How do cast alloy wheels react to potholes?

So, how hard an impact does it take to destroy a cast wheel? That depends a great deal on the quality of the particular wheel, but generally speaking it takes a much harder impact than, say, for a pressed steel wheel. The fundamental difference is that a steel wheel bent by hitting a pothole or a kerb will, in the worst case, lead to a gradual drop in tyre pressure, while deforming a cast wheel is more likely to cause the wheel to fail and the car to lose control instantly.

Now imagine hitting a serious pothole at high speed! Not pleasant, is it? And here is an extra bonus - despite the heavy advertising put out by hundreds of tyre workshops, a cast wheel is, for the most part, simply not repairable! You can, of course, restore the wheel’s original look with welding and paint, but sadly there is no way to restore its original properties.

But this article is in no way meant to put you off buying and using cast wheels. On the contrary, in many situations using them is entirely justified and safe.

The whole article on cast alloy wheels