Cornwall’s Specialist Workshop
Choosing how to repair damaged alloy wheels can be confusing. Alloy Wheel Clinic in Cornwall focuses entirely on professional wheel refurbishment — delivering durable, factory-standard results that mobile SMART repairs simply cannot match.
SMART repairs are often advertised as a quick and convenient solution for damaged alloy wheels. The term SMART stands for Small to Medium Area Repair Technique and is commonly used for cosmetic damage such as small scuffs or scratches.
In many cases these repairs are carried out by mobile technicians who arrive in a van and perform the work at a customer’s home or workplace. The damaged area is sanded, filled and repainted using conventional automotive paints. While this method can improve the appearance of a wheel temporarily, it does not restore the entire wheel surface or remove previous coatings.
Because SMART repairs only treat the damaged area, the underlying corrosion or damage may still remain beneath the coating. Over time the repair can deteriorate as moisture and road debris affect the exposed areas of the wheel. Many mobile repair services operate with limited equipment and minimal preparation — without specialist facilities, it is difficult to remove existing coatings properly or apply durable finishes that match manufacturer standards.
Alloy Wheel Clinic follows a refurbishment process designed to restore wheels properly rather than simply covering visible damage. The process closely reflects the methods used by wheel manufacturers when producing new wheels. Each wheel undergoes several stages including preparation, repair, refinishing and curing — with existing paint and coatings completely removed so technicians can inspect the wheel thoroughly before refinishing begins.
Tyres and components are safely removed so technicians can inspect the full wheel surface and carry out a thorough structural assessment.
The wheel is fully submerged in a specialised chemical tank to cleanly remove all old layers of paint, weathering lacquer, and baked-on grime — down to bare metal.
With all coatings removed, technicians can inspect the bare casting for hidden buckles, hairline cracks, or corrosion that would otherwise be concealed.
Deep gouges are filled using specialist aluminium welding techniques, then meticulously profiled back to the wheel's original factory contour lines.
Electrostatically applied powder primer is baked on as per OEM specification, followed by an approved high-temperature base coat designed specifically for wheels.
A crystal-clear, hard acrylic powder clear coat is applied — not standard car body lacquer — providing exceptional resistance to corrosion, brake dust, and road debris.
One of the biggest differences between specialist refurbishment and SMART repairs is the type of coating used. Alloy Wheel Clinic uses a powder coating process similar to that used by wheel manufacturers — applying powder coat primer and colour coatings followed by a strong acrylic powder coat lacquer. Traditional automotive paints used in SMART repairs are designed for body panels rather than wheels: they are typically softer and less resistant to the harsh conditions experienced by wheels.
Powder coating creates a harder protective surface that helps protect wheels from corrosion, water, road salt and debris — essential in the UK’s wet climate.
Unlike traditional automotive paints designed for body panels, powder coating is significantly harder and far more resistant to the harsh conditions experienced by wheels.
Greater resistance to brake dust and moisture ensures a more consistent, long-lasting finish across the entire wheel surface — not just the repaired area.
Because this process requires specialist equipment and curing ovens, it cannot be carried out effectively within a mobile repair van.
Alloy Wheel Clinic operates from a large workshop containing specialist machinery designed specifically for wheel refurbishment. The facility includes approximately 5,500 square feet of workspace filled with equipment required to complete professional refurbishments — this level of investment in specialist equipment demonstrates the company’s commitment to delivering professional refurbishment services.
A computerised system controls the movement of wheels through different stages of the refurbishment process, ensuring correct baking times, consistent finishing quality, and controlled curing temperatures.
Ovens used during the process are temperature calibrated to ensure coatings cure correctly. Over-curing or under-curing can weaken coatings and reduce durability.
Alloy Wheel Clinic operates from a large workshop containing specialist machinery designed specifically for wheel refurbishment — an environment that cannot be reproduced by mobile repair services.
Diamond cut alloy wheels require extremely precise equipment to restore their distinctive polished finish. Alloy Wheel Clinic carries out all diamond cutting work in house using dedicated alloy wheel lathes.
