What to Do If the Car Wheel Hub Gets Scratched?

[DelSawyer]

If it's just a surface scratch, there's no need for repair as it only affects the appearance of the car tire and does not impact the tire's safety performance. If the edge is severely scratched, then it needs to be repaired; otherwise, it might lead to tire air leakage due to improper contact with the tire. If the wheel hub is scratched to the point where the primer is exposed, it also requires repair. The scratched area will wrinkle and continue to expand, and it may also rust and corrode.

[StEloise]

I find wheel scratches are quite common, so don’t panic right away. Observe the depth and location of the scratches—if it’s just the paint damage and doesn’t affect safety, you can hold off on repairs for now. However, deformation or cracks are serious issues. I’ve personally used a wheel repair kit for shallow scratches, which includes polishing compound, spray paint, and clear coat—just clean the wheel and follow the steps. If you don’t want to DIY, take it to a professional shop; repair costs range from a couple hundred to over a thousand, with aluminum alloy wheels being more expensive to fix than steel ones. To reduce the risk of scratches, be mindful of curb height when parking and avoid keeping tire pressure too low.