Repair Or Replace The Misaligned Wheels

While driving, hitting potholes is quite common and unavoidable. In fact, at higher acceleration, it can carry a substantial impact on wheels. The tyre may be permanently damaged, the rim may bend or even crack, resulting in misalignment.

An improper wheel alignment causes many adverse effects, such as reduced braking, tyre wear, lack of engine performance. Therefore, to avoid any possible uncertainties, you must schedule a wheel alignment session of your car as soon as you see any of the following signs.

Signs of a needed wheel alignment

Premature and uneven tyre wear.

Steering pulls to one side.

The car feels “loose” during driving.

The steering wheel or column vibrates.

Decreased mileage.

The wheel alignment reading comprises three measurements, the caster, camber, and toe. You can obtain the required wheel alignment reading of your car wheels by using these measurements. 

Caster is the angle measured by tilting the steering axis at its uppermost point. It has control over the steering direction, and it is affected by the height of the vehicle.

Camber angle is measured by tilting the wheels in the vertical direction when seen from the front or rear of the vehicle. If it seems unbalanced, it can cause directional issues to the car while driving. It has an optimum range of -0.5 to -5.5 degrees.

Toe-in and toe-out measures the extent to which the front and the rear wheels turn in and out from the straight position. The primary purpose of toe-in & toe-out is to ensure that the wheels are rolling in a parallel manner. If they are anywhere near improper, it can lead to steering stability issues as well as tyre wear

The ride height of a vehicle indirectly specifies the spring height of the car. The spring height mainly affects the measurements of camber, caster, and toe. Hence, the ride height must lie within the specified values for the proper wheel alignment.

When to repair your alloy wheels?

Repairing your alloy wheels is cheaper than replacing them, especially if there’s only a few small scratches or dents which can be fixed easily. Your mechanic only needs to get the right tools and proficiency to fill in small cracks & bend back the broken rims.

However, if there are several cracks, the wheels fall under replacement category as repairing them will only prolong the inevitable.

When to replace your alloy wheels?

Replacing wheels is usually more expensive. The heavier the damage, the more it will cost to replace them. It can even get to a point where it’s more expensive to repair than to replace.

If there’s too much work to be done to repair your alloy wheels, it’s better to replace them. While the repaired alloy wheels are generally just as durable as new ones, a brand new comes with extra benefits like discounts or extended warranty.

If you are still confused and have queries regarding this, visit our team at Elite Wheels & Tyres for rim repair and wheel alignment reading in the UK. Using a modern suite of tools to repair your vehicle, our team delivers its best for delivering a better driving experience.