Bent my 6ul, what do
 

Hey guys. Driving on clusterfuck of DC streets on saturday I misjudged a curb and hit it with my rear wheel. Apparently it did this

http://gaiazov.com/photos/mt.net/DSC_7202.JPG
http://gaiazov.com/photos/mt.net/DSC_7203.JPG
http://gaiazov.com/photos/mt.net/DSC_7204.JPG
(sorry for 2mb of pics, too lazy to resize)

Facts:

• Holds air
• Holds air after 300 miles
• Holds air after driving at 120mph
• Holds air after 12 autocross runs

I'm almost certain I'll replace this wheel, however, I don't want to do it RIGHT NOW. So, questions

• Can I drive as is?
• Will it pass tech for HDPE?
• Will it pass tech for HDPE at Summit Point where tech inspection is a bit of a joke?
• Can it be bent back to look a bit more presentable without removing the tire?

That's a serious bend. Wheel repair MIGHT be able to repair it but I'd be worried about cracks afterward. 6ULs aren't expensive enough to fret about when you do stuff like this - just order a replacement from Emilio.

I know... I was just hoping to wait it out a few months and do it when I have to replace the tires.

You wouldn't track with that kind of bend, right?

Not a chance. :) You should be able to pay a tire shop $10 to just swap that tire onto a new wheel.

That's all I need to know... ordered a new wheel. And it's going to be closer to $40 to change the tire cause I need it balanced + all the bitching involved that the tire is too wide for the rim....

I used to know two guys that ran a mobile tire truck service, these are those situations where they came in handy.

attach the pics here so i can view!

Sounds like you need to stop patronizing crappy tire stores.
PTuning in Man-asses charges $30 per, they do dual plane balancing, they won't bitch about wide wheels & narrow tires, and they won't scratch your wheels with their "Ferrari dealership" equipment. IOW, they know what the fuck they're doing, unlike the several chain stores in this area into which I have had the displeasure of setting foot.

PTuning is definitely a little bit pricey, but they do a damn good job.

When I went to goodyear they wanted $100 to swap out my old wheels for new ones. I think I'll just go to wally world.

Cool, PTTuning sounds good. I heard about them before. I heard that they are expensive as fuck.

I may not even balance it because I'd guess I have 5k miles left on my RS3s, at most. They have 10k on them right now.

Just for you.

I already bought a new wheel. I can use this one to fuck around :)

Doesn't really matter since he already bought a new wheel, but just FYI, Ye Olde Wheel Shoppe and Wheel Worx up in Maryland both have decent reps as far as local-ish places go. But I doubt any of these repair places are worth it considering the price of new 6ULs. If he had asked about fixing curb rash on his rent-to-own set of 24" spinners for his leased Escalade, then sure, take them to a wheel shop.

PTuning is definitely expensive for some stuff (tuning on the AWD dyno) but $30 per wheel & tire isn't too crazy considering that last time I checked, the local major chain store wants $24 and will handle your parts with questionable competence. My experience at PTuning is limited to mounting & balancing, and one or two alignments, but I have no complaints.

I use The Tire Store in San Luis Obispo. They charge $40 per SET for dismount, mount, dual-plane balance, and old tire disposal. I have NEVER heard an argument about "too wide for the rim" or anything else. Their balancing guys will come and get me from the lobby if they find a bent rim as well.

Stop patronizing shitty tire stores. The Tire Store is baller and I let them know they're baller by ordering a LOT of tires from them (~9 sets this year).

Will do. In my defense this is the first set of "real" wheels and tires in my life.

That wheel is done, sorry.

This closer to the price I've been paying, $40 a tire seems crazy. I paid $50 (12.50 a tire) to have tires dismounted and remounted and I paid $20 "friend price" to have tires mounted and balanced on the last 2 sets of tires I've purchased.

It's fixable but it will never be as good as new and i wouldn't track it once its fixed. OP buy a new one.

He already did, read the thread.

Cheapest I've found is Goodyear at $75 a set. I'm still in awe over an old motorcycle store that painted the wheel weights to match my freshly powdercoated black wheels, and wire wheeled some corrosion off to help the tire seal better. All for $50. Shame they closed down.