slightly bent Pro Comp wheel - ok to drive or get a new one to replace it?

so Ive had my pro comp 7032 wheels 17x9 with Gen Grabbers II tires.
Got them all for discount tires. I noticed a very mild vibration when I hit 65mph on the highway so I brought it in for my free balance and rotation. While one of the wheel is on their balancing equipment, they called me and showed the slight bend . Dont recall hitting any potholes or anything, unless these pro comps are weak?

They balanced it and to be honest, the vibration is now gone. I was thinking just getting another new 7032 wheel and then have the put the bent one on the spare, total cost would be about 170 for one wheel and mouting and switching, etc.

my question is , if a wheel has a very very minimal bend, is it okay to just keep using and driving with it or will it cost other problems in the future?

 

My suggestion would be to go the route of buying a new one and keeping the old as a spare.

I personally do a lot of distance driving, and riding around on even a slightly bent wheel could eventually spell danger, as there's a lot of things that could go wrong due to that (wheel getting worse, ruining tires, destroying bearings/joints, and other potentially more dangerous things).

 

thats what i was afraid of, damaging bearings and joints that could cost more. Thanks for the info

 

Lol wut.

If it balances out, you're fine.

 

alright 1 vote to replace and 1 vote to keep

any other votes? opinions? expertise?

 

Oh, that wasn't a vote to keep. I was just saying that a small bend that balances out isn't going to negatively affect anything while driving. If it were me and I had the cash, I'd probably replace it and keep the bend as a spare.

 

Have you checked to see if there is a wheel repair shop in your area? They are specialty shops that can tell if your wheel is actually bent enough to warrant a repair or replacement. Often times if a repair is necessary they can do it and it comes out good as new. Sometimes tire shops that balance your wheels will point out things like a "bent wheel" when there is actually no real problem. They just want to add to your bill and sell you a new one.

 

my friend has a body shop here and he said his guy can do wheel repair for $95. So it woulbe be a no brainer to just get another wheel, pay extra $75 and use the bent one for the spare.

I trust my local discount tires here because I know the manager fairly well. Theyve always taken care of me and give me great prices/exta rebates etc. Doubt they just want to sell me another pro comp because its a pain in the ass for them to order and probably dont make as much because its special order wheel that they dont keep in stock. So im sure they just wanted to give me a heads up of why i was having vibrations.

Just waiting for the manager that I know to come in to work tomorrow because he's off today and yesterday. I figured I could get him to maybe lower it another $10 or so lol. I know Im a cheapo. But even at 170 for lifetime balance , rotate, tpms repair kit and switch the bent wheel to the spare, i cant complain.

thanks for the helpful advices TW guys .

 

All wheels are out of balance to some degree as are tires, that's why they use weights. Is it bent to a degree that warrants replacement? how much weight did they put on it to get it in balance? If they hung a half pound(exaggeration)on it, replace it. If it's around an ounce the wheel is ok.

 

ill check the weight that they put after work today