People are often aware that they need to check their tyres for damage, but how many of us check our wheels? Wheels can be steel or alloy and both can suffer structural damage that can cause the driver to have an accident.

Checking your wheels is not as easy as checking tyres and often to carry out an thorough inspect, you need to remove them from the car. If you are having new tyres fitted to the car, the tyre fitters should check the wheel for signs of visual damage, but it is advised to ask them to do so and report back to you anything they find.

People assume that if they have a flat tyre that they have a puncture, but sometimes this is not the case. It may actually be the rim of the wheel that is damaged and not making a seal, allowing air to leak out.

If you want to improve the look of your car you may chose to change the wheels for either alloys or if you already have alloys, change them for bigger ones of those of a different style. Alloy wheels can be expensive and you should consider this before deciding to upgrade them. You can of course buy second hand alloy wheels for your car, but be sure to check for not only surface damage but for more serious damage to the rim or the reverse. You will also need to inform your insurance company of any non standard alloy wheels that are added so as not to invalidate your warranty. This can increase your premium as the insurance company will now class the car as having modifications, so be sure to get a quote prior to changing your wheels. Putting bigger wheels on any car will most probably affect the drive of the vehicle and can put unnecessary strain on other parts of the car.

Wheel alignment is an important part of any regular vehicle maintenance, where you align the angle of the wheel to within the manufacturers specifications. Wheel alignment can become a serious issue, affecting your vehicles performance and its long term durability. When wheels which have gone out of alignment are left untended, then you can wear out the tyres faster than you would otherwise have to contend with.

There are a variety of reasons why you should have your wheel alignment checked and adjusted to the correct position. If you are in an accident, or drive on rough roads, then your wheels can more quickly shift their position. Changing your suspension, or changing your wheels can also change your wheels’ positions, which also presents you with a good opportunity to check the alignment. Any changes you make to your car should involve a standard wheel alignment check, just to ensure that changing it is unnecessary.