Contrary to popular belief, your car is most vulnerable during the winter seasons. Your car contains all sorts of liquids that can freeze and corrode your car’s internal and external parts. This is why car owners need to take proper care of their vehicles during colder climates.
Your wheels and rims’ shine is a testament to how well you maintain your vehicle. Although it will usually be shiny during warmer seasons, it’s most prone to receiving damage during colder temperatures. Besides the physical marks of scratches and dents, it’s also vulnerable to breaking internally due to corrosion if you don’t tend to it properly.
Facing the winter season
Most modern vehicles have painted alloy wheels to show a stylish finish. Although these are nice features to have during sunnier seasons, it can be a disaster waiting to happen during winter. Maintaining their shine can be challenging, especially with the increased level of moisture from melted ice.
Besides chemical reactions, there’s also the issue of heavy metal ploughs damaging your wheels and rims. Since the environment is evidently more dangerous due to snowfall, drivers need to be more cautious about potholes and other physical obstacles. Every nick and dent on your rims can do more than just scratch its surface, depending on the impact’s force. These small accidents can break the seal between tire and wheel, making your vehicle harder to manoeuvre.
Protecting your alloy wheels from corrosion
Regardless of your vehicle’s base metal, it will almost always have painted wheels. These surfaces receive an additional finish of clear coat protection against scratches and the elements. Although the metal itself is durable, it doesn’t take a lot to scratch its surface.
Even wheel-balancing weight slipping can make it prone to rusting. The smallest scratches can cause long-term damage from the road’s different corrosive chemicals such as road salt. This is why it’s necessary to prevent your rims from hitting road debris as much as possible.
During the winter season, it’s easy to slip into the curbside when parking unconsciously. Although it won’t show considerable damage visually, your rims and wheels can face exposure to the elements from nicks.
Even though you’re parking in familiar locations, keep in mind that curbs generally get thicker from snow and debris due to ploughs. For this reason, you need to be more cautious about parking along curbs. Watch where you park your vehicle and double-check your parking manoeuvers.
Receiving car repairs during winter
It’s best to exercise both preventative care and immediate repairs when necessary. First, inflate your tires to give you better traction against slippery roads. It will also protect your rims by reducing the risk of rim damage. Additionally, you can receive an extra coat of paint to resurface your wheel. This protective clear coat will prevent any further instance of oxidation. If you catch its signs early, you can restore your wheel to appear brand-new.
Conclusion
Besides caring for your car’s external components, you should also worry about its internal structures. It’s typical for vehicles in freezing climates to experience different issues, like unresponsive spark plugs or freezing car fluids. As a general rule during winter, make sure that you use it frequently to keep it active. However, if you don’t plan to bring your car while you’re travelling for the holidays, make sure that it’s in a warm and protected area.
Sometimes, doing your best isn’t enough to avoid all damages to your wheels and rims. Going to your local garage to perform the necessary repairs and treatments to your car prevents minor issues from worsening. If your vehicle needs professional wheel refurbishment in Essex, contact our garage today!