Hit Pothole! Waaaaaaaaa!

You will probably want to have a wheel alignment, just to insure nothing is bent on the suspension. Must have been a nasty pothole! H

 

uhh the rim can be pretty expensive... I think a replacement alloy rim is like 400$... so you'll probably want to find a used one. Perhaps steve over at autobeyours.com can give you a good price on a used one?

A new tire will also set you back about 100$.

 

m2dougherty,

There are companies that specialize in straightening alloy rims that aren't
cracked/chipped. Haven't used them, so I can't say on the cost. Should be
cheaper than a new one.

Just google "rim repair" and the name of a nearby largish city to find
some near you.

Hope this helps.

 

Hi All,

This is another reason to run your tires at 42/40 or maybe a little higher.....

 

You can buy a new alloy wheel for $284 plus shipping here (MSRP is $374):
Champion ToyotaWorld

You probably also need a trim ring to go with the wheel.

I personally would not buy a used wheel, realizing it came off a vehicle that was hit hard enough to be salvaged - since your safety depends upon its structural integrity.

 

People replace their stock wheels and sell them, often they're basically brand new. Sometimes for sale right here on PC. Check eBay too.
And when you do get the new wheel and tire DEFINITELY get the alignment checked and fixed. There's a Town Fair Tire near you in Everett that could take care of it all.

- D

 

Time for some hawt new rims.

A year ago I hit a pothole on an offramp coming home from work.

Didn't take my rim but costed me $180 for a new tire (stock Bridgestone Turanza) for sidewall damage. The worst part was that I never take that exit, and I was debating whether I should minutes before it happened.

 

"Every car runs on used parts." Get a used wheel from a salvage yard. I got one for $60. It's aluminum, super easy to visually inspect for dents or damage. Salvage yards throw their damaged wheels into the aluminum recycle bin anyway.

car-part.com is easy to use to find a wheel in your area. In less than 5 minutes you'll find price, location and phone numbers. Ask for one that's super clean. Take that to your tire shop, get a new tire and a new alignment. You're done.

 

You can get a new OEM aluminum rim over the Internet through a Toyota dealer for about $300. You can also try walking to a Toyota dealer and showing them the Internet price and negotiate, as otherwise they probably wouldn't give you a good deal.

I personally would never buy a used rim but that depends on how much you respect your car. Used rims might have a lot of issues.

 

True, but not all cars run on parts that have been through a severe accident.

Some people think nothing of installing airbags that have been salvaged or (even worse) installing a resistor so that the SRS ECU thinks the non-existent airbag is present. Others see no problem buying and driving a salvage vehicle. I personally would avoid those practices.

In any event, if you are comfortable with driving a car equipped with such parts, then peace.

 

I have used salvaged and re-manufactured parts many times in my repairs of my cars over the years with few problems (new parts can also be faulty). I regularly get rims to replace the doughnut that comes with new cars (I like a real spare tire - when it fits in the trunk). The ones you get from a salvage yard often comes with a usable tire already on it so all you need to do is to get it balanced for about $10.

JeffD

 

I agree with Mr. Wong here. I have a coworker who sits near me and he brags about what a great deal he got on used tires. Says he doesn't care about their history.

 

+1, you just need to use a little sense. A used rim that shows no sign of damage, corrosion or repairs is good. I wouldn't use an aluminum rim that had more than minor cosmetic repairs, even if it came off of my own car.

For a used rim/tire combination for a spare I would have the tire shop take the tire off and inspect the inside for too many repairs or signs of having been run flat.

 

From my FWD Corolla 1985 Owner's Manual, from the times when Toyota used to be cool:

"If you have wheel damage such as bends, cracks, or heavy corrosion, the wheel should be replaced.

Replacement with used wheels is not recommended as they may have been subjected to rough treatment or high mileage and could fail without warning. Also, bent wheels which have been straightened may have structural damage and therefore should not be used."

Just pay the $300 and get a new OEM rim.

 

Probably some metal debris on the road from a truck in front of you. Not a good thing to happen to a driver. Could have caused a serious accident. You must be a alert driver? Your comprehensive insurance should cover this kind of incident, will it not? H