What to Do When Wheel Rims Are Scratched by Curb?
4 Answers
If the wheel rims are scratched by the curb, they should be repaired as soon as possible. The specific steps for repair are as follows: 1. Inspect the damage. If the inner part of the rim is not affected, you can simply use paint thinner to clean the area around the scratch to remove dirt; 2. For the deepest part of the scratch, it may be difficult to remove dirt. In this case, use a toothpick to thoroughly clean it; 3. To avoid painting unrelated areas, carefully apply adhesive tape around the scratch; 4. Prepare the tip of a brush and apply touch-up paint. Since the paint will shrink as it dries, apply it slightly raised; 5. After painting, allow it to dry completely, which may take about a week. Once dry, use water-resistant paper soaked in soapy water to smooth the surface; 6. After wiping with water-resistant paper, use a compound to restore shine, then apply wax. For deeper scratches, the key is to check whether the metal surface is exposed. If the metal surface is not visible, rust will not occur, and you can apply touch-up paint.
I was so heartbroken when I scraped my wheel rim against the curb last time! Actually, it depends on how severe the scratches are. Light scratches are basically fine to ignore since the rim is made of alloy and won't rust. If the scrape is deep enough to expose the metal, you should take it to a professional wheel repair shop. They'll fill it with putty, re-machine it, and repaint it—good as new. I recommend buying a set of rim protectors; they cost just a few dozen bucks and can prevent secondary damage. When parking, try not to get too close to the curb—repairing this thing costs around 300-400 RMB a pop. If the rim is deformed, don't drive with it; replace it immediately for safety.
I'm all too familiar with wheel rim scratches - eight out of ten car owners in my neighborhood have experienced this. For minor scratches, there's really no need to repair them; just use sandpaper to smooth them out slightly. Those wheel repair spray paint kits available online work quite well - remember to choose the same color as the original factory finish. If the scratches are too deep, you'll need to visit a professional shop for high-temperature baking paint. Never cheap out by using regular paint, as it tends to peel off on rainy days. I recommend installing a tire pressure monitoring system and having the technician check for any wheel deformation while they're at it - I learned this lesson the hard way myself. Developing good driving habits is especially important: pay attention to mirror angles when parallel parking, and when encountering narrow roads, it's better to reverse a couple more times than to force your way through.
My experience is that wheel scratches can be handled in three ways: for minor scratches, just use a touch-up pen to dab a few times; for moderate-depth scratches, repeated polishing with toothpaste and a soft cloth can improve them significantly; if the metal layer is visible, professional repair is a must. The repair process is actually quite meticulous, starting with rust removal, then filling with putty, and finally precision machining with CNC equipment. Better shops can even perform a brushed finish. For new cars, it's advisable to install wheel rim protectors—the rubber ones are the most practical. After scratches occur, remember to check if there are any bulges on the tire sidewall. A warped wheel can cause uneven tire wear—once, I experienced severe shaking on the highway because of this.
