Alloy wheels are a significant investment for your vehicle, so it’s very important to take good care of them.
First Aid Wheels has provided us with this handy infographic highlighting the benefits of alloy wheels to your car. It also describes the type of damage they can sustain in everyday driving, such as cracking and kerbing, and how alloy wheels are repaired.
An alloy wheel is generally much stronger and lighter than a steel one, but it is less malleable. This means that it won’t deform like a steel wheel, but it is more likely to crack or buckle completely in a significant impact (such as bouncing off a kerb or pothole).
This is a particular issue for large wheels and low-profile tyres, where the tyre is not able to absorb the impact. As automotive fashion dictates ever-larger rims and ever-lower tyre profiles, this is becoming a growing problem.
Brake dust is also extremely corrosive, and can eat away at the surface of your alloys. This can be difficult and expensive to fix properly, so it is important to keep your wheels clean.
