If your rims are damaged it can lead to expensive car rim repairs in the near future and even be a risk to your safety. Luckily problems with your rims are easily spotted. Depending on what type of damage there is you could be hearing a thump-thump sound or you could be feeling a vibration under your hands when you hold the steering wheel. If your vehicle starts getting less miles per gallon or it does not handle like it used to, you need to inspect your tires. You should particularly be checking for bent, dented or broken rims.
Possible Unintended Consequences
Not only can a damaged rim or rims make your tires wear unevenly, it means you will be replacing them sooner than you would like. At the worst, you could blow a tire while driving at a higher speed, which could be deadly. You can avoid these issues, plus the handling and mileage ones as well, simply by paying close attention to the condition of your rims.
Whether to Repair or Replace
A mechanic can straighten a bent rim out 98% of the time. If it is cracked or damaged in some other way, you may have to replace it. You should always talk to a mechanic to see if you really need to buy a new one or if he or she thinks it is repairable. A repaired rim is almost always as good and as strong as a new one. Welding a rim or repainting them after a repair can cost $200 to $480 per tire. If your rims should need to be replaced, they can cost from between $200 and $500 to replace. There is an alternative that can provide protection for your rims, Rimskins which are a piece which fits over the outside edge of your rim to protect it from scratches and dents.