Common Wheel Damages: Repairable or Not Repairable...

The streets can be a dangerous place when it comes to your wheel's safety. I’m sure everyone at least once in their driving life has been driving and hit a pothole, was parking then got a bit too close to the curb and ended up scrapping your wheel against it or even was driving along on the freeway and then bam! Trash or an object suddenly is in the road, and you end up running over it. These accidents always happen when you least expect it, no matter if you’re an amazing driver or... not so great. I’ll walk you through the different issues you can run into to try to help better prepare you as well as let you know what's reparable or not. Knowing just a little bit more can help you possibly avoid certain safety issues as well as cost on repairs or replacement wheels.

Not all wheel damages that occur will be the same when it comes to repair and cost. Certain issues aren't that severe and don't require repairing right away, while others may require immediate repair and can get pretty expensive. There are 3 common types of wheel damage that occur; curb rash, bent wheels or cracked wheels. There are others as well that we will get into, but these are the issues you will encounter more so. Now let's get into the details of each so you can be prepared and hopefully avoid these issues moving forward, well the best that you can at least.

             

1. Curb Rash
This damage is on the face, spokes and lip of the wheel. This commonly occurs when a driver accidentally scrapes their wheel on a curb while making a tight turn or parallel parking. This causes the protective coating to be scratched off which causes the scuffs, scrapes, scratches or “rash” to the wheels metal. When the protective coating is scraped away, this can occasionally cause the wheel to rust in that exposed area which can damage the integrity of the wheel.

Repairable OR Not Repairable?
Repairable. Luckily this damage is generally cosmetic and can usually be repaired back to its original condition. This issue isn’t considered an urgent issue to fix but to avoid rust it's better to handle when you’re able to, to avoid any further damages to the wheel.

2. Bent Wheels
This damage occurs on the inner lip, outer lip, spokes or barrel of the wheel. Most cases a wheel becomes bent when you come into contact with potholes, curbs, road hazards or in an accident. Bends occur when the impact is severe and ends up causing the tire and the air in it to displace leaving the wheel to take the force of the hit causing the bend to happen. When bends happen, the integrity of the seal for the wheel can fail and cause the air in your tire to leak. Sometimes it leaks slowly, other times a bit quicker. Either way both can be dangerous since you risk occurring a blowout of your tire. As well as it can cause vibration which can damage your wheels bearings, steering and suspension.


Repairable OR Not Repairable?
Depends. Once your wheel is bent it loses its unevenness and isn't round anymore. It's best to bring to a repair shop asap so they can determine if the bend is in a spot that can be repaired back to a drivable and round condition. If the bend is on the lip or the barrel and is only slightly bent, then there's a better chance of it being repaired. If they are bent severely out of shape, then your best bet is to just replace the wheel. If the following occurs due to the damage, then it's not safe to repair; lug hole and valve stem distortion, damage to the barrel of the wheel or bent from the center.

3. Cracked Wheels
This damage occurs from impact with objects or debris. Like a bent wheel, a crack occurs when your tire cannot take an impact and instead the force is pushed onto the wheel/rim except instead of bending it may crack parts of the wheel instead.

Repairable OR Not Repairable?
Depends. Smaller cracks are easier to repair and wont ruin the structural integrity like a larger crack would. When the damage is too large, you're better off getting a new wheel since it wouldn't be worth it to repair let alone safe to drive on it if it was repaired. Generally, if there's a small crack on the lip it can be repaired but anywhere else or any larger and you're going to need to purchase a new wheel.

Other things / issues that may damage your wheel;

Potholes: You see them everywhere, they’re the most common way to run into wheel issues. The impact and way your wheel hits a pothole can go from no damage to bent rim quickly. So be sure to keep an eye out and avoid or slow down when you spot a pothole in the road to avoid severe damage.

Curbs: Another common occurrence but less severe when it comes to damage. I mean you can slightly scratch against a curb while parking or you can scuff and scrape them a bit more when parallel parking or if parked to close to, when leaving you can scratch them from turning your wheel to pull away. Either way, this is more of a cosmetic issue and generally isn't severe enough where you need to repair it asap.

Road Debris: This issue varies when it comes to the damage it can inflict. Less damage is going to occur if you accidentally run over a smaller object, it may just bend your rim. Opposed to a larger object, like a steel beam that fell off a truck, that could shred your tire and crack your wheel. Always stay vigilant when driving, especially on freeways where you have less of a reaction time.

Gouges: Mainly going to be interaction with a road hazard / debris. When a gouge in your wheel occurs, more likely than not, the repair process is going to be more complicated or may not even be reparable at all.

Brake Dust: When you brake, the deposits of brake dust add up over time. As it increases, this can damage the finish of your wheel and even cause corrosion. This is an easy fix/ problem to avoid by just regularly washing your vehicle and its wheels.

Flat Tires: If you drive on a tire that is underinflated or flat for a long enough period, it can possibly compromise your wheel. This occurs due to the tire being the cushion for your wheel, so if that's not there or not as “cushiony” it can bend the wheel if driven on for long periods.

Cleaning Products: As mentioned above about keeping your wheels clean and free of brake dust, you must be careful when you do clean and with what is used. Certain products may look like they're keeping your wheels nice and shiny, but they could also be slowing corroding it. Always check with automotive professionals to see the best cleaning products for your vehicle's needs.

Salted roads: if you live in colder climates, luckily, we’re in California lol, then you've driven on roads covered in salt to keep the road from being slippery and snowy. Although this keeps you safe while driving, it may start to damage your wheels. The salt deposits can slowly cause corrosion, scuffs and possibly weaken your wheels durability.

Corrosion: It's as ugly as it is unsafe. Mainly caused by chemicals such as ones on the road, cleaners used to keep your wheels clean, tire sealants, brake dust and other elements. Corrosion is dangerous because the rust deteriorates, especially when they're constant water on it, so if left untreated it will continue to eat away at the metal. Once it reaches the tire bead, it can break the seal that keeps air in your tire.

      

When it comes to knowing what damages are more urgent here's what you should keep in mind;

Cosmetic damages are more on the face of the rim, like curb rash, scratches and scuffs. They may require repair but it's not as urgent. The process typically is sanding it down and refinishing it to like new. Unless you need them to continue to look pristine, then you're good rolling around on them for a bit.

Structural damage is going to be more like a crack or bend on a wheel. The process for this may include welding, straightening, reshaping and such. In most cases it won't be repairable but always get a professional's opinion.

Any time you run into a situation that damages your wheels, its best to get it inspected by a professional to determine the extent of the damage and to avoid further damage from accruing.


      

 - Heather Jarkow