Common sense is key when buying used wheels.

Buying used wheels instead of new can potentially save you a lot of money—if you know what to look (and look out) for. Here are some things you can do to make sure you end up with good wheels and a good deal:

• 1. Measure—Make sure the wheels you are buying will work with your vehicle. If you are buying a larger wheel than your current size, make sure there will be enough clearance around the tire in the wheel well; if you’re buying a smaller wheel, check your vehicle’s ground clearance. If your wheels attach with five lug nuts and the ones you want to buy only use four, you’ve got a problem.
• 2. Perform a visual inspection—Even if you’re not a trained professional, you can still spot peeling chrome or clear coat that is flaking off. If only a small area of the wheel is affected, the problem will continue to get worse until it needs to be stripped down and recoated (at a cost of about $250 per wheel).
• 3. Test for straightness—Wheels may look straight, but a small imperfection can cause big problems at 65 m.p.h. If you have the option, take the wheel to a tire store where they can test for straightness by putting it on the wheel balancing machine. If you can’t take the wheels to a tire store, try rolling them on a flat surface such as a garage floor and see if they roll straight.

Before you buy, it’s a good idea to do your research and shop around. Get an idea of the average price for both new and used wheels of the type you are looking for. It’s always best to buy from a reputable dealer, especially if they offer a return policy. But if you just can’t pass up the price in that craigslist ad, these tips may help you get the great deal you’re hoping for.

Wheel Rim Straightening

Nothing brings down the performance or the safety of a tire like a bent rim.  That doesn’t mean you need to a buy a new wheel.  Bring it to us and we can straighten that rim for you for a fraction of the cost of replacement.

If your rim is out-of-round your car may have the following problems:

• Vibration or a Steering Wheel Shake
• Premature and Uneven Tire Wear
• Unnecessary Wear and Tear on your Car’s Suspension.

Our qualified technicians can take your broken or bent rim and restore it to extend the life of your wheels.  We could save you hundreds of dollars by simply repairing instead of replacing your rims.  Advantages to straightening are:

• Existing wheel refinish is maintained
• Wheels still match age/finish of the rest of the car
• Most cost efficient

Is the rim too damaged to fix? ( Cracked or Broken)  Not a problem, we can help you find a reasonable replacement that fits your car.  No matter what the needs of our customers we are there to help get them back on the road quickly and safely.  Call or fill out our contact form for more information on how WheelKraft NW can save you money.

“Recently I hit a giant pot hole going down a back alley.  Sure enough I began to feel my vehicle vibrate as I went down the road.  I called up WheelKraft and they gave me a free estimate for having my rim straightened.  Now my car is running better than ever and you can’t even tell which wheel had the work.  Thanks WheelKraft!”

John Waddel, loyal and satisfied customer

Please Note:

1) Wheel Straightening is one service we do not offer On Site. We will need your wheel at our shop for 24 to 48 hours.

2) Some Wheels will Break during the Straightening Process ***

3) WheelKraft NW does not employ the use of heat in our straightening process.

4) If WheelKraft NW cannot make your wheel roadworthy again, there is NO CHARGE for our service.

Call or contact us for an estimate and one of our well mannered staff will be happy to help you.

We will not Weld a Cracked or Broken Wheel.      Here’s why.    DISPOSITION OF ABNORMALITIES:   ”In the event of distortions or cracks on the alloy wheels, please refrain from repairing them yourself or sending them to any repair shop. The strength of the alloy wheels can be greatly reduced by the heat generated by welding torches. Furthermore, those distortion curvatures are rarely discernible to the naked eye. To avoid such dangers, consult manufacturer.”   Koenig Wheels          Every Alloy Manufacturer has a similar warning and most void any existing warranty if the use of heat is evident on the wheel.

*** Wheelkraft NW is not liable for any damage that occurs during the wheel straightening process. Wheel straightening and wheel damage repair/refinishing are separate charges.

Wheel Repair and Refinishing: More Wheel for your Money!

