Hit a curb turning into a parking lot, or a deep pothole on the road? Your rim might be fine — or it might be bent or cracked. Here’s how to tell the difference and what to do next.
Signs of a Bent Rim
- A vibration in the steering wheel or seat that gets worse at certain speeds
- A tire that keeps losing air slowly, even with no visible puncture
- A wobble you can sometimes see just by watching the wheel spin
Signs of a Cracked Rim
A crack is more serious than a bend. Look for a visible line or split in the metal, especially around the area where the tire meets the rim, or near the spokes. Cracked aluminum rims usually cannot be safely repaired and need to be replaced — welding a cracked wheel is not considered safe for most passenger vehicles.
What to Do Right Away
- If you feel a strong vibration or hear a hissing sound, pull over safely and check the tire
- Avoid driving on a wheel you suspect is cracked, even for a short distance
- Have it inspected as soon as possible — a bent rim can sometimes be repaired, but a cracked one can fail suddenly under load
Waterloo Region roads take a beating from winter potholes every year. If you’ve hit something hard recently, bring your vehicle into President Tire & Wheels and we’ll check your wheels and alignment before it turns into a bigger repair.
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