What Is Alloy Wheel Refurbishment? A Complete Guide for Car Owners

Alloy wheel refurbishment is a necessity in some cases depending on the state of your vehicle, the environment it’s been driving in, and the level of driving it’s been subject to. But what exactly does alloy wheel refurbishment entail?

In this blog, we hope to have answered the question ‘What is alloy wheel refurbishment? A complete guide for car owners.’

With a thriving aftermarket industry, it’s no secret that vehicle owners want the best for their vehicles, whether it’s making it look the way they want it and/or making upgrades. Either way, having peace of mind is the most important factor, this can only be provided by established and trusted service providers like GoTints!

At GoTints, we pride ourselves on providing a variety of expert services for vehicle owners. This includes repair, customisation and personalisation! Our services include PPF, Privacy glass, vehicle wrapping, and car detailing, 

What is alloy wheel refurbishment? A complete guide for car owners

Alloy wheels, while stylish and performance-enhancing, are susceptible to damage from everyday driving. Kerbing, corrosion, stone chips, and general wear and tear can detract from their appearance and potentially compromise their structural integrity.

Alloy wheel refurbishment offers a solution, restoring your wheels to their former glory. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the process.

What is Alloy Wheel Refurbishment?

Alloy wheel refurbishment is the process of restoring damaged or worn alloy wheels to a like-new condition. It involves a series of steps designed to repair physical damage, remove corrosion, and refinish the wheel’s surface. Unlike simple cleaning or touch-ups, refurbishment is a more comprehensive process that addresses underlying issues and provides a lasting result.

The Refurbishment Process: A Step-by-Step Breakdown

The specific steps involved in alloy wheel refurbishment can vary slightly depending on the severity of the damage and the desired finish. However, a general process of a standard refurbishment, (conducted by professionals) includes the following:

1. Inspection and Preparation: The wheel is thoroughly inspected to assess the extent of the damage. This includes checking for kerbing, cracks, dents, corrosion, and existing paint condition. The tyre is then removed from the wheel.
2. Chemical Stripping: The wheel is chemically stripped to remove any existing paint, lacquer, and corrosion. This leaves a clean, bare metal surface ready for repair.
3. Repairing Damage: Any kerbing, dents, or other physical damage is repaired. This may involve welding, filling, or straightening the wheel using specialised tools.
4. Shot Blasting (Optional but Recommended): Shot blasting involves using a high-pressure stream of abrasive media to clean and prepare the wheel surface. This removes any remaining imperfections and provides a key for the new paint or finish to adhere to.
5. Powder Coating (Often Included): Powder coating is a durable and long-lasting finish applied as a dry powder and then baked onto the wheel. This provides excellent protection against corrosion and wear. It is often the base coat under other finishes.
6. Painting/Finishing: Depending on the desired finish, the wheel is then painted with multiple coats of primer, base coat, and lacquer. For diamond-cut finishes, a specialised lathe is used to machine the wheel face to a bright, polished finish, followed by lacquering.
7. Quality Control and Tyre Refitting: The refurbished wheel is inspected for quality and consistency. Once approved, the tyre is refitted and inflated to the correct pressure. The wheel is then balanced to ensure smooth driving.

Different Types of Refurbishment

To the uninitiated, there is actually more than one type of alloy wheel refurbishment, here are the main methods:

• Standard Refurbishment: This typically includes chemical stripping, repair of minor damage, powder coating, and repainting in a standard colour. This is a cost-effective option for wheels with minor cosmetic damage.
• Diamond Cut Refurbishment: This involves the additional step of diamond cutting the wheel face to create a distinctive bright, polished finish. This is a more specialised and expensive process.
• Full Refurbishment (Including Welding): This is for wheels with more significant damage, such as cracks or severe kerbing, requiring welding and more extensive repairs.

Benefits of Alloy Wheel Refurbishment

Refurbishing your alloy wheels offers several advantages:

• Improved Aesthetics: Restores the wheels to their original appearance, enhancing the overall look of your vehicle.
• Increased Value: Helps to improve the resale value of your car.
• Enhanced Safety: Repairs structural damage, ensuring the wheels are safe to use.
• Cost-Effective Alternative to Replacement: Refurbishment is typically much cheaper than buying new alloy wheels.
• Environmental Benefits: Refurbishing existing wheels is more environmentally friendly than manufacturing new ones.

When should I consider Alloy wheel refurbishment?

Alloy wheel refurbishment isn’t a regular maintenance process that you would conduct on a regular basis like washing your car for example.

Alloy wheel refurbishment should only really be considered if your vehicle’s alloys has kerb damage (scuffs, scrapes, gouges), corrosion (white, flaky patches). Peeling or flaking paint, dents or bends in the wheel rim. And consistent air loss from a tyre.

Choosing a Refurbishment Specialist

Choosing a reputable and experienced refurbishment specialist is crucial for achieving a high-quality finish and ensuring the longevity of the repair. Look for specialists with specialised equipment and facilities, experienced technicians, positive customer reviews and testimonials and warranties on their work.

As an established refurbishment specialist, we at GoTints are confident that we can rectify your issue quickly, efficiently, professionally, and at an affordable price.

When does alloy wheels need replacement?

While alloy wheel refurbishment can effectively restore many damaged wheels, there are instances where replacement becomes necessary. Here are some situations where refurbishment is no longer a viable or safe option:

Severe Cracks:

Large or multiple cracks in the wheel’s structure significantly compromise its integrity. While some minor cracks can be welded by specialists, extensive or complex cracking often makes the wheel unsafe to repair. In such cases, replacement is the only safe option.

Major Buckles or Bends:

Significant bends or buckles in the wheel rim, especially those affecting the tyre bead seat (where the tyre seals to the wheel), can be difficult or impossible to repair correctly. Even if straightened, the wheel’s structural integrity may be weakened, posing a safety risk.

Extensive Corrosion:

Severe corrosion that has eaten deeply into the wheel’s metal can weaken its structure beyond repair.If the corrosion has created significant pitting or thinning of the metal, refurbishment may not be sufficient to restore its strength.

Previous Poor Repairs: If the wheel has undergone previous repairs that were not done correctly, it may be beyond further refurbishment. Poor welding, excessive filling, or improper straightening can weaken the wheel and make it unsafe to repair again.

Cost-Effectiveness:

In some cases, the cost of refurbishment can exceed the cost of replacing the wheel with a new or used one in good condition. This is especially true for wheels with extensive damage requiring multiple repairs or specialised finishes.

Quotes for alloy refurbishment

In this blog, we hope to have answered the question ‘What is alloy wheel refurbishment? A complete guide for car owners.’

At GoTints, our expert services have been leading the way in customising, personalising and enhancing vehicles. Our team has 20 years of experiences, providing top-quality services in a wide areas. This includes window tints, vehicle wrapping, paint protection film, alloy wheel refurbishment and repair.

That’s not all, our services come with a lifetime warranty, we also collect and deliver your vehicle, and can provide a courtesy car if you need it! Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today to see how we can help you!