Tyre slow puncture, remedy?

cerastes

As mentioned,
One of the tyres on the car has been deflating slowly, its getting a bit tedious having to stop off at a nearby garage to top it up.

Initially it was going slowly, then recently it went flat in a day, I pumped it up by a battery charged compressor, noisy and slow, but I needed to give it something before I drove on it.

I brought it to a tyre repair place and they could not find a leak on it anywhere and could only suggest replacing the tyre, overall its in too good condition to replace, and has plenty of tread. I dont want to have to replace the other side too. I was there when they checked it but could see nothing myself.

Is there anything I can put in the tyre that will spread around/not affect balance too much which will help seal the tyre? Along the lines of, put car on jack, deflate tyre, remove valve, spray in magic gunk, replace valve and reinflate, bring for a spin to spread magic gunk, problem fixed???

Kenny Logins

You might need to have the rim cleaned and the tyre put back on.

biko

Double check the valve itself as they can go wonky and start slowly deflating tyre, then get worse and deflate quickly.
Tyre places will replace valve for a tenner or so.
Ask them to clean and sand the alloy inside before putting new valve in.

cerastes

biko wrote: »

Double check the valve itself as they can go wonky and start slowly deflating tyre, then get worse and deflate quickly.
Tyre places will replace valve for a tenner or so.
Ask them to clean and sand the alloy inside before putting new valve in.

It was going to be a tenner to repair, told me it'd be an extra fiver for the valve, which I took to be the valve and the tube it is in.

I was going to replace the valve myself originally until it went more rapidly so I assumed it was a slow puncture gotten worse and when it was checked it'd be clear where there was a hole, but they couldn't find anything.

If that doesnt work, I'll get someone to remove the tyre, replace the stub of rubber in the alloy with the valve and clean it as suggested before re-fitting the tyre.

Thanks

enricoh

Dab a bit of washing up liquid around the valve and if not that whip the wheel off put 50 pressure in it and brush washing up liquid on the tyre.
Throw water on it and you should see bubbles and hear hissing. Have a good look where tyre meets rim, it might need a bit of bead sealant- a tenner in most places

Jesus.

cerastes wrote: »

I brought it to a tyre repair place and they could not find a leak on it anywhere and could only suggest replacing the tyre

Surprise surprise :rolleyes:

johndaman66

Jesus. wrote: »

Surprise surprise :rolleyes:

Probably Advance Pitstop

Jesus.

johndaman66 wrote: »

Probably Advance Pitstop

You said it bro

cerastes

enricoh wrote: »

Dab a bit of washing up liquid around the valve and if not that whip the wheel off put 50 pressure in it and brush washing up liquid on the tyre.
Throw water on it and you should see bubbles and hear hissing. Have a good look where tyre meets rim, it might need a bit of bead sealant- a tenner in most places

A sealant specifically for tyres, that tyre fitters use? or something I could pick up in the motor factors? Wouldnt the tyre have to come off for that?

johndaman66 wrote: »

Probably Advance Pitstop

It wasn't the above, but they didn't ask for the money, nor did I offer it though as they couldn't fix the leak. I'm a bit suprised myself that no obvious leak was found. They seemed ok, it was a small operation.
I was wondering when they offered a replacement tyre, but that was after they said they could fit the replacement valve, but without a sign of a leak, it seemed like a bit of a waste of money. So maybe re fitting it would have sorted it, no mention of cleaning the alloy rim but possibly they just weren't going to go into exact details.

I'll try the valve and if I can apply above sealant if its possible while tyre is on/its available.

enricoh

I meant going to a tyre place to get them to put on the bead sealant. A tub of the stuff would cost u more n u would have to break down the tyre off the rim- hassle!

Stheno

I'd a similar problem and two tyre places told me they couldn't find anything wrong.

Eventually went to tyreland to get a new tyre, and they checked it out, said there was a leak/puncture in the valve and sorted it out for me, haven't had any problems since.

Can't fault them, they forwent the sale of a tyre for a ten euro repair, and put plenty of time into checking it too.

cerastes

Stheno wrote: »

I'd a similar problem and two tyre places told me they couldn't find anything wrong.

Eventually went to tyreland to get a new tyre, and they checked it out, said there was a leak/puncture in the valve and sorted it out for me, haven't had any problems since.

Can't fault them, they forwent the sale of a tyre for a ten euro repair, and put plenty of time into checking it too.

Just checked to see where they are, will be heading past one of their branches tomorrow, so thats convenient, I've been checking before first journey each day to see if it looks low, and Im usually topping it up, it was lasting a few days but in the last week its daily. I'll check tyre tomorrow, inflate it if need be, which I assume it will as half the pressure is dropping off usually and drop into them.

cheers

Stheno

cerastes wrote: »

Just checked to see where they are, will be heading past one of their branches tomorrow, so thats convenient, I've been checking before first journey each day to see if it looks low, and Im usually topping it up, it was lasting a few days but in the last week its daily. I'll check tyre tomorrow, inflate it if need be, which I assume it will as half the pressure is dropping off usually and drop into them.

cheers

Glad to help, I was being driven demented with this tyre and the pressure on it, and like you was checking it almost daily.

