Curb Rash – Causes and Fixes
A curb rash can be caused after hitting a curb, potholes, or obstructions, such things are part of your road drive, and you may face them once in your driving experience. After hitting a curb, you can notice scratches and scuff marks on your wheel.
Occasionally, it can damage your wheel’s structure by cracking, bending, etc. Scratches and scuff marks make your wheel unattractive, so how do you fix scratches and scuff blemishes on wheels?
You can fix these scratches and scuff marks by following this article. This article will assist you in fixing scratches on your wheel.
How to fix curb rash
If you have time and the proper tools, you can fix scratches and rashes due to the curb on your rim.
Here’s the complete guide about tools and the steps to fix them.
What you need to start
- Safety glasses and gloves
- Sandpaper
- Cleaning solution
- Scotch-Brite pad
- Packing tape and rough paper
- Spray Paint
- Soft cloth
Step 1. Clean the Scratched Area
Clean the rash-affected area on the rim with a cleaning solution and soft cloth to remove the dust.
Step 2. Use Sandpaper And Smooth The Rim
Sand out the scratches using 400-grit sandpaper on a metal surface, making the scratches smooth. If the scratches are on the edge, near the tire, then use the tape to cover the tire to avoid damage.
Step 3. Clean The Affected Area Again
After making the scratches smooth, clean and rub this area with a Scotch-Brite pad 3 to 4 times.
Step 4. Cover The Area Around The Curb Rash
Cover all the areas around the scratched rim, like valve stems, wheel lug nuts area, and empty space inside the rim. Most importantly, if a tire is on the rim, cover the entire tire. Packing tape will assist you in fixing the paper.
Step 5. Spray Primer On The Whole Rim
Start spraying a primer multiple times on the rim. Cover your whole rim with a paper-thin layer of spray primer, and make a 6 inches distance from the rim while spraying and keep shaking the spray can. Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes and apply a second coat after the first one is dried.
Step 6. Paint Color
Now start spraying the paint on the wheel. First, apply a thin layer of paint, let it dry, and wait at least an hour or two. While spraying paint, keep shaking the paint can, and maintain a back-and-forth motion.
After an hour, spray the color for the second coat, and after painting it perfectly, leave it for almost 3 to 4 hours.
Step 7. Complete It
Now remove the tape and rough paper around the tire and rim. The next step is to polish the wheel to restore its genuine shine.
What causes curb rash
Numerous causes can cause scratches on the wheel like scuff marks and environmental conditions. Let’s read in detail.
Scratches and scuff marks on Rims While driving
While driving your car, if you hit a pothole badly, it can cause scuff marks on the wheels. If you drive at high speed on a road that has bumps or uneven surfaces, then chances are higher that your wheels may get scratched.
Parking your car close to the curb may also cause scuffs, so try to avoid all described things to keep your wheels in their genuine beauty.
Environmental conditions affect
Different environmental factors can also affect your wheel’s beauty. Follow these tips to avoid environmental effects
- Always park your car in a fully covered area
- Avoid parking in the hot sun
- Keep clean your wheels
Protect Your Wheels Before They Get Scratched
You can protect your beautiful wheels from scuff marks and scratches by installing rim protectors on your wheels. Rimsavers is a leading brand in rim protectors and has numerous types of rim protectors.
These are light in weight and durable strips made of exclusive material. These strips will be stuck around the wheels and act as the first line of defense between your wheel and curb scratches.
After installing rim protectors, you have the peace of mind that your alloy wheels are secure and protected from scratches.
FAQs
Is curb rash a big deal?
Don’t take these scuff blemishes and pothole rashes easy. These can also damage your wheel’s structure by cracking, bending, etc.
How common is curb rash?
You have to bear scratches and blemishes while driving on the road. You may experience them often if your driving road has potholes and uneven surfaces.
Can you fix a scratched rim?
If you have time, following this guide can quickly fix scratches and scuff marks on your wheels. You can also fix them from the nearest wheel repair shop.
Conclusion
After reading this guide, you can quickly fix curb rash scratches and scuff marks on your wheel. You also got some valuable tips to avoid and overcome these things.
Still, if you don’t want to fix these scratches and scuff marks yourself, you should take your car to a professional wheel repair mechanic.
