Everyone recognises the unpleasant sound: you reverse into a kerb and scrape the alloy rim along concrete. Or in spring you notice that salt has attacked the clear coat of your polished wheels. Wheel damage spoils the appearance of your car and in extreme cases (such as hairline cracks) can even be dangerous for road safety. In this guide from Wheels 'N Customs you will discover everything about preventing and repairing wheel damage.
Honest Advice from the Specialist:
Not every damage can or should be repaired. Cosmetic kerb scuffs and paint corrosion are excellent candidates for repair by powder coating or CNC Diamond Cutting. Is the wheel bent or is there a hairline crack in the inner rim? Then professional straightening/welding may be possible. If there are cracks in the spokes, safety is compromised and the wheel must be replaced.
1. Three Types of Wheel Damage & The Repair Methods
1. Kerb Damage & Scrape Marks
The aluminium is roughly scraped off at the outer rim. For fully painted wheels the rim is sanded, filled and powder coated again. For **Diamond Cut (polished)** wheels the wheel is turned on a CNC lathe with a diamond cutter.
2. Salt Damage & Clear Coat Delamination ('White Worm')
Salt and de-icing agents penetrate through small stone chip holes in the clear coat of polished wheels. White, cobweb-like oxidation spots appear under the lacquer. The solution is complete stripping, blasting and re-powder-coating of the wheel.
3. Bent Wheel or Dent from a Pothole
A hard impact on a pothole can dent the inner rim. The wheel is heated on a hydraulic straightening bench and pressed straight to within hundredths of a millimetre.
2. How Do You Prevent Wheel Damage in Future?
- Choose Tyres with a Rim Protection Flange (MFS / FR / FSL): Buy tyres that feature a 'Maximum Flange Shield' (MFS). This raised rubber lip extends beyond the rim and absorbs light contacts with kerbs.
- Choose the Correct Tyre Width (No Stretched Tyres): If you fit a 225-wide tyre on a wide 9.5J rim, the tyre will be 'stretched'. The steel/polished rim edge is then left completely unprotected and exposed.
- Switch to a Dedicated Winter Set: Use fully painted winter wheels with an acrylic powder coat during the salt season and store your vulnerable polished (Diamond Cut) summer wheels dry in storage.
3. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Wheel Damage
Can I order a single replacement wheel from Wheels 'N Customs?
Yes! If your damaged wheel can no longer be repaired, we can supply a single replacement wheel from virtually all of our top brands (such as Concaver, Japan Racing, Brock, Borbet, Fuel, etc.).
Which payment options does Wheels 'N Customs offer?
With us you can pay securely via iDEAL, Bancontact (Belgium), Credit Card, PayPal, SEPA Bank Transfer, Belfius, KBC/CBC, SOFORT Banking, EPS, Giropay and options to pay in instalments on our payment page.