High performance wheels are expensive and customized ones can cost even more.  Ensure the life of your wheels and keep them looking like new with WheelKraftNW’s help!  Our trained staff can refinish, straighten or customize your wheels all for less than dealership cost.  Don’t spend a fortune on wheels, call us and save your money for Saturday night.

Curb damage is an ugly sight on a luxury car yet so simple to repair.   Our team of wheel specialist will come to your home or office to do the job for you!  Your damaged wheels are removed from the vehicle and placed on a specially designed prep station/paint booth inside our self-contained reconditioning service van. The wheels are carefully repaired, prepped, primed, painted and finally clear-coated, giving the wheel a like new appearance. The wheels are allowed to cure under infrared lamps for a short time and placed back on your vehicle where it is ready to roll. The total time required to repair the average wheel is about one hour.  How’s that for fast and easy!

Hit a pothole? Bend a rim?  Nothing brings down the performance or the safety of a tire like a bent rim.  That doesn’t mean you need to a buy a new wheel.  Bring it in and we can straighten that rim for you for a fraction of the cost (on site service is not available).  Is the wheel too damaged to fix?  Not a problem, we can remanufacture it or help you find a reasonable replacement that fits your car.

No other accessory on a vehicle gets more attention than the wheels.  Add flash and individuality to your luxury vehicle with services like brake caliper painting and factory wheel customization.  We can change the color or add machine finish and pin striping to your wheels to give them the accent you want.  Make them as unique as you are and customize the look of your car.

Luxury vehicles can be expensive to maintain.  Don’t throw away your money on over prices services.  Give WheelKraftNW a call or simply fill out the contact form to have a qualified team member show you how to save today!

Is Your Wheel Too Bad to Fix? You still have options!

A lot of wheel and tire dealerships like to make you think that if you have a bent rim or damages to your wheels you will need to replace them. That is not always the case. There are many options available to consumers today to extend the life and get the most money from their wheels. Depending on the type of damage, the severity and where it is located you have a few different options.

The first option is refinishing. Refinishing can fix any dings, pits or curb rash you might have on your wheels. Our experienced technicians can come to you and repair all these problems in our customized work truck designed with your convenience in mind.

Straightening is another option. If your rim is bent or damaged we can straighten it back to like new conditions. Best of all you don’t have to replace all the tires on the car to keep them looking uniformed and matching in age and finish.

Sometimes your rim is too badly damaged to just straighten or refinish. That doesn’t mean it’s worthless. There is a good chance that we can remanufacture your wheel and still save you money compared to purchasing a new one. By carefully repairing and reshaping your wheel we can restore it to proper working condition. This is something that cannot be done on all wheels but is an option you should always look into before throwing in the towel on your existing rims.

Finally not all damage is so bad you need to repair it. Some problems can be solved by simply relocating the rim on the car to another spot. This can counter act the problems of the rim so that they are not an issue for you anymore. This is a very commonly known thing but most wheel companies don’t tell you so that they can charge you for more expensive services. Our concern is our customer’s satisfaction and safety. We will happily inform you of a cheaper but still a safe option to ensure your happiness.

Save time, money and help save our landfills by repairing instead of replacing damaged wheels. If you would like to know more about what WheelKraft Northwest can do for you or would like to schedule a free estimate call us, or visit our contact page, and a qualified technician will be happy to help

Save Money on Lease Return Wheel Repairs

Returning a leased vehicle can be a hassle.  Before you return the car the financing company that leases the vehicles will send an inspector.  Beware!  The inspector is likely to hand you a retail bill for unrepaired damages on the vehicle.   Your best option to avoid this mess and high–priced repairs is to handle the vehicle’s issues before you return it.

If the wheels are damaged in any way, they may actually hit you up for the cost of replacement wheels!  If you’re lucky they will only charge you for wheel refinishing, however, this will still be at a significantly higher cost than what we would charge.  The average cost of replacement today is around $400-$600 a wheel.  Our charge for wheel refinishing is $100-$150 per wheel, depending on the make/model and the extent of the damage.

