I hit a massive pothole the other day, and it bent my rim pretty badly. It’s holding air for now, but I’m worried about it getting worse. Can I just hammer it back into shape, or is that a bad idea? Here’s a picture for reference:
If it’s not leaking air, you might get away with hammering it back. Just be careful not to damage the rim more. A deadblow hammer or something similar should work.
If it’s not leaking, you can probably leave it. If you want to fix it, a big deadblow hammer from somewhere cheap will work fine.
Nico said:
If it’s not leaking, you can probably leave it. If you want to fix it, a big deadblow hammer from somewhere cheap will work fine.
I’d suggest using a block of wood between the hammer and the rim so you don’t mess it up more.
Nico said:
If it’s not leaking, you can probably leave it. If you want to fix it, a big deadblow hammer from somewhere cheap will work fine.
It’s leaking air a bit. Over three days, it deflated quite a lot, but after filling it up again yesterday, the pressure seems stable. Could that still be the rim?
@Addison
Depends. Sometimes a rim will only leak when the dent is at the bottom with the car’s weight pressing down.
Harlow said:
@Addison
Depends. Sometimes a rim will only leak when the dent is at the bottom with the car’s weight pressing down.
That’s because the tire is always flat on the bottom. 
@Parker
Sounds like OP’s dent is on top then. 
@Addison
Try spraying soapy water on the rim. If you see bubbles, there’s definitely a leak.
If the tire holds air, you might be fine. Officially, you should take it to a shop. Unofficially, just hammer it back and keep going.
Jordan said:
If the tire holds air, you might be fine. Officially, you should take it to a shop. Unofficially, just hammer it back and keep going.
Definitely in the ‘hammer it back’ camp here. Just don’t overdo it.
Deflate the tire first, then use a block of wood and a heavy hammer. This spreads the impact and prevents the rim from getting worse.
For once, smashing it with a hammer is actually a valid solution.
Get a heavy sledge and whack it back into shape. If it’s steel, you’ll be fine.
If it’s leaking air and not balanced, it could cause tire wear and handling issues. A local shop might be able to fix it for $50–$150. Might be cheaper than a new rim.
I’ve hammered a rim like this back into shape before. It worked fine and still holds air to this day.
I’ve fixed dozens of rims like this. A few solid hits, and it should be good enough for daily driving.
Just hit the same pothole in reverse… problem solved.
Tate said:
Just hit the same pothole in reverse… problem solved.
That pothole was insane. They had to put cones around it! If I stood in it, it would’ve reached my knees.