Gutter rash: repair or replace?

Kerbed your rim? Here's how to tell whether it's a quick fix or a bigger job.

"Gutter rash" is the scraped, scuffed damage down the outer lip of an alloy when it meets a kerb or gutter. It's the most common wheel damage there is — and the good news is that most of it is a straightforward cosmetic repair, not a replace.

When to repair (almost always)

If the damage is cosmetic — scuffs, scrapes and gouges on the face or lip, with the wheel still round and holding air — it's a repair. The lip is filled, sanded, colour-matched and sealed in 2K paint, and once it's done you genuinely can't tell. This is the vast majority of kerb damage. The tyre stays on the car and most jobs are done in a few hours at your driveway.

When it might need replacing

• The wheel is bent or cracked — if it's out of round, vibrating, or leaking air, that's structural, not cosmetic. Don't paint over it.
• A chunk of the rim is missing — deep structural loss on the bead seat can affect safety.
• Severe diamond-cut damage — machined faces can sometimes be matched at the driveway, but a badly gouged one may need a workshop lathe re-cut.

A good repairer will look at a photo and tell you straight which camp yours is in — including when it's not worth repairing.

The cost angle

A repair is typically $120–$150 a wheel; a new alloy is $400–$1,000+ each. Unless the wheel is structurally damaged, a repair is the obvious call — cheaper, keeps your original wheel, and doesn't involve an insurance claim.

Not sure which yours is? Text a photo and you'll get an honest answer — repair or replace — plus a fixed price if it's fixable.