What is alloy wheel welding?

Alloy wheel welding is a specialist repair process used to fix cracks, fractures, or structural damage in alloy wheels. The process typically uses precision techniques such as TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding to fuse the damaged aluminium back together and restore the wheel’s structural integrity.

This type of repair is most commonly required when a wheel has developed a crack caused by pothole impacts, kerb strikes, or fatigue over time. During the repair, the damaged area is carefully inspected and prepared before the crack is welded and reinforced. After welding, the wheel is usually reshaped, smoothed, and refinished to restore both its strength and appearance.

Not all wheels are suitable for welding repair. WheelTribe specialists will assess the location and severity of the crack before accepting a repair. Wheels with multiple cracks, or cracks located on critical structural areas such as the spokes, are highly unlikely to be safely repaired and will often need to be replaced instead.

WheelTribe connects drivers with experienced alloy wheel repair specialists who can assess the damage and determine whether alloy wheel welding is a safe and viable repair option for your wheels.

How much does alloy wheel welding cost?

The cost of alloy wheel welding in the UK typically ranges from £50 to £120 per wheel, depending on the type and size of the wheel, the size of the crack, and the location of the area requiring welding.

For example, small single cracks can sometimes be repaired from around £50–£60 per wheel. Larger cracks or cracks located in more difficult areas of the wheel may increase the cost due to the additional time and preparation required.

The final price may also increase if the wheel needs additional work after welding, such as wheel straightening, repainting, powder coating, or diamond cutting to restore the finish.

If a wheel has multiple cracks, there may also be additional charges for each extra crack, as each damaged area needs to be individually prepared and welded.

How long does alloy wheel welding take?

Alloy wheel welding is usually a relatively quick repair, but the exact time required will depend on the size of the crack, the location of the damage, and whether any additional work is needed after the weld.

In many cases, the welding process itself can be completed in 30 minutes to around an hour per wheel once the wheel has been prepared. However, the total turnaround time may be longer if the wheel needs to be removed from the vehicle, the tyre taken off, or the damaged area prepared before welding.

If the wheel also requires additional repairs or refinishing—such as straightening, repainting, powder coating, or diamond cutting—the overall repair time can increase. In these cases, the wheel may need to remain with the specialist for several hours or up to a few days depending on the services being carried out.

When booking alloy wheel welding through WheelTribe you will see aplicable garage and mobile service turnaorund times for all the services you request. Your specialist will inspect the wheel before starting work to confirm the crack can be repaired safely and provide a clearer estimate of the repair time for your specific wheel and damage type so you can arrange collection.

Will I have to refurbish my alloy wheels after they've been welded?

No always, welding will causes heat damage to the wheel finish, but it really depends on where the crack is located.

Welds to the inside wheel rim usually do not require any subsequent cosmetic repairs. However, cracks on the outer edge are different. In this case drivers have a choose, repair the cosmetic damage caused by welding, or just leave it as is.

If the wheels are already in poor cosmetic condition and the sole purpose is to fix the crack making the wheel safe to use again, adding refurbishment services may be unnecessary. However if the vehicles wheels are in good condition drivers usually opt to refurbish the entire wheel along side welding any cracks.

Is alloy wheel welding only available from garages?

In most cases, alloy wheel welding is carried out by garage-based specialists. This is because the process requires specialist welding equipment, wheel inspection tools, and a controlled workshop environment to ensure the repair is completed safely and accurately.

When a wheel is welded, the damaged area must be carefully prepared, heated, and reinforced, and the wheel often needs to be checked for additional cracks or structural damage before and after the repair. Because of this, many welding services are performed in dedicated wheel repair workshops where technicians have access to the necessary machinery and safety equipment.

However, this does not mean the vehicle itself must always go to a garage. In many cases, drivers can simply remove the wheel and take it to a repair specialist, or arrange a collection and return service from a local alloy wheel repair company.

While mobile alloy wheel repair services are widely available in the UK for cosmetic damage such as scuffs, scratches, and repainting, structural repairs like welding are less commonly offered as mobile services due to the specialist equipment and safety checks involved.

Through WheelTribe, drivers can quickly see whether garage-based welding specialists are available nearby. If a mobile service is not suitable for the type of damage, WheelTribe will help connect you with local alloy wheel repair experts who can safely assess and repair cracked wheels.

What happens if my wheels can't be welded?

When booking wheel welding services through WheelTribe, wheels will be professionally inspected by a specialist before repair work begins. This inspection ensures that the wheel can be welded safely and to a professional standard.

If your wheel is deemed unrepairable, the repair will not go ahead. WheelTribe will then issue a full refund for the service, giving you peace of mind when booking through the platform. This can sometimes happen if the wheel has hidden cracks, multiple cracks or cracks on structural areas such as the spokes.

In this case WheelTribe can assist with sourcing replacement wheels through our community of OEM and aftemarket retailers. In many cases, this includes sourcing second hand OEM wheels when no longer avaialble to purchase directly from your vehcile manufacture, or sutable aftremarket wheels that match your vehicles specification.

How do I know if my wheel needs welding?

Sometimes cracks are clearly visible, particularly along the outer edge of rims, and are often the result of heavy kerb impacts or hitting potholes. However, not all cracks are easy to spot.

In many cases, drivers only discover that wheels are cracked after a professional inspection from a mechanic or tyre fitter. Wheel cracks and fractures can be hidden, even from most general automotive techs and are only discovered during dedicated and detailed wheel inspections.

All WheelTribe specialists carefully check over every wheel for signs of structural damage before proceeding with wheel refurbishment and customisation services booked by drivers. If any hidden cracks or fractures are found which can be welded safely your wheel specialist will contact you to discuss any additional welding services required.

Is alloy wheel welding worth it?

Yes, provided the alloy wheel can be safely welded.

A single wheel requiring welding will cost drivers far less to repair then the alternative, which is to replace the wheel.

New OEM wheels are expensive and difficult to source when no longer available directly from manufacture networks. This forces drivers to consider the second hand alloy wheel market, and when that is exhausted, replace all four wheels with aftermarket alloys.