More than a third of motorists are driving cars with damaged alloy wheels, a study estimates – and more than half of these are caused by drivers scraping them against kerbs
Failed attempts to parallel park and colliding with the raised pavement is claimed to account for more than 13million damaged alloy wheels in Britain, according to the research by Czech car maker Skoda.
It claims the total collective bill to repair every kerbed wheel would come to £890million.
An £890million bill: Skoda estimates that there are 13 million cars on the road with kerb-damaged wheels, with the average price to fix one being £67.50
The auto manufacturer made its estimations based on a poll of 2,000 motorists.
From the responses it calculated how many vehicles across the country could have banged-up wheels.
Skoda then asked 10 wheel repair businesses how much it would cost to fix just one alloy wheel, with the average price being £67.50.
The study also found that most drivers can’t blame anyone else for the scrapes and scratches on their wheels as they are commonly the ones to blame for the damage.
Some 83 per cent of the interviewed panel said it was themselves or a member of their own household who had inflicted the blow that dinged a wheel on their car.
Though it warned that such damage isn’t just affecting the appearance of the vehicle but could also mechanically upset how the car drives.
A hefty blow to the wheel from a kerb can lead to further issues, such wrecking a tyre and even causing steering tracking problems with a car.
A hefty blow to the wheel from a kerb can lead to further issues other than affecting the car’s appearance. It can wreck a tyre and even causing steering tracking problems
Despite the high number of damaged alloy wheels, a third of drivers claimed to be very confident when parking.
‘Part of the problem could be down to their preferred type of parking manoeuvre, with almost half saying they would rather bay park compared to just 18 per cent who see parallel parking as the better option,’ the motor maker says.
Just last month it was estimated that more than 14million cars on Britain’s roads are being driven with some form of damage.
A poll of more than 14,500 vehicle owners by AA Insurance discovered that 44 per cent have cars with some form of damage to them, ranging from minor scuffs, through to more serious damage to tyres and brakes.
The age profile of motorists showed the different approaches to fixing motor damage, with just two in five over 65s admitting to knowing their cars have blemishes while two thirds of hard-up 18-to-24-year-old motorists saying their vehicles are scarred.
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