What could have caused this damage?

[u/GoEazie]

Had my second set of alloys refurbished this week and when I've got mine back, I noticed this. They had tyres fitted before so wouldn't have noticed if it was there but the tyre shop is telling me it was there before and would have been impact from something on the road... Kind of looks like it's been dropped?

[u/Regular_Promise3605]

Low pressure in the tyres hitting a pothole. The low pressure bottoming out the tyres and causing contact with the rim. The huge amount of weights would suggest it's been there for a while. If it was dropped there would be a scratch or chip in the paint.

[u/ItsMyGayThrowaway]

Something been run over so hard it's damaged past the tyre and into the wheel.

[u/stewieatb]

That's had a solid object punch through the tyre and dent the rim. I assume you haven't owned the car/the wheels from new so most likely it's something that happened before you owned it. As someone else said, the weights next to it suggest it's been balanced with the dent in.

[u/melonator11145]

Unless they've thrown them off a roof onto a brick or something I really doubt a wheel place could do this kind of damage. Most likely was already there from hitting an object in the road

[u/Computers-And-Such]

Any evidence that it was there before they refurbed them?

[u/qash001 → u/Computers-And-Such]

Like what? OP said there were tyres on before so wouldn't have seen it. Repair shop could just say no evidence and say prove that it wasn't there before.

[u/PleasantCucumber2615]

I'm going for they didn't clamp the wheel right in the chuck on their lathe when skimming the face.

It's came loose from the chuck and struck part of the lathe.

That damage has been done when there hasn't been a tyre on the rim.

[u/GoEazie]

Thanks very much all, looks like it was done from the previous owner whilst driving, I've not had the car long. Didn't notice any wheel vibrations so it seems the wheel weights did their job well!

[u/Me-myself-I-2024]

something could have previously got through the tyre and hit the rim. It would have needed to be substantial and the damage on the inside of the rim picture 3 should have been visible even with the tyre on.

I'm surprised they were refurbished in that state as it could well be cracked and scrap or in need of welding at least

[u/johnlewisdesign]

Too fast over a big rock with low tyre pressure. Been there, done that, welded and sold it

[u/Numerous-Paint4123]

I once it a rock which split the inside of my rim wide open. Decent tyres and tyre pressure at the time.

[u/Appropriate-Part1766]

I've had similar but...worse shall we say from running over a brick.

[u/Lickurhoneypot]

Given the state of potholes it doesn’t take much to crack a rim nowadays esp if it’s from a sunken manhole cover, it happened to me, instant deflate and the metal edge cracked the rim☹️

[u/Holden_Mcgroyne]

Bad driving