Alloy wheels and tyre damage

kipperman

Are tyres fitted with alloy wheels more prone to damage from kerbing than steel wheels? The reason I ask is that my son has managed to irrepairably damage two tyres due to "kerbing" (his words). He has only recently passed his driving test, and initially I thought this was just his inexperience.

The car is a Renault Clio fitted with non Renault alloy wheels that came with a fair amount of kerb damage when he bought the car. I just wonder if it is worth changing them back to steel wheels?

If so, where would be the best place to buy them?

Any thoughts from you experts out there appreciated.

The Kipper

vikingaero

A lot of the latest alloys on modern cars have spokes which protrude from the wheel face. This means it's a lot easier to kerb them. Also large alloys with low profile tyres = more risk of kerbing. A few tyre manufacturers make tyres with extra sidewall rubber to protect rims from kerbing but these seem to be dying out.

Your options are to refurbish the wheels or buy standard steel rims. If it's an old car then look on eBay or at a scrapyard.

There is one product that claims to protect wheel rims:

http://wheelsprotector.rtrk.co.uk/?scid=16447&kw=5937733&pub_cr_id=4089459430

DaveMacD

I've always found it easier to whack a dent out of a steel wheel, than an alloy

Is he running the car up onto the pavement when he'd parking? Maybe suggest that he starts paying for the tyres he's wrecking, and see how quickly his driving improves...

computershack

Yes they are more prone and yes it is down to his lack of ability to judge the width of his car.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

If he doesn't know the width of his car when parking, get him to make a mental note of where 'on the bonnet' the nearside front wheel is.

thescouselander

Yes, you're right, its inexperience. He really needs to learn to not drive into the kerb.

Premier_2

The choice of wheel material shouldn't usually affect any tyre damage incurred by poor driving skills, or indeed any other cause.