Bent Rims: Understanding the Causes, Consequences, and Signs

Annie Vachon
2 min readAug 30, 2018

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Rims are the link between the axles and tires, which make them an essential part of the car. Though rims are incredibly sturdy, they do not remain in the same shape forever. A bent rim could cause the tire to leak over time or even a blowout in the worst situation. It is, therefore, necessary that one must have sufficient knowledge about rim so that any risk could be averted beforehand. Let’s look at some of the things you might not know about bent rims.

Causes of Bent Rim

Heavy impact on the wheel is the primary reason for a bent wheel. Though rims are made of aluminum, steel or chrome, they lose their strength over time because of high impacts such as speed bumps, potholes, and uneven roads. This leads to bending of the rim.

Consequences of Bent Rim

If not detected early or ignored for some time, a bent rim could lead to air leak from the tire, which will lower the fuel economy and affect the handling of the vehicle. A bent rim can also lead to flat tire or blowout, which is again risky if the car is moving at high speed. Bent rims make wheels wobble at high speed, which means you will have an unstable ride and the driver might face it difficult to control the steering. It is, therefore, necessary to look for aluminum, chrome or alloy wheel bent repair expert as soon as you notice the problem.

Signs of Bent Rim

Some of the common symptoms of a bent rim are:

● Tire scallop

● Vibration in steering wheel or seat

● Less responsive handling

● Lower fuel economy

● Thumping sound during driving

Can Bent Rim be Repaired?

The level of damage will determine if the bent rim can be repaired. If the wheels are of steel, and the bent rim is the only issue, you can get them fixed.

Final Words

If you find a bent rim, it is advised to inspect the studs of the wheel before you start looking for an expert in alloy wheel repair near me. As repairing bent rims in alloy wheels is a bit tricky, it is always better to let the expert handle it rather than treating the job as DIY. Though you might find a lot of repair workshops claiming to have provided the most affordable bent repair service, it makes sense to choose someone who has expertise in alloy wheel bent repair. Ask friends for recommendations, and read reviews to shortlist a mechanic who does a flawless job.

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