You probably pay close attention to your tire health while driving but may not consider your wheels themselves. Unfortunately, this may make professional wheel repair necessary for your car very soon. Understanding common causes of wheel damage can help you avoid this issue. The following information includes common problems that cause wheel damage and tips for avoiding each one.

Potholes and Uneven Roads

Potholes can create unbelievable financial damage to American drivers' vehicles. According to AAA, potholes cause $3 billion in vehicle repair damage every year. As a result, you must stay alert at all times to avoid these and keep your vehicle safe. If roads near you have multiple potholes you can't avoid without swerving into another lane, slow down before you hit them to reduce the force of impact. If your wheels or hubcaps are left mangled after driving over a pothole, reach out to your local wheel repair business for assistance.

Maintenance Problems

Multiple maintenance concerns can easily damage your car's wheels. For example, fine brake dust may build up on your wheel and erode its structure over time. Furthermore, issues with a car's chassis and other similar complications may affect your wheels' integrity. You can avoid this concern with regularly scheduled maintenance visits with your mechanic.

Underinflated Tires

Your tire needs to stay at a proper air level to support your car effectively. Unfortunately, people may poorly inflate their tires or fail to notice a lack of air if they don't keep up with their maintenance. Without proper support, your wheel may bend or scrape against the surface of the road. Avoid this problem by continually having your tires checked and doing your best to keep them at the manufacturer-suggested level of inflation.

Cleaning Products

Keeping your wheels clean helps to minimize damage from dirt, stones, and rust. Unfortunately, some cleaning products can gradually degrade your wheels and cause long-term problems. Typically, you'll experience this problem when using general cleaners instead of wheel-specific options that your mechanic would recommend. As a result, you should stick with professional automotive cleaners who know all about these chemicals.

Salted Roads

While salt helps keep icy roads safe to drive on, it may also damage your tires. For example, according to our team, prolonged exposure to salt can damage the metal on your wheels and cause long-term driving complications. As a result, it's better to avoid driving in the winter right after the salt is applied, if you can, or stay off roads until the ice melts. When possible, stick to roads in your city that get plowed and not salted heavily.

Avoiding these problems should keep your car's wheels strong and secure for years. However, to be safe, you may want to schedule professional wheel repair experts. Call Hub Cap Annie today to learn more about our services, including preventative measures that protect your car's safety. We'll walk you through this process to ensure your satisfaction.