£890 million cost to repair UK’s kerbed alloy wheels

Research by Skoda has found that more than a third of UK cars have damaged alloy wheels, with kerbing the main cause.

Skoda alloy wheel kerbing

New research by Skoda has uncovered the scale of damage to alloy wheels across the UK.

A study of 2,000 drivers found more than one-third of motorists could be driving cars with mangled wheels

Skoda highlights that, along with affecting the looks of the car, damaged wheels can be linked to tracking issues and steering vibrations.

An imperfect circle

Skoda alloy wheel kerbing

Of those surveyed, more than half (56 percent) admitted that their alloy wheel damage had come from a kerb impact. This made it the single largest factor in causing wheel-related issues. 

Trends for wider cars, bigger wheels, lower-profile tyres and diamond-cut finishes have only exacerbated the problem.

Based on Skoda’s calculations, there could be more than 13.1 million kerbed alloy wheels in the UK. With an average repair price of £67.50, fixing them all would cost £890 million.

British drivers were at least ready to admit blame. Some 83 percent of those asked said the wheel damage was caused by someone in their household.

Technology to the rescue

Skoda alloy wheel kerbing

Despite parking being a leading cause of wheel damage, a third of those asked claimed to be ‘very confident’ when parking. However, some 45 percent said they prefer to avoid the kerbing risk by opting for bay parking where possible.

Only 18 percent of drivers asked said parallel parking was their preferred choice.

Skoda’s survey coincides with the launch of the new fourth-generation Fabia supermini. Officially on sale from this week, the Fabia can be specified with Park Assist 3.0.

The system can steer the Fabia into a space, automatically braking to avoid hazards, and keeping a safe distance from those nefarious kerbs.

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John Redfern
John Redfern
U.S. Editor with a love of all things Americana. Woodgrain-clad station wagons and ridiculous muscle cars a speciality.

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