Alloy Wheel Repair & Welding — Valencia
Structural crack repair, TIG welding, wheel straightening, and cosmetic kerb damage restoration. Every repair starts with a safety-first structural assessment. The Wheel Lab, Alaquàs, Valencia.
Call Us Now WhatsApp for AssessmentDamaged alloy wheels are more than an aesthetic problem. A bent rim causes tyre bead seating issues, uneven wear, and vibration that gradually damages wheel bearings and steering components. A cracked wheel is a genuine safety risk — particularly at motorway speeds. At The Wheel Lab, we take structural integrity as seriously as cosmetic appearance, and every wheel that comes in for repair is assessed structurally before any aesthetic work begins.
Our repair workshop handles everything from the most common kerb scrapes to complex crack repairs requiring TIG welding and heat treatment. Whether you have bent a wheel on one of Valencia's many tram tracks or potholed roads, or arrived in Spain with a wheel damaged in transit, we can assess the situation and give you an honest recommendation — including telling you when a wheel is beyond safe repair.
Types of Alloy Wheel Damage We Repair
Kerb Damage
Scuffs, gouges, and material removal from the outer lip and spoke faces caused by contact with kerbs. The most common damage type. Repaired cosmetically after structural check.
Bent Rims
Impact deformation to the rim, typically from potholes. Causes air loss and vibration. Straightened using hydraulic press equipment with dial gauge verification.
Cracks & Fractures
Stress fractures typically at spoke roots or barrel. Repaired using TIG welding with aluminium filler rod, followed by post-weld heat treatment and finishing.
Corrosion Damage
Deep oxidation pitting, typically on the barrel or bead seat area. Treated, filled where appropriate, and re-coated to restore corrosion resistance.
Impact Damage
High-energy impacts from potholes or road debris that deform spokes or the face. Assessed case by case — some impacts cause non-visible internal cracking.
Valve Hole Issues
Damaged or corroded valve holes causing slow air loss. Cleaned, assessed, and restored or sleeved as appropriate.
TIG Welding for Alloy Wheels
Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding is the correct process for structural repair of aluminium alloy wheels. It provides precise, controllable heat input and produces clean, strong welds that are suitable for finishing — unlike MIG welding, which is faster but leaves a coarser bead that is difficult to dress to a smooth surface.
Our TIG welding operators work specifically with aluminium alloys. The process requires:
- Thorough cleaning of the crack or fracture area to remove all contamination
- Correct filler rod selection matched to the wheel's aluminium alloy grade
- Controlled pre-heat to reduce thermal shock and prevent new cracking
- Post-weld heat treatment to relieve internal stresses in the repaired zone
- Dressing and finishing of the weld bead to match the surrounding surface
A correctly executed TIG weld repair on an alloy wheel restores structural integrity to a level suitable for normal road use. We will always document what was found and what was done, so you have a clear record.
Wheel Straightening
A bent alloy wheel — one where the rim has been deformed out of its original flat plane by a pothole or other impact — can often be straightened using a hydraulic press and a suitable forming die. The process involves careful cold or warm pressing of the deformed section back to within manufacturer tolerances.
Straightening is verified using a dial gauge to measure runout both radially and laterally. We do not consider a wheel "straight" until it measures within acceptable tolerances — typically 0.5–1.0 mm runout for road use.
Our Safety-First Assessment Protocol
Before any repair work commences, every wheel at The Wheel Lab goes through a structured assessment:
- Visual inspection of spoke roots, barrel, bead seats, and valve hole area
- Measurement of remaining material thickness where damage is present
- Rim runout measurement to identify bending and distortion
- Assessment of whether the damage type and location is safely repairable
- Honest recommendation — we will tell you clearly if a wheel should be replaced rather than repaired
We do not charge for this assessment, and we do not have a financial incentive to pass wheels that should fail — our reputation depends on the safety of our work.
Repair Workflow
From intake to collection — what happens to your wheel.
Structural Assessment
Visual and dimensional inspection before any work. Safety clearance before proceeding.
Quote & Approval
Fixed written quote provided. No work begins until you approve the price.
Strip & Clean
All coatings removed to allow accurate assessment of damage extent on bare metal.
Structural Repair
Welding, straightening, or crack repair as required. Post-repair inspection confirms integrity.
Cosmetic Finish
Restored to original or customer-specified finish: robotic painting, paint, or polishing.
Final QC
Runout recheck on straightened wheels. Visual inspection before collection.
Repair and Refinish Combination
In most cases, structural or cosmetic repair is combined with a full wheel refinish. Once a wheel has been stripped and repaired, it makes both practical and economic sense to refinish it to a high standard at the same time. We can finish repaired wheels in:
- Original factory colour (robotically painted to match)
- Custom colour of your choice from our 200+ colour library
- Diamond cut finish (if the wheel design is suitable)
- Polished or mirror finish
Indicative Pricing
| Service | From (per wheel) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kerb damage repair & refinish | €60 | Includes cosmetic filling and refinish |
| Rim straightening | €70 | Verified with dial gauge |
| Crack repair (TIG welding) | €90 | Structural repair, excludes refinish |
| Full repair + robotic painting | €150 | Repair, strip, coat in chosen colour |
| Structural assessment | Free | No charge, no obligation |
All prices are indicative. Exact cost depends on damage severity, wheel size, and finish requirements. A fixed written quote is always provided before work begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a welded wheel safe to use on the road?
A correctly executed TIG weld repair by a qualified operator, on a wheel with a suitable crack type and location, can restore structural integrity for normal road use. We are rigorous about which wheels we will and will not weld — not all cracks are safely repairable, and we will tell you clearly if replacement is the right answer. We do not weld wheels with damage in high-stress areas such as the spoke roots of wheels that have already failed once before.
My wheel is bent but the tyre still holds air — do I need to repair it?
Yes. A bent rim creates uneven tyre loading and variable rolling radius, which causes vibration, accelerated tyre wear, and stress on wheel bearings and suspension. More importantly, a bent rim often has suffered internal micro-cracking that is invisible but progressive. Early repair is significantly cheaper than dealing with the consequences.
Can you repair a cracked centre bore area?
Cracks in or near the centre bore are in a high-stress area and require careful assessment. Some centre bore cracks can be safely repaired; others cannot. We will give you an honest assessment and recommend replacement where appropriate.
How long does wheel repair take?
Simple cosmetic kerb damage repair combined with refinish typically takes 3–5 working days. Structural welding repairs, depending on complexity and any required heat treatment, typically take 4–7 days. We will give you a firm completion date at the time of assessment.
My wheels were damaged during shipping — can you repair them?
Yes. We see this regularly, particularly with clients who have shipped wheels from the UK or elsewhere for restoration. We can assess and repair transit damage and provide documentation of the work for insurance claim purposes if required.
Can you match my original wheel colour after repair?
In most cases, yes. For OEM colours we use the manufacturer's paint codes where available and can colour-match from a physical reference. For custom or aftermarket wheels, we will do our best to match from any reference you can provide, or you can choose a new colour from our 200+ colour range.
Send Us Your Wheel Photos
Not sure if your wheels can be repaired? Send us photos on WhatsApp — we will assess them and give you an honest answer, usually within a few hours.
WhatsApp The Wheel Lab +34 614 918 360The Wheel Lab — Alaquàs, Valencia, Spain | Ver esta página en Español