We repair Tesla and other EV alloy wheels in our Grays workshop, from kerb scuffs and corroded machined faces to pothole bends and inner-rim cracks. Because EVs are heavier, we check each wheel's structural condition before any cosmetic work, and we'll tell you honestly if the right answer is a replacement.
Electric cars now arrive at our Grays workshop most weeks, and the Tesla range leads them — Model 3 and Model Y saloons and crossovers on 18–20-inch wheels, the larger Model S and Model X on wide 19–22-inch sets, and a steady mix of other EVs such as the Polestar 2, Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and BMW i4. They share a set of traits that change how we approach the repair. An electric car carries a heavy battery pack low in the floor, so a Model 3 or Model Y weighs noticeably more than a similar-sized petrol saloon, and that weight has to be absorbed by the wheel when it meets a kerb or a pothole. We treat each EV wheel as an individual component, and we check its structural condition before we consider any cosmetic work.
Some EV wheel damage is purely cosmetic and straightforward to put right. Other damage — a crack in a load-bearing area, a rim that has taken a hard pothole hit on a low-profile tyre, or corrosion working under a machined face — can sit outside safe repair limits. We will tell you honestly which is which, even when the right answer is a replacement rather than a refurbishment.
Most of the patterns we see on Tesla and other electric-car wheels trace back to how the cars are built and specified rather than to the driver:
An EV is heavier than a comparable combustion car, so a kerb strike or pothole transfers more energy into the rim. This is one of the reasons modern alloy wheels can fail sooner than older designs.
Model 3 Performance, Model Y and the bigger Model S and X wheels run tall rims with little sidewall to cushion an impact, so more of the shock reaches the wheel. Wheel damage is one of the most frequently reported consequences of pothole impacts on UK roads (RAC Pothole Index).
Very common across the Model 3 and Model Y range, and easy to catch on the flush aero-style faces where the rim sits close to the kerb edge.
Several Tesla and EV wheels use a machined or diamond-cut finish. Once the protective lacquer is breached at the edge, moisture works in beneath it and the bright face begins to cloud and corrode.
A hard hit on a low-profile EV wheel can crack or split a rim. A cracked alloy wheel should always be assessed before any further driving, because the location and severity of the crack decide whether a repair is appropriate at all.
Everything is carried out in our own workshop, so we can combine whatever the wheels genuinely need. Each wheel is inspected, repaired, refinished and balanced before it goes back on the car. If a wheel is beyond safe repair, we will say so rather than refinish a problem and hand it back.
Bends and buckles from potholes, checked against runout.
TIG welding for cracks in a safely repairable area.
The bright machined face re-cut on a CNC lathe.
A tough colour finish for kerb damage and corrosion.
Stripped, repaired, refinished and lacquered.
Fixed with a full refurbishment in 2–3 days.
Many Model 3 and Model Y wheels use a flat, aerodynamic face, and some are finished with a machined or two-tone look. It is worth understanding the limit of a machined finish. Diamond cutting removes a thin layer of metal from the wheel face on a lathe, so there is only so much material that can be taken before the profile is affected. A wheel that has already been cut several times, or one with deep corrosion under the lacquer, may be better suited to a durable powder-coated finish than another cut. We will explain the realistic options for your specific wheels — our diamond cut alloy wheels guide covers how the finish behaves over time.
If you have felt a new vibration or wobble after a pothole, a bend is one possible cause among several, and it is worth checking sooner rather than later on a low-profile Tesla or EV wheel. Straightening is carried out in controlled steps and verified against runout measurements, and it is only appropriate where the wheel can be returned to safe running true. Our guide to bent and buckled wheel straightening explains the symptoms and the decision process in more detail. Because wheel condition forms part of an MOT assessment (DVSA MOT inspection manual), a wheel that cannot be made safe should be replaced rather than disguised.
Electric cars deliver their torque instantly and, as noted, carry more mass than a comparable petrol car, so we pay particular attention to the structural condition of the wheel rather than only the finish. Regenerative braking means many EVs produce less brake dust, so the wheels often look cleaner day to day — but a clean-looking wheel can still hide a bend, a hairline crack or corrosion beginning under the lacquer. Appearance always comes second to whether the wheel is safe to run.
Our workshop is in Grays, just off the A13 and close to the M25 at Lakeside, within easy reach of East London and across Essex. You are welcome to drop the wheels off or leave the car with us while we work. For guide prices by wheel size and finish, see our alloy wheel repair prices, or browse all of our alloy wheel repair services.
Get in touch or send a few clear photos of your wheels for an initial indication. Final repairability is confirmed once we have inspected the wheel in person. Get ready for winter: Fix it before the salt gets in.
Straight answers on damage, safety and cost from our workshop.
Large wheels, low-profile tyres and heavier vehicles have changed how alloy wheels fail. This guide explains hidden buckles, cosmetic vs structural damage, and when refurbishment is safe.
Read the guideA workshop guide to cracked alloy wheel repair: what causes cracks, why location matters more than length, when a crack can be welded, and when to replace.
Read the guideStruggling with peeling lacquer or corrosion on diamond cut wheels? This guide explains causes, refurbishment limits, maintenance tips, and safer alternatives.
Read the guideWe restore kerbed, scratched, buckled and corroded alloys across London & Essex. See our alloy wheel repairs, full refurbishment and prices, or send a few photos for a quick quote.
