Tire Leak
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dragoneggs
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If you can't find the leak with soapy water or windex, then take it to the shop and have them remount the tire. Maybe the rim needs cleaned up or new valve stem. Cheaper than the alternatives IMO.
George2615
Super Member
My wife has the same problem on her Ford Escape. One time she got a nail in the tire. Removed the nail and plugged that. 6 months later both front tires started to lose air pressure. This time I found the valve stem rubber was cracked. I replaced both valve stems. Now they've both started leaking again. This time it's leaking the bead is leaking around the magnesium rims so I have to dismount them, clean the rims and put liquid tire seal on the rims before remounting and balancing. Fortunately I have the tools to do this.
I suspect since your tires have a slow leak they are also leaking around the bead. The soapy water will find it. You may have to look close to see the tiny bubbles.
I suspect since your tires have a slow leak they are also leaking around the bead. The soapy water will find it. You may have to look close to see the tiny bubbles.
Soundguy
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i've had tubes in tons of things.. but nowadays..if it runs on the road.. it's only in trailer tires.. not drive or steering axles..
Soundguy
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i hate mag rims. my wife had a lincoln mark viii and it constantly had metal flaking on the insides of the rims. I couldn't keep enough bead sealer on it to make it worthwhile...
Mendonsy
Veteran Member
Another possibility (although very rare) is that it is actually the wheel that is leaking. Alloy wheels are made by a casting process and can occasionally have a pinhole leak in the casting.
Locating those is difficult. About the only way that works for sure is to submerge the entire wheel and tire in water the trace the bubbles.
Fixing that type of leak isn't actually that hard. A coat of paint or rubberized sealer sprayed on the inside of the wheel will normally do it.
Locating those is difficult. About the only way that works for sure is to submerge the entire wheel and tire in water the trace the bubbles.
Fixing that type of leak isn't actually that hard. A coat of paint or rubberized sealer sprayed on the inside of the wheel will normally do it.
flyerdan
Veteran Member
Not a fix by any means as all the fixes have been outlined above, but I heartily recommend the portable tank. No fun stringing together every air hose you can find and still be three or four feet shy.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I pumped the tire up to 60lbs or so and had it covered in a tub with soapy water and could not find the leak anywhere, treads, bead, or valve stem. The garage did the same thing and couldn't find a leak either. I put on a different value stem cap the other day just to try. I'll check the pressure again this weekend.
Remounting the tire is probably a good idea. The last time I got tires the garage (sears I think) wouldn't replace the valve stems. They said they were something special and they didn't have them. The car is an 08 Suzuki SX4 hatchback, all stock, nothing fancy. The value stem is a silverish piece of metal of some type.
I am leaning toward the portable air tank. I can also use it to fill the tires in my bike and tractor when the kids are asleep and I don't want to wake them with the noise of the air compressor firing up.
I pumped the tire up to 60lbs or so and had it covered in a tub with soapy water and could not find the leak anywhere, treads, bead, or valve stem. The garage did the same thing and couldn't find a leak either. I put on a different value stem cap the other day just to try. I'll check the pressure again this weekend.
Remounting the tire is probably a good idea. The last time I got tires the garage (sears I think) wouldn't replace the valve stems. They said they were something special and they didn't have them. The car is an 08 Suzuki SX4 hatchback, all stock, nothing fancy. The value stem is a silverish piece of metal of some type.
I am leaning toward the portable air tank. I can also use it to fill the tires in my bike and tractor when the kids are asleep and I don't want to wake them with the noise of the air compressor firing up.
LD1
Epic Contributor
Sounds like it has a TPMS on it, which is special valve stems. And possibly dealer only.