Vibration when steering. A bent rim causes your tire to make uneven contact with the road resulting in vibrations that travel up the steering column. Turning your steering wheel and feeling vibrations should notify you of this problem.
Problems with handling your vehicle. Being unable to handle or control your car the way you are used to is a sign that something is wrong somewhere. A bent rim is a likely culprit here because it messes with the tire pressure which affects your vehicle control negatively.
Deflated tires. Remember those air leaks that result in poor fuel economy? Well, they are often a direct result of bent rims. Wheels and tires are meant to fit tight against each other, if they’re not (as a result of bent rims), then air tends to leak from the tires.
Visible damage. This is probably the most obvious sign of a bent rim. However, if your wheel has full-coverage metal or plastic hubcaps, you might have to remove them to see the damage to your rims.
Poor braking. A bent rim can affect the way your car brakes, making it hard to bring the vehicle to a smooth halt.