Kerb Damage Repairs in Tyne and Wear

Clip a kerb while parking or on a tight Tyne and Wear side street and the outer edge of the alloy takes the hit. Often it looks like a surface scrape. Sometimes it has also bent the rim or cracked the wheel.

At Banks of the Tyne in Hebburn we look at the damage first, then decide with you what repair, if any, is sensible. We do not promise a repair until we have inspected the wheel.

First, check for more than scuffs

Cosmetic damage is irritating, but structural damage is the real concern. If you notice any of the following after a kerb strike, get it looked at before carrying on.

• A vibration at speed that was not there before
• A tyre that keeps losing pressure
• A visible dent or flat spot on the rim
• A crack, even a fine one
• The car pulling to one side

What the repair involves

For surface damage, the wheel is cleaned and the scrapes are sanded or filled and smoothed. Gouges are built up and shaped so the profile of the rim is restored. The area is then primed, painted and lacquered.

The finish is matched to the rest of the wheel. A wheel with a bent rim may need straightening as well, which is assessed separately.

What affects the result and cost

Depth is the key factor. A shallow scuff is much simpler than a gouge that has removed metal or a rim edge that has been crushed. The wheel finish matters too: plain painted wheels are easier to blend than polished or diamond-cut faces.

The number of wheels affected and whether the tyre sidewall has been damaged also influence the work. We explain this at the estimate.

When repair is not the answer

If a wheel is cracked, we would not recommend driving on it, and repair may not be appropriate. Replacement could be the safest route.

Check the tyre as well: kerb impacts can bulge or cut the sidewall, which is a tyre problem, not a cosmetic one.