Expert: Mike Evans - 7/3/2010

Question
Hi,

I'm not sure if this it the appropriate forum to ask this question, but I'm hoping you may be able to help.  The front passenger high polished aluminum rim on my Grand Prix is scraped up pretty bad after I let someone borrow my car and they partked too close to the curb.  Any thoughts on where I can get very good OEM rims for cheap?  Are replica rims as good as the original or do you know of any known issues?  I found this site but I am hesitant because I want to make sure they are just as good as the GM ones.  http://www.wheelsandcaps.com/specials_packages.asp?id=19&special=Pontiac Specials

I went to the junk yard and they wanted $90 for a used rim.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Answer
    Your best bet is to go to a wheel repair shop (every decent-sized city has one) and get the rim repaired.  You'd be surprised what they can cure.  If you're trying to keep the cost under $90, though, I don't think that is going to happen.  In the old days you could have used your spare, but now you're lucky to have one.