The machine maps the wheel surface digitally before carefully cutting the face of the wheel to restore the original finish. Unlike lightweight portable machines used by some repair companies, professional lathes provide greater stability and accuracy, allowing technicians to remove only the minimum amount of material required to restore the surface. Alloy Wheel Clinic uses a probing system that measures each wheel individually to ensure the most accurate cutting data is used. After cutting, protective coatings are applied to seal the surface and protect the metal from corrosion.
Our dedicated alloy wheel lathe maps the wheel surface digitally before carefully cutting the face to restore the original high-gloss machined finish with maximum precision.
Unlike older copy lathe systems that treat every wheel the same, our probing system measures each wheel individually to ensure the most accurate cutting data and minimum material removal.
Modern vehicles often use Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS sensors) that monitor tyre pressure and alert the driver if pressure levels drop below recommended limits. When tyres are removed during wheel refurbishment, TPMS sensors must be inspected and serviced. Alloy Wheel Clinic carries out this work in house, ensuring sensors are checked and replaced when necessary.
The workshop holds a wide range of replacement sensors and valves in stock, allowing technicians to replace faulty components quickly without the need for dealership visits. Since 2015, vehicles displaying a TPMS warning light during an MOT test can fail the inspection — proper servicing of these components ensures vehicles remain compliant with safety regulations.
All TPMS sensors are inspected and replaced when necessary during the refurbishment process. Large stocks of new valves and sensors are held on site for rapid turnaround.
Since 2015, a TPMS warning light during an MOT test can cause a failure. Our in-house servicing ensures your vehicle remains fully compliant with current safety regulations.
When comparing SMART repairs with specialist refurbishment, the differences become clear. SMART repairs focus on convenience and cosmetic improvement, while professional refurbishment focuses on restoring the entire wheel properly. The table below shows exactly where Alloy Wheel Clinic stands apart.
| The Autoshine Difference | Autoshine Wheel Clinic | Van Based Smart Repair | Bodyshop Smart Repair | Trade Powder Coater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extensive knowledge of complete wheel repair and refurbishment. | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Wheels and tyres removed safely and labelled with job details. | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| Valves and tyre pressure monitoring equipment removed, checked and labelled. | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Entire wheel visually inspected for damage. | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| Ability to straighten any buckled wheels. | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Welding facilities for cracks or chips, not just body filler. | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Wheel-friendly paint stripping method — bare metal clean starting point. | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| Ability to inspect fully bare casting for hidden damage. | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| Whole wheel prepared for refinishing, not just face. | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| Automated blasting process to remove corrosion and ensure adhesion key. | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| Custom masking applied to every wheel. | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| Wheel hub protected by pedestal. | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Preheat of wheels to de-gas, forcing out trapped impurities. | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Electrostatically applied powder primer as per OEM — corrosion barrier. | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| Coating stoved to wheel. | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| Wheel painted with approved high-temp base coat specifically for wheels. | ✓ | — | — | — |
| In-house diamond cutting. | ✓ | — | — | — |
| High-temp corrosion barrier applied to bare metal cut sections. | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Crystal clear hard acrylic powder clear coat — not car body lacquer. | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| Tyres refitted on leverless tyre machinery. | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| Capability to service, rebuild and clone TPMS in house. Large valve stocks held. | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Wheels dynamically balanced on fully serviced, calibrated machinery. | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
Every wheel is stripped entirely down to bare aluminium — not just the damaged area — so the full surface is inspected and refinished to a consistent, durable standard.
Powder coating provides stronger corrosion resistance, improved durability against road debris, and greater resistance to brake dust and moisture than conventional automotive paints.
In-house CNC lathes with individual probing systems restore diamond cut wheels to their original high-gloss machined finish with maximum precision and minimum material removal.
Temperature-calibrated ovens ensure coatings cure correctly every time. Over-curing or under-curing can weaken coatings — precise temperature control is non-negotiable.
Welding facilities for cracks and chips — not just body filler — mean structural issues are properly resolved rather than cosmetically concealed.
All TPMS sensors are inspected, serviced and replaced as needed during refurbishment, keeping your vehicle MOT-compliant and avoiding costly dealership visits.
Choosing a specialist refurbishment company ensures your wheels are restored properly rather than temporarily improved. With professional preparation, durable coatings and precision equipment, Alloy Wheel Clinic provides wheel refurbishment designed to last and maintain the appearance and value of your vehicle.
