Scuffed alloys are mainly cosmetic, and reduce the aesthetic value of a vehicle, as opposed to being dangerous. However, if left unrepaired, scuffed alloys can develop into bigger cracks or other forms of structural damage which will have a significant negative impact on your driving.
Scuffs are also vulnerable to rusting, as the protective layer is the first to come off as a result of scratching and denting.
What causes scuffed alloys?
Scuffed alloys can be caused by anything from impact with the kerb to road debris and potholes. Effectively, dirt, debris, and physical contact will wear down the alloys and cause them to look dated.
Most commonly, alloy wheels become scuffed during parallel parking, when the wheel scrapes along the side of the kerb during parking.
Thankfully, scuffed alloy wheels are not too difficult for a professional to fix.
Understanding the severity of alloy damage
To understand the severity of alloy damage, you first need to identify the problem. Are you dealing with a small scratch/scrape, an alloy bend, or a fully cracked alloy?
Even within these issues, the severity can vary greatly based on the extent of each one. A slight alloy bend will most likely just slightly change the appearance of your alloy wheel, whereas a more severe bend can significantly damage the suspension of your vehicle, and even be dangerous to the driver.
To determine just how serious your alloy damage is, find your local alloy repair specialist.
How scuffed alloys can impact driving
Whilst more minor scuffs are mainly visual issues only, more serious damage could actually affect your driving performance. It all depends on the impact of the damage on the overall structural integrity of the alloy wheel.
More serious damage can impact driving in the following ways:
- Risk of blowout – Damage such as cracks or bends can actually lead to horrific accidents. Too much stress can be put on the tires, causing them to blowout, leading to total loss of control of the vehicle. Whilst quite unlikely, it is so vital to consider how damaged your alloys might be to avoid this risk. If driving at high speeds on a motorway, the repercussions of a tyre blowout can be catastrophic.
- Steering Issues – Scuffed alloys can make a vehicle more difficult to steer for a number of reasons. The damage may be putting strain on your suspension, or it could be a wheel misalignment issue. Either way, unpredictable steering patterns can be very dangerous, and should be addressed as quickly as possible.
- Fuel Consumption – Whilst not a direct impact on driving itself, additional fuel consumption will make driving more expensive and less convenient for you. Alloys which are significantly scuffed or damaged demand much more from the car’s engine to compensate. Naturally, this means the engine burns through expensive fuel much faster than usual.
How to fix scuffed alloys
Below is a quick rundown of how certain types of scuffed alloy are repaired.
For minor scuffs, scratches, or scrapes, simply sanding down the damaged area might be enough to remove the damage, and restore the wheel to its original condition. This is simply a refinishing job, and can often be carried out at home. However, to guarantee a professional-looking finish with no risk of errors, it is recommended that you seek professional help.
If the alloy has scratches or chips that are more significant, they might need to be professionally filled by a mechanic. This is important because the wheel may have sustained some damage which actually reduces its integrity, reducing safety.
After being fixed using metallic alloy filler, the wheel will be sanded down, before being repainted, returning the wheel to its original condition.
More significant damage such as alloy bends or cracks need to be repaired by a professional immediately in almost all cases.
Bends are fixed by heating the alloy to such a high temperature that the metal actually softens, then re-moulding the wheel back to its original condition. The wheel is then checked using specialist equipment and technology to ensure that it is correctly aligned.
Alloy wheel cracks can have a serious impact on your driving ability. To fix cracks, a mechanic needs to weld an electrode or wire filler rod into the crack. This is vital to restore structural integrity to the wheel, making it safe to drive on again. Without this fix, you are likely to experience steering and stability problems and, eventually, your tyre could blowout.