Watch Out for Winter Wheel Problems

Virtually all alloy wheels are painted with silver paint and/or clearcoated. Wheel-balancing weights that clip on scratch that paint, letting corrosive moisture and road salt get to the underlying aluminum. Ditto for any scratch marks — either made by a careless technician who pops off a tape-on weight with a casual flick of a screwdriver or from the occasional brush with road debris or curbs when parking.

Once pitting has gotten a good hold, you’ll need to protect them this winter and eventually have those wheels refinished. Never sandblast alloy wheels, or any other aluminum alloy component — the coarse surface left behind is great for holding paint, but represents millions of tiny stress risers. Those stress marks will degrade the strength of the wheel. Acceptable methods include glass-beading or blasting with crushed walnut shells, polymer media or baking soda, as well as chemical paint remover. Any corrosion pits need to be sanded down, not just filled in with Bondo. Your best bet is always a professional like us.

The biggest tip to not take on further damage this winter is this: Severely corroded wheels can fail, so don’t neglect them. A generous layer of wax will help repel water and salt.

Visit WheelRefinisher.com to contact us for a pickup if your wheels need any fall or winter damage repaired.

Also,

Beware of automatic car washes. Some washes use acid cleaners either before or during the wash to remove dirt and grime. Others use stiff brushes for cleaning wheels and tires. Both of these processes could harm your wheel's finish. Ask the employees or manager of the car wash about their equipment and procedures before entering the wash.