Yup, I did it alright! Came around a right hand corner rather fast a few weeks ago, misjudging it somehow(probably b/c I had a passenger in my car and I wasn't "100%" concentrating on driving) and my right, rear, wheel/tire scraped up against a concrete curb(figures it couldn't be an asphalt curb!). I immediately heard the sound of my beautiful 17" A! Design SL wheel scraping up against concrete(OUCH!). What a horrific sound! I then felt the back end kinda bounce back to the left, which was probably a result of the tire making contact w/the curb. Well, naturally, the wheel is scraped up(actually, "gouged up" is much more appropriate!) around the outside edge and a "flap" of rubber was taken out of my S-02 PP's sidewall(I pulled the flap off, which now leaves a chunk of rubber missing from my sidewall). The tire, however, still seems ok. I believe this is the case b/c the sidewalls on the PP's are extra "built-up" to provide rim protection from curbs, etc(not in cases like these, though!). I also understand the importance of replacing tires w/sidewall damage w/new ones, but I really don't think it is an issue here. My question to anyone reading this is: Can there be any other damage to my car besides the physical damage to the wheel and tire? I doubt the alignment is off, as it was the rear wheel that scraped up against the curb, not the front, and the car doesn't seem to "pull" to either side or anything. As far as balancing I think I'm alright, too. I did 100MPH(please, no flames--it was an open hightway) and the car still seemed solid and smooth. Is there any way that I caused damage to any other part(s)??

Anyay, my game plan is as follows: Fortunately, I'll be putting my stock, 16", 7-spokers w/Pirelli Winter 210A on again soon, so I'm not going to worry about replacing the wheel til' the spring. I believe, at that time, I'll order just a wheel and mount the same PP tire(w/the missing "chunk" of rubber) on it and then replace all four tires together, when necessary.

AAUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! =(

Jeff
99' 1.8Tqmsx, MTM Stage 2, A!(w/one "gouged up" wheel), Mintex, etc...

 

I don't know about additional damage. It would depend on how hard you hit the curb. From your description, it sounds like a minor side swipe, so I would guess that it's OK.

Is the gouge really so bad that you need to replace the entire wheel, or are you just being a "perfectionist" like so many others here? Maybe one of those wheel repair places (I forget the name but someone posted one yesterday in Bath, PA) can smooth it out and save you a few hundred bucks? At least you'll have time to look into it, since you're swapping to the winter setup.

Good luck!
Dave

 

These guys do great work...they've got some patented system which allows them to repair wheels and still retain 100% the strength of a brand-new wheel. I read a write-up on them about 6 years ago in AutoWeek. I've used them to straighten a bunch of OZ wheels that I had on my Corrado. they charged approx. $100 per wheel to straighten them (this was about 4 years ago). They also do cosmetic work, but I haven't used them for that.

Andy Hedin
'97 A4 1.8Tqms, Garrett 1.0 Bar, ABT Filter, Borla Exhaust, European Headlights, more...<ul><li><a href="http://www.wheelcollision.com/">Wheel Collision Center</a></li></ul>

 

Don't know about quality of their work, but I must say that's an attractive staff. Thanks, Andy.

 

Hey Dave!

How are you? Well, you're probably right and I bet there is a good chance that I can have it fixed by a wheel repair place, but my concerns are: a.) How much would THAT cost? and b.) Would there possibly be issues w/the paint not matching the other three wheels? Hmm...something to think about. Anyway, like you said, I have time since I'll be putting the winter setup back on soon. Thanks for your sympathy, though! =)

Jeff
99' 1.8Tqmsx, MTM Stage 2, A!(one wheel gouged up), Mintex, etc...

 

Thanks for the info/link, Andy!

 

Suggestion - Use the wheel as a full size spare and get a new one and tire.