Repaired wheels?
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 266
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From: Texas
Repaired wheels?
Last week going into a parking garage under repair something caught both my passenger side valve stems and broke them off. Two flat tires in an airport parking lot. Bad enough but the dealer said that it somehow also bent the rims. I had had metal stems put on when I got my new tires and apparently they were very strong.
Now the insurance company (Liberty Mutual) is negotiating all sorts of crap. First they wanted refurb wheels form Wheels America. Now they can't find 20" wheels and want to 'repair' the wheel. Originally I was told that if they could not find replacement wheels they would return to the dealer for new OEM wheels which I clearly would prefer.
My concern is that I have never heard of repaired wheels running true and sound. This would be acceptable on a low performance vehicle but I am concerned about safety besides future tire wear and failure.
Opinions? I have already CCd my attorney on all this stuff just in case.
Now the insurance company (Liberty Mutual) is negotiating all sorts of crap. First they wanted refurb wheels form Wheels America. Now they can't find 20" wheels and want to 'repair' the wheel. Originally I was told that if they could not find replacement wheels they would return to the dealer for new OEM wheels which I clearly would prefer.
My concern is that I have never heard of repaired wheels running true and sound. This would be acceptable on a low performance vehicle but I am concerned about safety besides future tire wear and failure.
Opinions? I have already CCd my attorney on all this stuff just in case.
Veteran Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,826
Likes: 521
From: Reynolds Lake Oconee, GA USA
I have a 2013 XJ SuperSport and am a performance driver. I have had my wheels repaired several times. Sometimes for scuffing the rim and sometimes for straightening out bent rims. and they drive like new. I use a company here in Atlanta called the Wheel Wizard. I will say that if the bend is on the outer side of the rim it is usually non repairable. Also once when I did bend a rim on the outer edge State Farm had no issue with replacing the wheel from a dealer.
Veteran Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 25,520
Likes: 11,712
From: Pacific Northwest USA
Alloy wheel repair has been commonplace for years now. I wouldn't worry. I've had many wheels repaired....no problems.
If the wheel is damaged beyond [safe] repair, the company will say so.
Cheers
DD
If the wheel is damaged beyond [safe] repair, the company will say so.
Cheers
DD
Veteran Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,105
Likes: 7,106
From: Atlanta suburbs
Dochands,
Cosmetic alloy rim repairs (curb rash) usually do not affect structural integrity and are safe, unless the bead is affected. But any wheel repair that requires welding will eventually fail again at or near the weld since welding reduces structural integrity. Google it and ask a metallurgist.
Don't put your life or the lives of your passengers at risk. Tell your insurance company in writing that they are putting you in harm's way with a remanufactured wheel and that you will hold them liable for any property damage or personal injury when that wheel fails. They'll give you a brand-new OEM wheel faster than you can whistle "Dixie".
Bottom Line: You can't tell if a repaired wheel is safe to drive on simply by looking at it, since welded areas can be made to look like new after they've been sanded and repainted. The final point is that a weld will never, ever be quite as strong as the original material. So why risk it? Better to be safe than sorry. Read this: Welding Wheels: To Bead or Not to Bead?
20" wheels with low-profile tires are very prone to rim damage because those tires don't absorb enough of the impact from hitting a pothole and that remaining energy is transmitted to the rim, which causes it to bend or crack.
Stuart
Cosmetic alloy rim repairs (curb rash) usually do not affect structural integrity and are safe, unless the bead is affected. But any wheel repair that requires welding will eventually fail again at or near the weld since welding reduces structural integrity. Google it and ask a metallurgist.
Don't put your life or the lives of your passengers at risk. Tell your insurance company in writing that they are putting you in harm's way with a remanufactured wheel and that you will hold them liable for any property damage or personal injury when that wheel fails. They'll give you a brand-new OEM wheel faster than you can whistle "Dixie".
Bottom Line: You can't tell if a repaired wheel is safe to drive on simply by looking at it, since welded areas can be made to look like new after they've been sanded and repainted. The final point is that a weld will never, ever be quite as strong as the original material. So why risk it? Better to be safe than sorry. Read this: Welding Wheels: To Bead or Not to Bead?
20" wheels with low-profile tires are very prone to rim damage because those tires don't absorb enough of the impact from hitting a pothole and that remaining energy is transmitted to the rim, which causes it to bend or crack.
Stuart
Last edited by Stuart S; Jun 7, 2015 at 05:25 PM. Reason: Added Bottom Line
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