Scratched Rims on Curb - How to Fix and Prevent This in the Future?

Damaging your car when you are driving is obviously not something you would want to do. Car repair is super-expensive these days, and the cars are not cheap, so you will want to keep them new and beautiful as long as possible. But sometimes annoying mistakes and lack of attention lead to micro damages that are very sad and usually need immediate solutions.

Scratching your car rims over the curb is not uncommon at all. In today's article, we'll tell you how to avoid this and how to fix the rim if this happened to you. For most cheaper rims made of simple iron, this is not something that will disappoint you. But most cars today have light-alloy or forged wheels that will suffer greatly when they have close contact with a curb.

Here's what we'll be talking about today:

• Scratching your wheel rim over the curb - why does this happen?
• Types of damages your wheel rim may get.
• How to fix the damage - cheap and expensive ways.
• How to avoid scratching your car rims on curbs?

Let's get started!

Scratching your wheel rim on the curb - why do drivers do this?

The simple reason for this - you just don't see the wheel when you are driving. You need to feel the car's dimensions when you are behind the steering wheel, but you don't always do that. It's not only about some common reasons, but some people are also just bad at feeling the dimensions of some objects and they are at risk all the time.

Also, curbs are different. One curb is low and not dangerous for drivers. Even if you touch it with the wheel of your car, it will only touch the tire and leave a small scratch on the rubber. Even if it damages the tire, you can buy the new one without breaking the bank. But some curbs are higher and made of stone or concrete. This is where things get worse.

Here's why you may scratch your car's rim over the curb:

• your vehicle is new and you just don't feel its size - you don't know how to park and avoid damages;
• you borrowed a car from a friend or car rental and it's much bigger than the vehicle you own, you don't feel its dimensions;
• the curb is new - you got used to the old low curb but suddenly it's new and higher, so it can scratch the wheel rim;
• you bought new beautiful wheels with low-profile tires and now the curb reaches the edge of the rim and can damage it;
• you aren't attentive enough when parking your car - maybe you are in a hurry or talking on the phone;
• the parking space is limited and you are maneuvering to fit your vehicle in this space and suddenly damage the rim;
• the curb is making a curve in the place where you want to park and you don't notice this when approaching the parking space.

We can keep on explaining why this happened. But if you are on this page, the tragedy has already happened and now you are standing in front of your car and searching the internet to try and find the best solution for your problem. Unfortunately, we have to write so many words before getting to the juice because there are different types of damage.

Also, you should understand the reason why this happened to try and avoid this next time you are parking your car. This is a cruel and expensive lesson but it should teach you that driving too close to the curb may really cause problems and make you spend some money.

What are the types of rim damage over a curb?

We would think about three common types of damages that can happen when your rim gets closely acquainted with a curb. Here they are:

• Little scratch. In this case, you can see the scratch, but you can't see the bare metal under it. Usually, the curb will leave several noticeable scratches but in this case, you are lucky and you will only need a little money to heal your wheel.
• Bad scratch. In this case, you can see bare metal under the scratch but the metal itself is not damaged and doesn't show any signs of deformation. Most likely, you will have to paint the rim in order to hide the tracks left by the curb.
• Super-bad scratch. In this case, you will not only see the bare metal but also feel that it has some deformation and a new shape. It means that the wheel metal is damaged and you won't repair this with simple repainting.

Depending on what kind of damage your rim has, you'll be able to choose the proper way to repair the scratch. Inspect the damaged place, and use your fingers to understand if the metal is damaged or if it's just the paint. Also, take some pictures and send them to one of the car shops that paint rims. They will be able to tell you a certain price for repair just after looking at those pics.

How can you fix the problem? Several possible ways

No matter if it's your vehicle or you just borrowed it, you will want to repair the damage. In this case, you may choose one of the DIY methods or go to professionals. We should warn you that no DIY methods will work well and you will still see the damage. But you may make it less noticeable. Proper repair methods will only be found by professionals after a close inspection of the damaged rim.

So, here are some of the most common ways to deal with a rim that was scratched over a curb:

1. Paint it yourself with a proper paint

You can go to the paint shop and ask them to select a proper color of paint for the rims. This paint comes in spray cans, so you can easily spray it on your wheel. Well, it's not as easy as you can think it is, but it's possible.

First, take the wheel off the vehicle and clean it carefully. Then, prepare the damaged spot - you may need to sand it a little to level all the scratches. After that, clean it once more and cover all the areas that you don't want to get painted. Then, use the spray can you bought and carefully spray some paint onto the damaged spot.

It sounds easier than it is, but you can try. Don't expect perfect results!

2. Go to professionals and ask them for a good repair

This is the most common way to deal with a damaged rim. A professional will quickly inspect the wheel and, most likely, offer you complete repainting.

This is going to cost you some money, but eventually, you will get the rim which looks like new and doesn't have any visual problems. The price of the repainting depends on the shop you choose. Be careful with cheap services - they may be of very poor quality.

3. Replacement of the rim

In some cases, repair and replacement will cost you approximately the same. If the metal on the wheel is damaged and has some deformation, one of the possible solutions is to replace the wheel. If you still have OEM rims, go to the dealer and ask about the price. If you have aftermarket wheels, search for this model online and order just one rim.

This solution is perfect for cases when your wheel rim is badly damaged over the curb and looks awful. Repairing such a rim may actually cost you more than buying a new one. But check the prices to know for sure. Also, you may sell your old damaged wheel on eBay and compensate for some of your costs.

How to avoid hitting your rims over curbs?

Now you know how to repair the damage. You also know that you will need to spend some money on this. Even the cheapest DIY methods require expensive rim paint. So, how can you avoid this annoying thing and keep your rims always looking like new?

We have several important tips that will especially be good for starter drivers and those who just got the new bigger vehicle. Here they are:

• always try to keep your distance from the curb - let it be half a meter, but your rims will be safe;
• remember that wheel turn and when turning they move out of your car dimensions;
• practice understanding the car dimensions once you start driving - this is extremely important;
• always focus on the road when you are driving and never do anything that can distract you;
• when parking, pay attention to the curb shape - maybe there are some traps that can scratch your wheel;
• when you start driving, never turn the steering wheel sharply to avoid contact between the rim and the curb;
• if you are unsure of the space between the rim and the curb, apply the parking brake, go out, and look.

Whenever you are driving, focus on the road and on where you are going. Don't just drive automatically. This will not only allow you to spend less money on rim repair but will also keep you away from car accidents that can take your health and even your life.