Slow Leak in Tire

[Tom_Veatch]

Tire sealants like Slime work anywhere there is a leak. It doesn't know the difference between the tread area and the bead.

Now that is interesting. I've successfully used Slime on a slow leak on my truck tire, and the amount recommended for the tire comes nowhere near reaching the height of the bead on a static tire.

I would think that, especially on a highway tire, that centrifugal forces on the liquid Slime would cause it to collect and distribute itself on the inside of the tread area with a large majority of the sidewall uncovered. Perhaps its different at the slow speed of a tractor and enough will run down/over the interior sidewall to coat the bead and permit a seal. I had a slow bead leak on a lawn mower tire (11.00-6 as I recall) that I didn't try to fix with Slime because of the amount that would be needed to fill the tire to the bead. A tube was cheaper.

If you've successfully stopped a bead leak using something like Slime, how much did you use? Enough to fill the lower portion of the tire to or above the bead?

 

[patrick_g]

How much slime is needed in a tire? Is it just a few ozs or does it take the whole can? (I know it depends on the size of the tire, but how about a tractor tire say 26 x 12-12). Thanks guys.

I buy Sline and its competitors by the gal with little pumps included. I think about 5 pumps would do your small tire. The stuff keeps and is cheaper per oz when yo buy by the gal.

I'd air the tire and locate the leak and mark it. Now, with the wheel off the unit, deflate the tire and put in the Slime. Air it up and position the tire/wheel such that the area of the leak is at the bottom. You want gravity to pool the slime on the leak. If you can, position the tire with scraps of wood or whatever so it can sit in that position a while but my experience has been it either works real fast when the slime gets to the area in questin or it doesn't (doesn't is RARE.) In rare cases with BIG leaks some Slime will ooze out. If this doesn't stop you have too big of a problem for slime.

After the slime has a chance to seal the leak, dribble some soap solution over the area to confirm it is not leaking.

Good luck, Slime is a terrifc product, almost magic but not quite.

I know several folks who run slime immediately after putting on new tires as a preventative, especially where there are thorns and sand burrs and such.

Over time, it is likely that the slime will eventually run down over the leaking spot but to be sure positioning the tire to let gravity pool the slime on the leak is a SURE KILL.

Pat

 

[SPYDERLK]

Slime and its ilk are a great aid in keeping tires from going flat on the bottom. I have never experienced them to be a permanent trouble free fix tho. The failure mechanisms seem to be; 1)degradation of the particulate/fibrous matter relied on to form the filter cake, and 2)gravity induced flow of the slurry off a leak during long parking periods. I find it usually works trouble free for a couple hundred hours before becoming touchy about orientation and duration of parking. Even then pumping it up lets you use it leak free as long as you move around to redistribute the fluid. Adding more rejuvenates it briefly. Ive had it flat out fail on wheelbarrow rim leaks.
Larry

 

[Casey1]

I had a rim leak on the front that required airing up twice a week. I have broken it down several times but it always comes back. I tried the slime several days ago because of this thread and the tire has not lost any air that I can detect with an air gauge. I used a quart that cost around $13.00 at the local auto parts.

 

[patrick_g]

Gee Larry, I never had those problems with slime but I guess it must be possible since you had it happen. Maybe you have bigger holes. My tractor tires are all tubeless and locust thorns and such can and will penetrate and cause slow leaks. I put slime in about 4-5 years ago and haven't even topped off the tires in over 3 years.

My results have been more like Casey1 reported. I don't always wait to have a problem. Mountain bike tires for example get Slimed when first put on. I hae a significant quantiy of slime and its competitors on the shelf and when the weather is better I will be adding some to various of my sets of tires.

Casey, $13 seems a bit steep but I usually buy by the gal for way under $50.

Pat