Fixing Aluminum Wheel Corrosion Without Replacement

by | Mar 10, 2016 | Car Problems & Repairs

Does your car have aluminum wheels or steel wheels?  Do you know?

Aluminum wheels are installed on many cars today.  Sometimes referred to as alloy wheels, they are made from an aluminum/nickle alloy and are lighter than steel wheels. Because of this, they can offer better acceleration and braking performance, however, they can also add signigicantly to the cost of the vehicle. Steel wheels cost $60 to $80, while aluminum wheels can cost from $400 to over $1000 each!

When a car has been on the road a number of years a chemical reaction between the wheel, air and water can damage the wheel resulting in a less than optimal seal between the wheel and the tire. This can cause the tire to lose air pressure. In the video above, Stephen is using a wire brush to remove corrosion without damaging the surface where the tire seals. If the corrosion is really bad, the rim would have to be replaced or reconditioned, but in the above instance, no replacement was needed.

It’s great that we were able to save this car owner replacement expense!

Do you think this might be the cause of your tire losing air pressure? Schedule a service appointment, and we’ll check it out for you.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About the Author

About Brian England

Brian England, the current president of BA Auto Care (formerly British American Auto Care), got his start with an auto apprenticeship in a small town in northwest of London. He came to the U.S. in 1972 to work for a Land Rover dealer in Rockville, MD. A few years later, he started British American Auto Care with his wife, Jennifer. Brian is a big believe in preventative maintenance, and his philosophy is to encourage and educate drivers on the benefits of a regular maintenance plan.