just like the title says....how easy is it to fuck up a rim? like, do you have to hit a pothole real hard or does it take just a little bit of a hit to bend it? i'm just curious cause i've been finding myself driving on some real shitty roads where it is almost impossible to avoid all the imperfections of the road. tia

dave

Depends on alot of things. Your tire size, a bigger tire will absorb more and reduce the risk of bending a rim due to potholes. The bigger the rim the easier it is to bend usually, you have to run a smaller tire which minimizes protection. You've got 17s so you should be fine, I've got 19's with a 35 series tire so I have to be careful. Let me say this, if you curb a rim, size doesn't matter. You can very easily bend a rim by curbing it.

Talking about curbing rims and running into deep potholes sends chills down my spine.

usually to fix a rim costs more than the rim is worth, i got quoted $300 to fix a $130 rim

you can bend a 16 inch rim with a 55 series tire by hitting a steel plate on the expressway at 95 mph!!!!

I have the falken tires with the rim protector in the sidewall. I've went over curbs, slammed potholes, ect.. rims are still good as new. I also keep my tires at >40psi which also helps.

Yea, i've got Goodyears w/ rim protector. Works like a charm. Even though i drive into every pothole and parallel park like a granny, the rims looks brand new without a sratch. This is pretty crazy because i've had the set of 17s for the past two years.

is it an actual tire that comes with the rim protector installed? if so, i think i might need to invest in a set.

Yea, it's a specific tire. It's actually a thick rubber lip near the edge that upon impact would wrap itself around the rim.