Bad Encounter With A Curb
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Bad Encounter With A Curb
So last night it looks like I channeled my driving skills from when I was 16 because I was parking on the street and managed to scrape my front right tire against the curb. It was a pretty hard shot which scraped my rim and took about a 2mm deep chunk out of the sidewall.
Other than feeling like a complete amateur, I need to get this fixed so I have some questions for you all. I'm in a fairly rural area no where near an Audi dealership, there are two tire centers nearby that only do tires. My question to you all is, do I risk doing highway driving with a chunk out of my tire and risk a blowout or have the work done at a non Audi facility before I head home? I feel like a simple tire change should be ok but I am concerned with steering issues later which I could wind up having to bring it into an Audi dealership anyway.
My second question regards the wheel. The rim got pretty scraped up in my bonehead move and was wondering if anyone knew if this is fixable or at least if it could be smoothed out and touched up with matching paint. Not sure these wheels are painted, coated etc?
Any help would be appreciated, I've attached a pic so you all can see my shame for yourselves.
Thanks!
Other than feeling like a complete amateur, I need to get this fixed so I have some questions for you all. I'm in a fairly rural area no where near an Audi dealership, there are two tire centers nearby that only do tires. My question to you all is, do I risk doing highway driving with a chunk out of my tire and risk a blowout or have the work done at a non Audi facility before I head home? I feel like a simple tire change should be ok but I am concerned with steering issues later which I could wind up having to bring it into an Audi dealership anyway.
My second question regards the wheel. The rim got pretty scraped up in my bonehead move and was wondering if anyone knew if this is fixable or at least if it could be smoothed out and touched up with matching paint. Not sure these wheels are painted, coated etc?
Any help would be appreciated, I've attached a pic so you all can see my shame for yourselves.
Thanks!
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 107
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So last night it looks like I channeled my driving skills from when I was 16 because I was parking on the street and managed to scrape my front right tire against the curb. It was a pretty hard shot which scraped my rim and took about a 2mm deep chunk out of the sidewall.
Other than feeling like a complete amateur, I need to get this fixed so I have some questions for you all. I'm in a fairly rural area no where near an Audi dealership, there are two tire centers nearby that only do tires. My question to you all is, do I risk doing highway driving with a chunk out of my tire and risk a blowout or have the work done at a non Audi facility before I head home? I feel like a simple tire change should be ok but I am concerned with steering issues later which I could wind up having to bring it into an Audi dealership anyway.
My second question regards the wheel. The rim got pretty scraped up in my bonehead move and was wondering if anyone knew if this is fixable or at least if it could be smoothed out and touched up with matching paint. Not sure these wheels are painted, coated etc?
Any help would be appreciated, I've attached a pic so you all can see my shame for yourselves.
Thanks!
Other than feeling like a complete amateur, I need to get this fixed so I have some questions for you all. I'm in a fairly rural area no where near an Audi dealership, there are two tire centers nearby that only do tires. My question to you all is, do I risk doing highway driving with a chunk out of my tire and risk a blowout or have the work done at a non Audi facility before I head home? I feel like a simple tire change should be ok but I am concerned with steering issues later which I could wind up having to bring it into an Audi dealership anyway.
My second question regards the wheel. The rim got pretty scraped up in my bonehead move and was wondering if anyone knew if this is fixable or at least if it could be smoothed out and touched up with matching paint. Not sure these wheels are painted, coated etc?
Any help would be appreciated, I've attached a pic so you all can see my shame for yourselves.
Thanks!
Hi
Unfortunate, but don't beat yourself up too much....it happens. My wife did the same thing 3 months ago. I went to the Audi dealer and they immediately said, oooooh, you need a new rim and a tire. Well, I do need a new tire, but also went to a place locally that fixes rims. They can fix the rim, I can buy a tire at half the cost of the dealer. Almost 1,000 for the tire/rim combination. Ouch, and ridiculous for an A5.
I would get the rim done first (if safe) drive slow on the tire as long as it is a surface chunk, and then after the rim is fixed get the new tire from a 3rd party. I am planning on doing the same, and will then check the alignment to make sure there is no "mal-alignment".
Good luck, hope this helps, and recognize that you are not near a rim place, but I would go slow when I drive. I am not suggesting that you drive or not, as I don't know the size of the chunk that has been ripped off, therefore the damage and safety balance.
Good Luck!
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Chicago Area
I keep this URL bookmarked because I am sure to eventually do the same thing you did. This is a DIY rim scuff repair: http://www.autopia-carcare.com/realwhda.html
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,206
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From: Toronto, Canada
I keep this URL bookmarked because I am sure to eventually do the same thing you did. This is a DIY rim scuff repair: http://www.autopia-carcare.com/realwhda.html
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 13,980
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From: SE Massachusetts, U.S.
I've done this more than once. If the sidewall is compromised, you should replace the tire. Tire Rack can get you one pretty quickly and any tire place can mount it. The wheel can wait if necessary unless it's been bent out of round. In any case, there are shops in most towns and cities that can repair the wheel while you wait. Been there, done that.
As has been already mentioned, the dealer will charge you quite a bit more for a new tire. Don't let them tell you you need a new wheel until you've had a wheel repair shop look at it (should run you about $125-$150 to repair vs. a $500+ wheel through the dealer).
As has been already mentioned, the dealer will charge you quite a bit more for a new tire. Don't let them tell you you need a new wheel until you've had a wheel repair shop look at it (should run you about $125-$150 to repair vs. a $500+ wheel through the dealer).
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