We fix it for a fraction of the wheel replacement cost!  Let our experienced team members go over your wheels and restore them to near mint condition for you.  Call or fill out our contact form for a free estimate on your wheels today.  Save money now!

How Do I Keep My Wheels Clean?

The Secrets to Removing Wheel Grit and Grime

Alloy Wheels are Automobile, Truck and Hot Rod wheels made up of aluminum or magnesium. Alloy wheels are different from the steel wheels because of their lighter weight and greater performance characteristics. They are better heat conductors than steel wheels, they are lighter in weight and they provide a great look to a car. Often neglected, alloy wheels require greater care because they receive more wear than any other parts of a car. The wheels are closest to the road, grit and grime. After few months of use, these wheels will lose the sparkle and brightness they had when they were new. The minor scratches and tar spots can give them a bad look. Before you fit alloy wheels to your car, you need to give them several coats of a good polish or wax.

The Right Wheel Cleaning Products

There have been many products in the market that are specifically formulated to clean and protect your painted alloy, stainless steel wheels. Some of the most commonly used products include the following. At WheelKraft NW we use the Eagle One line of Cleaning Products. Our Favorites are Eagle One A-2-Z or the Eagle one All Wheel Cleaner. You can pick this up at your local Auto Parts Store.

More Car and Wheel Cleaning Tips

The following Cleaning tips can provide the best protection to your car. Let your wheels cool before cleaning them! Hot Wheels Can discolor when hit with cold wash water. Use wet sponge and fresh water to clean your car. Use good car polish or wax, use surface protector Never use abrasive cleansers or abrasive pads to clean your wheels. Before you mount your wheels give them several coats of good quality car polish. Frequent washing with mildly soapy warm water is the best way to keep your alloy wheels clean. If you take the time to care for them properly they will last a long time and you will not have to get them repaired or replaced. Remember, if you damage a wheel beyond what simple cleaning can handle, we are here to help. Repair, Refinish or Repaint.

Check Your Tires with a Quarter

Want an Easy Way to Measure Tread Life on Your Tires?

“Quarters are safer than pennies when it comes to checking your tires”, according to new tests conducted by Tire Rack, the country’s largest independent tire tester. With much of the winter driving season remaining and change of season ahead now is especially important for drivers to be aware of their tires condition.

For decades the tire industry had taught drivers to use the so-called Penny Test as a simple way to tell when tires were worn out. But experts at Tire Rack say that popular lesson is outdated, compromises safety, and should give way to the Quarter Test.

In the old Penny Test, seeing the top of Lincoln’s head while holding a penny upside sown in a tire tread grove indicated a tread depth of 2/32-inch (1.6mm) or less, and that the tire needed replacing (to learn how to properly get directions on this go to www.tirerack.com/treaddepth).

In driving tests, a late-model pickup truck on tires that passed the Penny Test, (legal in most states) averages 499.5 feet to stop from 70 miles per hour on wet pavement. That is equal to about 12.5 school buses or nearly a tenth of a mile.

The same vehicle riding on tires that passed Tire Rack’s proposed Quarter Test stopped almost 122 feet (24%) shorter. These tires had treads measuring 4/32-inch (3.2mm) deep, as measured from the edge of a quarter to the top of Washington’s Head. Not only were braking distances reduced, overall grip noticeably improved!

Watch Out for Winter

Protecting Your Wheel’s Finish

Virtually all alloy wheels are painted and/or clear coated. When you add wheel-balancing weights that clip on and scratch the paint, it can let corrosive moisture and other substances get to the underlining aluminum. The same goes for any scratch marks made from careless handling during tire rotation or damage caused by road debris or curbside parking.

Once pitting has gotten in, you will need to protect your wheels and eventually have those wheels refinished. Don’t take the chance of causing further damage to your wheels bring it to a professional to ensure proper installation.

To protect your wheels during the winter months, apply a generous layer of wax to the wheel which will help repel water and other corrosive materials. Also check with the car wash attendant before you take your car through a car wash as some use acid cleaners before or during the wash to remove dirt and grime. Others may use stiff brushes for cleaning wheels and tires. Both of these processes can harm your wheel finish.