Is it serious if the wheel hub is scratched against the curb?
2 Answers
Whether the wheel hub being scratched against the curb is serious depends on whether it is scratched and the extent of the scratch. If the situation is severe, it should be repaired at a maintenance shop. Here is some additional information: 1. Severe edge scratches: If the edge of the wheel hub is severely scratched, it needs to be repaired; otherwise, it may lead to poor contact between the wheel hub and the tire, causing air leakage. 2. Exposed primer: If the wheel hub is scratched to the point where the primer is exposed, it also needs to be repaired. If left unrepaired for a long time, the scratched area may wrinkle and expand continuously, eventually leading to rust and corrosion. 3. Deformed wheel hub: If the wheel hub is damaged to the point of deformation, this is considered a serious situation that affects the vehicle's driving and requires immediate repair or even direct replacement.
After scraping the wheel against the curb, I usually inspect the damage carefully because even minor scratches can hide potential hazards. If it's light, there might just be some small scratches on the rim edge, which don't affect driving safety. However, deeper impacts could cause wheel deformation or tiny cracks, which are especially dangerous at high speeds. I've seen cases where wheel deformation led to wheel imbalance, causing increased vibrations while driving and even affecting braking performance. So whenever this happens, I immediately pull over to check for tire bulges or leaks and run my hand over the wheel surface to confirm there are no dents. Safety is no small matter—if you feel steering instability or unusual noises, I recommend going to a professional repair shop right away. When parking, keeping a safe distance from the curb can prevent such incidents. Minor damage might seem harmless, but don't take it lightly to avoid small issues turning into major problems.
