Bucklers hard

I own a Ford Fiesta Zetec Climate 1.2 first registered in November 2008. Last week I took it in to the dealer I bought it from for its third annual service. The service department rang me to say that all four wheels were buckled. They are the wheels that were on the car at time of purchase. The purpose of the call was only to inform me and no persuasion was used to make me change the wheels. However, I rang them back to give the go ahead to replace all four wheels and transfer the tyres over from the old wheels. The total cost for the new wheels and fitting, plus one new tyre, including VAT, was £730. Was I right to replace the wheels or should I have had them straightened and refitted by one of the companies that do such a thing? I was not offered the old wheels back, but neither did I ask for them. They were alloy wheels. Last year the garage warned me that one wheel had a flat spot and that I mustn't hit any more potholes.

Asked on 1 October 2011 by DN, Eastbourne

Answered by Honest John
16” and 17” Fiesta alloy wheels are vulnerable to damage. Buckled alloys are not repairable. The problem is the low profile tyres. You'd be better off on 14" wheels with 175/65 tyres.
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