How to care for alloy wheels

Good-condition wheels play a major role in the car's overall aesthetics. Therefore, if you take pride in having a presentable vehicle, wheel condition is an essential consideration. As the wheels play an obvious safety function, you should also ensure that they are in good condition.

What are alloy wheels?

Alloy wheels are an alternative to steel wheels. Historically, they emulated the very light magnesium alloy wheels, used in motorsport, but without the cost, fire and corrosion disadvantages.

The main difference from steel wheels is that 'alloys' are made from a softer aluminium-based material. Being lighter, alloy wheels reduce the car's unsprung weight, giving efficiency and handling benefits.

As the alloy wheel is cast, rather than pressed, restrictions on the designers are relaxed, allowing them to create unique designs, according to the carmaker's wishes.

How are alloy wheels damaged?

Alloy wheels might look attractive but they are more delicate than steel wheels. Impact damage is a major problem. Striking road furniture, such as potholes, risks bending, or cracking the wheel rim. Even if a flat tyre does not result, the impact would have weakened the wheel severely.

Poor driving can also cause the wheel face to be scraped, or 'kerbed'. This damages not just the protective paint finish but it also can remove some of the material. Diamond-cut alloys are especially vulnerable in this regard.

Corrosion is a major issue, which is why alloy wheels are painted with clear lacquer paint. Eventually, water creeps beneath the paint, causing a white 'spidering' effect to spread, before the finish flakes away. The effect is accelerated by harsh cleaning chemicals and exposing the wheel to winter road salt.

How do I maintain alloy wheels?

Keep the wheels clean and inspect them regularly. An iron fall-out remover can remove hot metallic particles from the brakes, which may have become embedded in the finish. For more details, see https://www.motoringassist.com/news/iron-fallout-remover-protecting-your-alloy-wheels-and-more

Avoid using harsh wheel cleaners, especially those that are acid-based. We also do not advocate you have your car cleaned by an unregulated hand car wash.

Such outfits tend not to be trained in the use of specialist chemicals and we have even heard of brick acid being used to clean alloy wheels. While effective, it also damages the lacquer paint finish.

Whenever a tyre is removed, the fitter should check the rim carefully for damage, including scrapes, flat spots and cracks. The tyre valve should also be removed and the aperture checked for corrosion.

What are the alloy wheel repair options?

Ultimately, wheels have a hard life and a repair will be required at some point. Should you be proficient with car bodywork repairs, you could carry out very localised corrosion and superficial impact damage from home. Alternatively, such work can be conducted by a professional Smart Repairer. Many of these professionals can perform the work from your home, or even from your workplace car park, thus minimising inconvenience.

The third option is a complete wheel refurbishment. While this method involves the most inconvenience and highest cost, it affords the best long-term repair.

What does alloy wheel repair involve?

Professional techniques differ between experts and will deviate also, depending on whether the alloy wheel is cast, or milled. The time taken also varies but around a week is typical.

As an overview, the wheels are removed from the car. The tyres and tyre pressure valves are then separated from the rim. All paint is stripped from the metal, before being inspected closely for damage. Some imperfections can be repaired, including impact damage.

Yet, if this is impossible and safety is prejudiced, most companies will advise the owner that the wheel cannot be refurbished at this stage. Once the repairs are complete, the rim is painted in the appropriate colour.

Special machining exercises, such as diamond-cutting, follow before the protective clear-coat lacquer is applied. The entire procedure is involved but, if you choose your professional wisely, the result is likely to be wheels that are better protected than when they were new.

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