Alloy Wheel Welding & Rim Repair
Alloy wheel welding at our Congleton workshop costs £96 per crack, including TIG welding and a pressure test before the wheel goes back on. Most cracks on the inner barrel or rim edge can be repaired, but cracks in a spoke or near the hub usually mean the wheel should be replaced.
A cracked or damaged rim doesn't always mean a new wheel. Where it's safe to do so, Vantom Automotive repairs alloy wheels by TIG welding, then pressure tests every repair before the wheel goes back on your car.
Alloy wheel welding is skilled work. Aluminium behaves very differently from steel, and a poor weld can look fine while hiding a weakness. Here's how we do it properly, and when we'll tell you a wheel can't be saved.
Why Welding Aluminium Wheels Needs Expertise
Aluminium protects itself with a thin, tough oxide layer. That layer melts at a much higher temperature than the metal underneath, so it has to be broken through and kept clean during welding or the weld won't fuse properly.
Aluminium also conducts heat very quickly, so heat input has to be carefully controlled. Too little and the weld doesn't penetrate; too much and you risk distorting the wheel or affecting the surrounding metal.
That's why we use TIG welding, which gives fine control over heat and filler, and why we clean the area back to bare, uncontaminated metal before we start.
Our Alloy Wheel Welding Process
- Inspect: the tyre is removed and the whole wheel is checked, including the inner barrel, to find every crack and judge whether repair is safe.
- Prepare: the crack is cleaned back to bare metal and prepared so the weld can fully penetrate.
- Weld: the crack is TIG welded with controlled heat and the correct filler.
- Finish: the weld is dressed back to the wheel's profile.
- Pressure test: the wheel is pressure tested to confirm the repair seals. We don't hand a wheel back without this.
- Refit: the tyre is refitted and the wheel balanced.
Which Cracks Can Be Welded?
Many cracks on the barrel or the edge of the rim, often caused by potholes, can be welded successfully. We're careful about what we accept, though. We'll usually advise replacing the wheel if the crack is:
- In a spoke or around the hub, where the wheel carries the most load
- Very long, or one of several cracks
- Next to a previous weld repair
- Combined with severe buckling
Safety comes first. If we don't think a weld is safe, we won't do it. Read more on our alloy wheel crack repair page.
Rim Repair: Gouges, Kerb Damage and Bent Lips
Not every rim repair is a crack. Deep kerb gouges in the rim edge can be built back up with weld and reshaped, rather than relying on filler that can fall out over time. Bent or buckled rims are straightened on specialist equipment; see our buckled wheel repair page.
Once structural work is done, the wheel can be refinished with a full powder coated refurbishment or diamond cut finish so the repair can't be seen.
Prices
- Crack repair (TIG welding, pressure tested): £96 per crack
- Face welding: £36 extra
- Mobile crack repair: £96 per crack plus a call-out (£60 Monday to Friday 9am–6:30pm, £120 out of hours and weekends)
Every wheel is inspected before we confirm the price.
Workshop or Mobile Welding
We weld wheels at our workshop in Congleton, and our mobile van can weld suitable cracks at your home or workplace across Cheshire and Staffordshire, including Stoke-on-Trent. Mobile repairs must be in a safe location, never at a motorway roadside, and we don't supply or fit tyres.
Alloy Wheel Welding FAQs
Is welding an alloy wheel safe?
A properly assessed, correctly TIG welded and pressure tested repair in a suitable area of the wheel is a recognised repair. What isn't safe is welding cracks in critical areas, or poor-quality welds done without testing. That's why we inspect first and turn some wheels away.
Can a cracked rim be welded?
Often, yes, especially cracks on the inner barrel or rim edge. Cracks in spokes or near the hub usually mean replacement.
How much does alloy wheel welding cost?
£96 per crack, including pressure testing. Face welding is £36 extra.
Will the weld be visible?
Most cracks are on the inner barrel and can't be seen once the wheel is fitted. If the repair is on the face, a refurbishment afterwards hides it completely.
Can you weld diamond cut wheels?
Yes, if the crack is suitable. If the diamond cut face is damaged too, we can re-cut it on our in-house CNC lathe, provided there's enough material left.
Why does my tyre keep losing air?
A crack in the inner barrel is a common cause of a slow puncture that keeps coming back. It's worth having the wheel checked rather than just topping up the tyre.
Talk to Vantom
If you think a wheel is cracked, send us a few clear photos or call 0330 133 8719 and we'll give you honest advice.
Vantom Automotive
Unit 3 Royle Park
Congleton
CW12 1JJ
Telephone: 0330 133 8719
Email: info@vantomautomotive.com