like for example, when you are driving through bumps, would it be better to have a soft or hard tire compound so that your rim doesnt get bent

 

soft should absorb more...but just avoid the big bumps!

 

The rubber compound isn't going to make nearly as big of a difference as how much sidewall you have. As far as compound goes I believe that as stated soft will absorb more, but that's the issue.... it will flex in further than a stiffer sidewall/rubber compound. so you'd feel it more with a hard rubber but have better protection (but not by much) Sidewall stiffness and depth are the two things that protect a rim, a rim almost never bends unless the rim itself is impacted by something, most tires can't generate enough energy/power to bend a rim without blowing the tire, then the tire blows and your rim gets hit by the object...

 

ahh, i get it now