We spend an immense amount of time in our cars, from driving to work to going off on weekend adventures. Unfortunately, the roads we travel can be rough and filled with things that can damage multiple parts of the vehicles we drive. Getting too close to a curb, unrepaired potholes, or even rocks can do considerable damage. Among the things that are particularly prone to taking a hit from these types of road hazards are the rims of our tires. Thankfully, these days rim repair is readily available to get you back on the road and out on a new adventure quickly.
How to Know if you need Rim Repair?
Our car rims aren’t something most people regularly pay that much attention to. However, they’re a critical part of the vehicle and can cause severe problems if they aren’t maintained. Generally, if the rim is damaged significantly, there are warning signs you can look for while driving or before driving that can help you identify if you need rim repair for your vehicle.
If you’re feeling a vibration while you are driving that is continuous, you should probably take a closer look at your car rims. Though other tire and vehicle problems can cause vibration through the steering wheel, a bent or damaged rim is one of the first things you should look for.
Another easy sign of rim damage to watch for is any kind of thudding or pounding when you are driving. Obviously, any odd noise while driving shouldn’t be ignored. Still, people often don’t think to check the rims when it comes to these kinds of operating noises. However, these warning signs do not always present themselves when a rim is damaged. Hence, it never hurts to give your vehicle a visual inspection from time to time to look for damage you may not have noticed.
If you hit something with your tires, like a bump or a rock, or get too close to a curb while parking, it can easily do minor or even grave damage to the rim.
Sometimes you can see a bent rim. There may be apparent damage to the outer portion of the wheel where you’ve run over something that caused a bend. However, that isn’t always the case; sometimes, a bent rim can be on the unseeable portion of the wheel and could be missed even during a visual inspection.
Some other symptoms of a bent or damaged rim include less responsive handling in your car or truck, reduced fuel efficiency. You may also find a scalloped pattern on the tire itself if the damage has gone on long enough. That’s because the bend makes the tire contact the road unevenly and can slowly erode the rubber.
If you have any of these symptoms with your car, it’s critical to get it checked out by a professional in the tire industry. They’ll be able to thoroughly diagnose the problem.
These issues can come from other problems, such as an off-balance tire. That’s why it’s so important to take your car to be checked rather than trying to determine the problem on your own.
Is a Bent Rim That Serious?
A bent rim can become a bigger problem if you don’t handle it quickly. We take our cars for granted to run correctly, and that things don’t break. That’s in part because they are in harmony and balance. A bent rim can make the car vibrate in ways that it shouldn’t. That vibration can damage multiple parts of your vehicle, including things like the tires or even the axles.
When you allow that damage to continue, it can make the car dangerous to drive. A tire on a bent rim left untended will inevitably lead to a blowout.
Blowouts often cause more severe car accidents. One study even showed that 1 out of every 270 crashes a year are caused by catastrophic tire failure. Each year there are roughly 11,000 crashes related to tire failure, and out of those, nearly 200 are fatal. So, a bent rim is very serious and should never be ignored.
So, What Do You Do If You Suspect a Bent Rim?
First, don’t drive anymore than absolutely necessary if you think that you may have a bent or damaged rim. As we’ve explained, that can cause more damage to your vehicle in other ways.
You should take your vehicle in to have it checked out as soon as possible and consider getting a ride from someone or catching a bus in the meantime.
If your rims have been damaged long enough, it can do enough damage to the tire to make it unsafe to drive. The tire could blow out while driving and put you at higher risk of an automobile accident.
Can Bent or Damaged Rims Be Repaired?
Yes. If you’re paying attention and the damage hasn’t gone too far or wasn’t too bad, to begin with. There is a chance that it can be repaired relatively easily. It may also depend on where the damage is on the rims. A bend or dent on the outside edge where it’s visible is a more straightforward fix. When the damage is on the inside, it’s significantly more complicated.
Steel wheels are prime candidates for rim repair. These wheels are made from a combination of iron and carbon. They are heavier than some of their more modern counterparts, but they are also more durable. They’re also easier to repair.
Alloy wheels are much more popular these days. However, they’re more challenging to repair. This is where it’s time to take the advice of the professionals. They’ll be able to tell you if your vehicle’s rims are repairable or if you need to replace the entire wheel.
If your car or truck is making a funny noise when you drive or vibrating noticeably, don’t just ignore these signs. Instead, make sure that you take it in and have a professional check it over. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
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