Dangers Of Driving On A Bent Wheel
Posted on
Driving into a pothole or bumping the curb can ruin the appearance of your car's rims, but if you are driving on a bent wheel it can lead to more costly repairs.
Wheel Misalignment
Alignment issues are common and if left unchecked they can ruin your tires. When you run into a curb the force of the impact causes the wheel to move in a different direction. The wheel is then out of alignment with the other 3 wheels on your vehicle, and this leads to steering issues. If left untreated the alignment can get worse over time making it difficult to keep your car straight while driving.
Can I Still Drive If I Have a Bent Rim?
Here at RGX we never recommend driving on a bent rim as this can lead to further damage to the wheel, tire, & steering. Bents rims will usually have a hard time maintaining a proper seal with the tire, this will lead to a loss in air pressure.
As a result, your car will experience a decrease in MPG and become more difficult to steer. In more extreme cases a bent rim can cause your car to wobble at high speeds and can even result in a tire blowout.
How Can I Tell If I Have A Bent Rim?
Common symptoms of a bent rim include:
- Vibration in the steering wheel at moderate & high speeds
- A thumping sound that gets faster when you accelerate
- Poor handling
- A sunken spot on your tire
- Decreased MPG
Is it Possible to Repair a Bent Rim?
RGX’s technology allows us to straighten rims of any style up to 26” in diameter. Our Certified Wheel Technicians use a combination of hydraulics, pulls, flange tools, heat, and experience to bring your damaged wheels back to factory specifications. Our dial indicators allows our certified wheel technicians to straighten your wheel to DOT & manufacture requirements. Bent wheels can become out of round from thirty thousandths to over one-hundred thousandths. Bent wheels can cause minor to severe vibration, uneven tire wear, damage to your steering column, or even a sudden blowout. Once our Certified Wheel Technician has examined your wheel, we will restore it back to a “true round” condition. We will ensure that your wheel meets factory specifications before you leave or before we return ship your wheel.