Winter Weather
With cold weather still with us winter feels like it’s here to stay. Winter is harsh on alloy wheels. This is because road salt, ice-melting chemicals, and grit cause rapid corrosion, oxidation, and damage to the lacquer finish. The combination of moisture and salt accelerates structural deterioration, particularly if the wheel has existing scratches or kerb damage. It can also be easy to cause extra damage to your wheels in the winter, with patches of ice and more pot holes on the roads it’s too easy to cause scratches and dents.
Road Salt
Road salt causes white oxidation spots to develop on the wheel’s surface. It can also cause finish degradation. This is when the protective clear coat can fail, leading to blistering, bubbling, and a dull appearance. Over several months road salt can cause structural damage. This can cause tyre pressure loss by weakening the bead seal area.
Clean and Protect
You can minimise problems caused by salt by washing your car regularly during the winter months to get rid of the salt on your wheels, especially after a cold snap when extra salt is spread on the roads.
After washing you can also protect your wheels by using a wheel wax or sealant to create a barrier against corrosive elements.
It’s a good idea to inspect your wheels regularly. Check for chips or cracks where salt can enter. If you spot any it’s good to get them repaired before any more damage can happen.
Repairing Alloy Wheels can be a lot cheaper than you think, it’s always better than leaving the problem until you need to buy new wheels.
