Alloy Wheels 16"

[timberwolf]

I damaged one of my alloy wheels and the plastic trim coming out of a multi-story car park. :(

Any advice on what I can do to fix it or if I need to be replace it? The damage is fairly close to rim although I've checked the tyres and I'm not losing any air. In the picture, the damage doesn't look as deep as in real life, and for some reason (probably the camera angle) it looks closer to the rim than when I viewed it from the top.

[martswain]

I damaged one of my alloy wheels and the plastic trim coming out of a multi-story car park. :(

Any advice on what I can do to fix it or if I need to be replace it? The damage is fairly close to rim although I've checked the tyres and I'm not losing any air. In the picture, the damage doesn't look as deep as in real life, and for some reason (probably the camera angle) it looks closer to the rim than when I viewed it from the top.

I did much worse damage to 20" alloys on a Jeep and got them repaired by ChipsAway.

They are mobile in franchised vans, worth a call

http://www.chipsaway.co.uk

[Chris Dance]

My son had damage to his Prius drivers side wheel following a puncture on the M1 in a roadworks section. The car was brand new and it must have been caused by debris in the road. He had to drive on a flat tyre but eventually he had to abandon the car as smoke was coming from the wheel. He was very lucky not to get killed and his new car written off. He got free recovery and police escort. He had a new tyre fitted to the same wheel and the car checked out by a Toyota dealer. The wheel had score damage worse than the one in the photo. I got some fine emery cloth and redused the depth of the scores and scratches. I then used a spray primer first and then I sprayed the wheel with silver hammerite paint. You can still see the difference from the other wheels but it is not too obvious. I masked off the tyre prior to spraying the wheel.

I have also heard that " CHIPS AWAY" are very good.

Hope this helps. Chris.

[timberwolf]

Thanks for the link. I take it these types of repair are just cosmetic not structural?

It does make me wonder how much abuse an alloy wheel can take before it becomes unsafe? Or if there are alloy wheels being repaired that should have been scrapped.

Apparently, there is a company called www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk that has a franchise in my area, but from the website they look like they are more geared up for full wheel refurbishment.

[Chris Dance]

Yes in the case outlined above it was cosmetic. The Toyota dealer had certified the wheel etc safe. I think the wheels can take quite a bit of abuse. I would always recommend getting a Toyota safety check if any wheel damage occurs. Tracking and alignment etc could be out following wheel damage.