you’re drilling. It’ll stop the kerb protector sitting flush if you don’t.
- Go easy with the drilling, it may take a little longer but it’s better than breaking a piece out of your kerb.
- Use the pilot hole in the rubber trim to hold your screw for you.
- If you anticipate bumping into it often, decrease the distance between your fixing points for extra durability.
In pictures…
Here’s the whole gallery of images if you’re not into reading.









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