Saturn Repair: tires/ rims, light gauge steel, shade tree mechanic

Question
I have a 2002 Saturn SL1.  Last night I ran over a curb going about 55 MPH because there was a truck coming up behind me very quickly, and I was paying too much attention to the truck.  I blew out my two passenger side tires and bent the rims a little bit.  Now the tire place is telling me that I need to get new rims, but I was told by a friend that they should be able to reskew them.  The place is telling me that I messed up the center, but I don't think that they look that bad.

Answer
Shannon,
 There are many things that many people might tell you.  However, I will lay it all down right here.  Remember, I cannot see your vehicle but I have worked hundreds of these jobs.  First, if you have steel rims (the kind with large 14" or 15" hubcaps) then I would just buy new rims/tires.  There's no need not to.  Steel Saturns rims are nothing more than stamped, light-gauge steel.  They do not take well to re-shaping.  If you have aluminum rims (an option on the SL1) then you should not even contemplate trying to repair the rims.  Aluminum is much too brittle for any type of repair after a collision.  I will tell you this however.  More often than not, after a grazing impact with something like a curb, you will find suspension damage.  If the impact was hard enough to blow out two of your tires I am going to suspect that there is other damage besides your rims.  I will usually see a bent cradle (large steel fixture that supports your engine/transmission), bent control arms or bent struts after a collision that you described.  I would not take a tire shop's word for anything.  Tire shops usually (not all the time) employ people that are just a step above a "shade tree mechanic".  Don't get me wrong, every repair facility has or has had their share of "hacks", but if you don't go to a Saturn repair facility, please find a shop that specializes in computerized front-end work.  Hopefully they have a technician that has been working the "front end" of Saturn type vehicles for a while.  I would also call your insurance company as soon as possible.  It is best to get them involved from the begining.  BOTTOM LINE:  From the collision that you described there is probably more damage there than meets the eye.  I'm not trying to scare you, I'm only trying to let you know what I've found to be true, most of the time.  Hope this helps.

Chris Greiner