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Treacodactyl

Car wheels

I need to buy a new wheel for my car as the rim has been buckled. I'm not keen on simply bashing the rim back in case the wheel is weakend. Where's the best place to get a replacement steel wheel from? No idea about the quality from a breakers yard, a franchised dealer will charge a fortune, not sure if tyre shops sell them and I'm not near an indipendant specialist. I can't simply swap with the spare wheel as that one was damaged a few years back when the local floods hid the pavements!

Any recommendations?
Bernie66

I always go to the local scrapyard. Usually get tyres(part warn) for £7.50) but have got the wheel with tyre for £15 on occasion. If its a write off you are getting the wheel from and the rest of the car is in good condition then i never have had a problem.(But i only drive cars with a value of £2k as i won't spend any more on one.Less to lose, as i drive them til they are dead before replacing. If you have top of the range expensive stuff to retain the value you would be better going to main dealer for resale integrity)
Lozzie

Treac I am uncertain where you could get a new wheel but I am still curious as to what you will do with the OLD one?

I was watching a programme about street food around the world last night and someone was barbequeing meat on an old car wheel! Very Happy
Northern_Lad

What kind are you after?
My dads got 4 alloys for an Uno in his shed...
Jonnyboy

Re: Car wheels

Treacodactyl wrote:
I need to buy a new wheel for my car as the rim has been buckled. I'm not keen on simply bashing the rim back in case the wheel is weakend. Where's the best place to get a replacement steel wheel from? No idea about the quality from a breakers yard, a franchised dealer will charge a fortune, not sure if tyre shops sell them and I'm not near an indipendant specialist. I can't simply swap with the spare wheel as that one was damaged a few years back when the local floods hid the pavements!

Any recommendations?


Any scrappy will have one, £10-£25 quid for a spare steel wheel with a part worn on it. If it looks undamaged it will be fine.

Don't bother trying to straighten it, it will never balance properly.

EDIT: Depending on the car I could get you one for free. Plus postage of course.
dougal

Re: Car wheels

Treacodactyl wrote:
I need to buy a new wheel for my car as the rim has been buckled... Where's the best place to get a replacement steel wheel from?

Car wheels vary, in surprising details.
It is kinda vital to get exactly the right one.
*Steel* wheels should be *much* cheaper than the prices advertised for alloys.
I'd ask the local dealer for a price, and if it was OTT (your call), then have a look around the scrappies. (Don't forget to value your time - unless you *like* nosing around scrapyards...)
A wheel balancing session should reveal any problems - steel tends to bend rather than crack. Only other thing would be that the part of the wheel that contacts the tyre "bead" should be clean and smooth (uncorroded) for a good airtight seal. And do fit a new valve.
Treacodactyl

Thanks for all the replies. It's a simple steel wheel for a Vauxhall Astra so shouldn't be too expensive. The time spent rummaging around for a a wheel has also occurred to me but it will depend on a dealer offering a reasonable price, which some sometimes do, or a "we could sell you one but we would rather not so we'll charge you 2000% the street price and hope you go away" price.

For safety sake I'm rather wary of a second hand wheel unless i could get a hardly used spare. Tyre should be fine from the current wheel.
dougal

Treacodactyl wrote:
For safety sake I'm rather wary of a second hand wheel unless i could get a hardly used spare.

As jonnyboy and I have tried to explain, you really needn't worry if its the right wheel, straight and the bead seals cleanly.
Very Happy
Bugs

dougal wrote:
you really needn't worry


Telling TD he needn't worry is like telling a bee "needn't make any honey this year, thanks" Smile...and I mean that in the nicest possible way, sweetie (that last is aimed at TD, not you, Dougal, don't panic Wink )
Jonnyboy

Bugs wrote:
dougal wrote:
you really needn't worry


Telling TD he needn't worry is like telling a bee "needn't make any honey this year, thanks" Smile...and I mean that in the nicest possible way, sweetie (that last is aimed at TD, not you, Dougal, don't panic Wink )


ohh er, still the incidents of wheels buckling or failing are so small to be astronomical, now accidents from people forgetting to tighten the nuts....that's aother story.

Seriously, a second hand wheel will be fine.
wellington womble

No idea, but I do have an idea for the old one - they make great barbeques and are not very nickable, so you could leave them out. You can also take them camping if they're small enough (ir not tractor ones!) and they take a grill or trivet easily cos of the shape. You could probably make a smoker out of them too!

I've seen people wandering about with these all weekend, and only just found out why!
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