Every repair request that hits our inbox is a tiny confession. "It was the parking garage." "My spouse was driving." "The curb came out of nowhere." We don't judge. We fix wheels. But after 1,181 Austin-area requests, we started noticing patterns — and some brands are confessing a lot more than others.

So we did the only responsible thing. We ran the numbers and named names.

The Rim Rash Leaderboard

Tesla and BMW aren't just at the top — together they account for more requests than the next five brands combined, and most of their damage is classic curb rash.

The Roast, Brand by Brand

1. Tesla — 70 Requests

Tesla owners will tell you their car can drive itself. Their wheels would like a word. Seven in ten Tesla requests (48 of 70) specifically mention curb rash or scrapes, and the Model Y alone accounts for 32 requests — 27 of them curb-related.

In fairness, it's not entirely their fault. Those 20- and 21-inch "Uberturbine" wheels have roughly the sidewall protection of a paper towel, and the aero covers make it impossible to see where the rim actually ends. One repeat customer wrote in three months after we fixed two wheels: "Got another curb rash I need fixed." We appreciate the loyalty.

2. BMW — 41 Requests

BMW drivers famously don't use turn signals. Turns out they don't use curbs as a guide either — they use them as a brake. Three out of four BMW requests (31 of 41) are curb rash, the highest curb share of any brand with more than 20 requests.

The X5 is a repeat offender (4 for 4 on curb rash), and the M cars aren't immune: every M3/M4 request we saw was curb damage. One iX owner blamed an icy hill. In Austin. We believe you.

3. Mercedes-Benz — 23 Requests

Mercedes drivers are a bit more refined about it: just over half (13 of 23) are curb rash, with the rest split between bends and general wear. Even their damage has manners.

4. The Everyday Crowd — Toyota (19), Honda (18), Ford (17)

Here's the twist: these brands sell far more cars in Texas than BMW or Tesla, yet show up far less in our inbox. Toyota drivers in particular seem to be doing fine — only 7 of their 19 requests are curb rash. The rest are bends and potholes, which we'll blame on MoPac, not the driver.

5. Audi — 17 Requests

Audi quietly posts a 71% curb-rash rate (12 of 17). Four rings, four scraped wheels. Not a coincidence.

Honorable Mentions and Fun Facts

• Porsche (13 requests): 9 curb rash, zero bends. Porsche drivers never hit potholes. They only hit curbs, and they hit them with confidence.
• Lexus (16): 10 curb rash. The quietest cabin in the industry means you never hear it happen.
• Rivian, Lucid and Genesis: Small sample, perfect record — every single request was curb rash. New money, new curbs.
• Land Rover (5): Zero curb rash. Built to cross the Serengeti, apparently also capable of parallel parking on South Congress.
• The passenger side is a war zone: 125 requests mention the passenger side vs. just 49 for the driver side. You can't see that curb from the driver's seat, and your wheels know it.
• Lease panic is real: 36 requests mention a lease or turn-in. Nothing motivates a wheel repair like a dealer inspection next Tuesday.
• Big wheels, big problems: Requests that list a wheel size are almost five times more likely to say 20 inches or bigger (81) than 15–18 inches (17).

Why It Keeps Happening (It's Not Just You)

The real culprit is rubber, or the lack of it. Brands that top our list ship big wheels on low-profile tires, so the rim lip sits right at curb height with almost no sidewall to cushion it.

• Big wheels, thin tires: A 21-inch wheel on a 35-series tire leaves the aluminum exposed. On a Camry with 17s, the tire hits the curb first.
• Wide bodies, hidden edges: Modern EVs and SUVs are wide, and you can't see the passenger-side wheel from the driver's seat.
• Austin itself: Tight downtown garages, raised curbs along Rainey and South Congress, and drive-thrus designed for a 1998 Civic.

The good news: curb rash is cosmetic in most cases and repairable for a fraction of a new wheel. Tesla charges roughly $750 to $1,200+ to replace a single OEM wheel. Not sure if yours is worth fixing? Try our repair vs. replace calculator.

Join the Club (and Then Leave It)

Whatever you drive, you're in good company. Snap a photo of the damage, tell us the year, make and model, and we'll send a quote (here's how curb rash pricing works). We come to your home or office anywhere in the Austin area, so your wheels can be fixed before anyone else notices.

Get a free quote at autoreflekt.com or call (877) 834-9746.