Curb Rash on Your Factory Rims: What It Is, Why It Matters and How It's Fixed

Before

After

If you've ever heard that awful scrape while parallel parking, you know curb rash. It's the most common damage we see on factory rims, on everything from family SUVs to Porsches. The good news: it's almost always cosmetic, and it's very fixable.

What curb rash is

Curb rash is the scraping, scratching and gouging that happens when the edge of a wheel rubs against a curb, parking block or the edge of a pothole. It usually shows up on the outer lip of the rim, the part that sticks out furthest.

Why it's so common now

Modern cars come with bigger wheels and lower-profile tires than ever. That looks great, but it means there's less tire sidewall sticking out to protect the rim, so the wheel itself is often the first thing to touch the curb. Many EVs and SUVs ship with large wheels as standard, which is why we see curb rash on so many newer cars.

Why you shouldn't ignore it

• Exposed metal: curb rash scrapes through the paint and clear coat. Once the protective finish is broken, moisture and road salt can reach the aluminum underneath, and corrosion can start to spread over time. Toronto winters don't help.
• It gets worse: damaged edges catch more chips and peeling, and the clear coat around the damage can start to lift.
• It affects value: scuffed wheels are one of the first things buyers, appraisers and lease inspectors notice.

Touch-up pen or professional repair?

Touch-up pens and DIY kits can hide very light scratches, but they can't fix a gouged or rough edge. A proper repair actually removes the damage and rebuilds the finish. Ours follows the same steps every time:

1. Clean the rims
2. Tape off the affected area
3. Sand
4. Grind the damage smooth
5. Clean again
6. Paint, matched to your original finish
7. Apply clear coat
8. A final clean

The result is a smooth edge and a finish that matches the rest of the wheel. Two-tone, hyper silver, machine finish, black and painted wheels can all be repaired.

How to avoid curb rash

• Use your mirror tilt: many cars can tilt the passenger mirror down when you reverse, so you can see the curb.
• Take turns a little wider, especially at tight drive-thrus, gas stations and parking garages.
• Park a little further out: stopping a few extra centimetres from the curb costs nothing.
• Watch the parking blocks: pulling all the way in until you feel the block is a common way to scrape the front wheels.

Already have curb rash?

Don't replace the wheel. Your factory rim is worth keeping (here's why OEM rims beat most aftermarket wheels), and curb rash repair is from $85 per rim. We come to your home, workplace or dealership anywhere in the GTA. Text a photo to 416-800-1757 for a quote, or see more about curb rash repair.