Your car can make many sounds when you're driving down a road. Mechanics often will tell you that a constant thumping sound means a dented rim is probable. Wobbling or shaking in the tires can also be signs of bent or damaged rims. However, you cannot be completely sure about the damage to a rim until you visually examine it. A mechanic can help you determine a rim's situation and whether it can be fixed or not. There are some guidelines to help you discover if your car rim is bent before taking it to a mechanic.
Remove the rim from the tire. If the damage isn't obvious while the rim is on the tire, take a closer look.
Examine both lips of the rim. Look for dents, warps, indentations or bends in the outside and the inside lips. The lip is where most of the damage to a rim usually occurs.
Lay the rim down on a flat surface. Examine the rim to see if it is rocking on the surface or if it is laying flat.
Take the rim to a tire shop to have it checked out. A mechanic can inspect the rim and tell you if it is bent or damaged. A mechanic will place a tire and rim on a wheel balance machine. This is a very effective way of telling if a rim is damaged.
