Buses, bus lanes and kerb rash along London Road
Frequent bus routes run along London Road, Brigstock Road and the High Street, which means regular stops, bus lanes and drivers constantly pulling aside to let buses in and out. Near West Thornton and down the A235 towards Croydon University Hospital, traffic stops and starts, and a driver edging left to clear a bus or avoid a bus lane can easily run a wheel against the kerb. Kerbs at many bus stops are raised to help passengers board, which makes them even easier to catch.
Away from the main roads, many side streets are narrow Victorian terraces with parking on both sides, leaving room for only one car at a time. Tucking into a gap to let someone through, or parallel parking against a kerb with cars close front and back, marks plenty of rims. Around Grangewood Park and the Recreation Ground, parking on busy days adds more of the same. Older family cars with painted wheels show scuffs as chipped silver edges that soon start to corrode. Private-hire drivers, who pull in at the kerb for pick-ups dozens of times a day, tend to have the most marked wheels of all.
We inspect every wheel for cracks and buckles before we quote, and we price per wheel. Light kerb rash can usually be repaired cosmetically, while wheels with corrosion or wider damage are stripped and powder coated, or re-cut and lacquered if they're diamond cut. Tyres are removed and refitted with new valves where needed, bead seats are cleaned so the tyres seal, and each wheel is balanced before refitting. Tyre pressure sensors are removed before any stripping and checked on refitting. If any wheel shows a crack, we'll stop and explain, because that's a safety issue and we'll advise replacement rather than refinishing.
Head to Thornton Heath Pond and out along the A236 to reach us, about 15 minutes. For a full set, which usually takes 2–3 days, collection and delivery can be arranged. The work carries our 3-month workmanship warranty. Hackbridge station is next to us if you'd like to drop the car and head off.