Should You Worry About Alloy Wheel Damage?

Let’s face it—most of us have scuffed a wheel or two pulling up to a tight kerb. It’s frustrating, sure, but is it really something to worry about?

When it comes to alloy wheel damage, the answer depends on the type of damage. Kerb rash—those annoying scrapes along the rim—is mostly cosmetic. It can make your wheels look a little worse for wear, but it won’t usually affect performance or safety. If the look bothers you, there are plenty of alloy wheel specialists out there who offer refurbishments to get them looking new again.

Where things get more serious is with cracks or buckles in your alloys. These types of damage can happen from potholes (classic torbay and newton abbot), speed bumps, or hard impacts. A cracked or bent alloy can affect your car’s handling, alignment, and even tyre pressure—so it’s not something to ignore. In fact, driving on a compromised wheel can be dangerous.

At Auto ART Devon, we often get asked if we repair alloy wheels. The short answer? We don’t. We believe safety comes first, and we don’t recommend repairing cracked or buckled alloys. In many cases, it’s safer to replace them entirely. While light refurbishments like kerb mark touch-ups are fine, we leave that to the specialists who focus solely on wheels.

So if you’ve noticed some damage to your alloys, it’s a good idea to get them checked. And if they’re cracked or bent—don’t take the risk. Speak to a wheel specialist or consider replacing the alloy altogether (ebay can be your friend sometimes!)