Bent rim repair in Utica: Saving Forgiato, AL13, and forged wheels from Michigan potholes

Pothole season in Michigan is its own form of weather. Every spring, freeze-thaw cycles tear M-59, Hall Road, Mound, Van Dyke, and pretty much every surface street in Macomb County into something that looks more like a minefield than pavement. If you are running 22", 24", or 26" forged wheels — Forgiato, AL13, MV Forged, Rucci, Fuel, American Force, anything low-profile and expensive — one bad hit can do real damage. Most of the time, that damage is repairable.

What we can repair

• Curb rash and gouges on the lip and face
• Bent rims (bent inner or outer barrel) — straightened on a hydraulic wheel jig
• Cracked alloy wheels — TIG welded by certified wheel welders
• Refinish: brushed, polished, gloss black, satin, color-match, two-tone
• Chrome and PVD wheels — refinished to match factory or custom spec
• Forged 1-piece, 2-piece, and 3-piece wheels — including disassembly and rebuild

What we will not repair (and why)

Some damage is unsafe to repair, no matter what someone on the internet tells you. Cracks across a spoke at the hub, multiple cracks on the same wheel, severe inner-barrel deformation that has stretched the metal, or any structural damage on a wheel that will see high-speed highway use — those get replaced. Honest answers protect you.

What to do the second after a pothole hit

• Pull off safely as soon as you can
• Look at the inside of the wheel, not just the face — most bends hide on the inner barrel
• Check for slow leak: tire warm to the touch on one side often means a bead break
• If the steering wheel pulls or vibrates over 40 mph, you likely bent something
• Drive straight to a wheel repair shop — every mile on a bent wheel makes it worse

Mail-in wheel repair from anywhere in the U.S.

Locally we serve Utica, Sterling Heights, Shelby Township, Rochester Hills, Troy, Warren, Macomb Township, and the rest of Metro Detroit. For out-of-state customers — especially those running rare forged sets that local shops won't touch — we accept mail-in wheel repair from all 50 states. Most repairs ship back within 1–3 business days of arrival.

Get an honest wheel inspection

Drop the wheel off (or the whole car) at 45141 Van Dyke Avenue, Utica, MI 48317. We will inspect, photograph the damage, quote the repair, and tell you straight up whether it is fixable or whether replacement is the smart move. Call (586) 580-2297.