Don't Underestimate Minor Impacts: Rims Can Suffer Hidden Damage

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Many drivers consider minor impacts on the road to be insignificant. However, repeated impacts, such as hitting small potholes or raised manhole covers, can cause hairline cracks, or micro-cracks, in the rims.

This problem is often not visible during a standard visual inspection, but over time it can endanger driving safety.

Diwan, the owner of the Eurovolution workshop in East Jakarta, explained that hairline cracks usually appear on the lip or joint area of the rim.

In addition, incorrect tyre pressure can also accelerate damage. Rims that are overinflated when subjected to minor impacts are more likely to crack.

Conversely, tyre pressure that is too low also makes the rim more susceptible to bending, which gradually puts stress on the material.

These micro-cracks are usually difficult for ordinary drivers to detect. However, the signs can be felt through unusual vibrations while driving or strange noises from the wheels.

“If you feel vibrations or hear a hissing sound from the rim while driving, you should immediately take it to a workshop for inspection,” said Diwan.

Avoiding minor impacts can be done in a simple way. Choosing smoother routes, paying attention to the condition of manhole covers or small protrusions on the road, and maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles are the first steps.

In addition, always check the tyre pressure regularly to keep the rims in optimal condition.

According to Diwan, regular maintenance must be carried out to prevent micro-cracks from developing into serious damage.

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