Several times now, I have got kirb rash on my 18" alloy wheels. I have had them repaired by a local wheel guy twice and have just noticed another curb rash.
Does this happen to others here and is kirb rash very common?
1 Like
We bought a newish car back in April and within 3 days my daughter damaged both front tyre and alloy… needed to replace the tyre and got the alloy repaired … not cheap …
Not for me … Im sure theres plenty of others that have …
I keep away from kerbs and don’t bump the kerb to park half on the footpath. If you’ve scuffed your alloys i would get the balancing and alignment checked or you’ll be paying for new tyres as well, also check the tyre walls for damage as you don’t want a high speed blow out.
2 Likes
I have to say being nearly in my 40s, this has never happened to me.
Helps that I cannot drive but still
5 Likes
I’ve only been driving for 6 months, so I haven’t, but there is still time 
1 Like
The key thing is to be more careful, but it happens to everyone 
We live in very narrow streets, with 2 way traffic with only enough space for 1 lane, and cars parked both sides of the streets.
Parking as close as you can to the kerb is the name of the game here, and your nice alloys will bear that badge no doubt.
I like my car, but not precious about the alloys. They are wheels. If they’re marked so be it.
No it doesn’t happen to everyone. 40 years of driving, some 1,8 million km or more in multiple countries and not once, my wife included.
Same for my adult children who have been driving 16/13 years. One thing in common I taught all 3 of them to drive, and there is a rule here, if you only think you can, you can’t.
1 Like
Yes my dad taught me to drive too and impressed upon me not kerb the tyres or you run the risk of uneven wear or blowouts, and to not ride the clutch or you’ll burn it out. Never scuffed my wheels/tyres or needed a new clutch in 45 years of driving.
Had an early 20’s work colleague who had a brand new car, before it was a year old she told me she needed 2 front tyres cos one edge of the tread was bald. I asked her if she bumped up the kerb or scuffed against it and she said yes, i told her what my dad had taught me, and she said neither her dad or instructor had ever mentioned not doing it.
1 Like
Clutch abuse is forbidden, my wife and kids can and do drive manuals. I still have one manual car, 2022 model, not easy to find now. We have always had at least one in the family and kids first cars were all manuals.
Success doesn’t bargain with the price.
1 Like
I’ve driven auto for the last 7 years, but previous cars were manual and I owned them up to 15 years with no clutch abuse or problems.
1 Like
I’ve been so lucky I’ve not gained any scuffs the times I’ve done that
As the risk of angering the forum, kerb’d wheels = bad driving
Done it myself in the past. Learnt my lesson.
Generally knocking kerbs damages tyre walls, wheels and knocks the tracking out.
Current motor is on 20" rims and i do not want to be paying to refurb them.
3 Likes
Over here in much of the US older roads were wider and the need to get right next to the curb were minimal . Modern neighborhoods where they have houses jammed on to " postage stamp " lots with very narrow streets . However to their credit , they do not have a sharp curb . Pretty hard to scrub your tire / rim . Most late model cars have larger sized rims with what I like to term rubber band tires . There is little sidewall and often flush with the rim , so scrubbing is much easier . My four bye four has a lot of tire sticking out a good inch and a half sidewall protecting the rim . I have scrubbed the tires when off roading , sharp rocks are not as forgiving as concrete .
1 Like
My mates and I were heading out on a road trip. The first stop was to pick up the last of the group. My friend, who owned a car dealership was driving, and kissed the curb in front of our last one’s house. Later, the last guy was taking his turn at the wheel, and we experienced a blow out, then the owner blamed the driver for causing the flat by driving over something. I repeatedly challenged this by reminding him of his curb-scrub, which he vehemently denied. It cost us a couple hundred dollars to get towed and the tire replaced, not to mention a late arrival our event. He never did acknowledge the true cause of the blowout. We are no longer in contact, or friends, for other reasons, though his stubbornness was a factor.
2 Likes