Couldn't believe it when the staff in tyreland found the issue, and that tyre has been trouble free since.

They also talked me out of buying another tyre from them on the basis that I'd three very good tyres, swapped them around so I'd the same pattern on the front and back two and I ended up paying for a valve repair and one part worn tyre when I went in expecting to pay for three part worn tyres.

Very very impressed with the service there, this was in the Swords/Airport branch, and it was the young lady on reception who did most of the work, can't speak highly enough of her.

dh0011

OP you could fill the bath tub and put the tyre in.

cerastes

dh0011 wrote: »

OP you could fill the bath tub and put the tyre in.

Probably, but if I was caught there'd be hell to pay. Really, even I wouldn't do that
At this stage, I'll let someone deal with it for a tenner, I hope.

Stheno wrote: »

Glad to help, I was being driven demented with this tyre and the pressure on it, and like you was checking it almost daily.

Couldn't believe it when the staff in tyreland found the issue, and that tyre has been trouble free since.

They also talked me out of buying another tyre from them on the basis that I'd three very good tyres, swapped them around so I'd the same pattern on the front and back two and I ended up paying for a valve repair and one part worn tyre when I went in expecting to pay for three part worn tyres.

Very very impressed with the service there, this was in the Swords/Airport branch, and it was the young lady on reception who did most of the work, can't speak highly enough of her.

Thats the branch, I'll be passing,
The daily checking is getting silly, at one point I thought someone was deflating the tyre, I really should have sotred it by now, or changed onto the spare. I didnt want to change one tyre for the same reason, wanted the same across the front and back two.

wonski

cerastes wrote: »

I brought it to a tyre repair place and they could not find a leak on it anywhere and could only suggest replacing the tyre, overall its in too good condition to replace, and has plenty of tread. I dont want to have to replace the other side too. I was there when they checked it but could see nothing myself.

What kind of place was it???
There is either a faulty valve or a puncture. Or a damage maybe? Either way they should be able to tell what the reason to replace the tire is. If they can't - go elsewhere. A tenner should do. Some of the garages in Ireland make it all so complicated, when it isn't really...

franer1970

Last time I had a slow puncture I took the wheel off and submerged it in a child's paddling pool - best way I reckon to check for tiny leaks (Can you tell I'm more of a cyclist than car driver?!).
It was good to know the exact cause of the leak before going to the tyre place, so they couldn't rip me off with the new-tyre-needed BS.

visual

dh0011 wrote: »

OP you could fill the bath tub and put the tyre in.

Thats something I would do and suffer the nagging

yop

Mine were at the same thing on the last car, each time it was a frickin small crack in the alloy!

dh0011

OP if the bathtub isnt an option then maybe you have something like a big plastic box you can fill with water in the back yard?

vibe666

dh0011 wrote: »

OP if the bathtub isnt an option then maybe you have something like a big plastic box you can fill with water in the back yard?

or just use the bath with a tarp or other plastic sheeting in the bottom of it to protect it, just to keep the missus happy.

cerastes

thanks for the suggestions, good idea for a container to check it, but Im looking after the baby so, its not handy to be taking the tyre off and re-fitting the spare and checking for leaks, I would prefer to do that myself.

I'll be passing the place recommended in a few hours so will give that a go.
It'll save me hassle.
I just took a look out the window, and it doesnt appear to have deflated??? usually there is a noticeable deflation, I'll check the pressure on the way.

Kenny Logins

It might only deflate at a certain rotation, which rules out the valve I think...

(I had this - woke to see a flat tyre three mornings in one month, I was convinced it was kids messing, but on closer inspection it turned out to be corrosion on the rim)

brendan1983

check the valve or get a tube put into it a tube should cost you 10 euro

dh0011

Dont put a tube into a tyre which is designed to be tubeless.

brendan1983

dh0011 wrote: »

Dont put a tube into a tyre which is designed to be tubeless.

it will do no harm to put a tube in it ..the only people that will tell you it cant be done is the tyre fitter that is looking to sell you a new tyre ..

dh0011

ah the tube will rub off the inside of the tyre causing friction and can result in a blowout.

brendan1983

dh0011 wrote: »

ah the tube will rub off the inside of the tyre causing friction and can result in a blowout.

i have been in the tyre trade now about 15 years and have yet to see this happen ...as i always tell my workers allways fix a problem before selling a new tyre because a customer will allways come back if they are treated right..

Mar4ix

instead of sinking tyre in bath or kids pool, i use to mix up washing up liquid with water, and with sponge wash the wheel with tyre ... where air is leaking, you'll see bubbles. usually in 90 % of slow punctures in my cars was leaking valve ... even some times cant really see... just after 10 - 20 min, you may see some growing bubbles around valve.

cerastes

yop wrote: »

Mine were at the same thing on the last car, each time it was a frickin small crack in the alloy!

I hope it isn't this,
I checked the pressure before heading off and it was low again
I was passing Tyreland and I went in, they took the tyre off and refitted it as they seemed to point to a small leak at the rim. Unlike the first place there wasn't the suggestion to sell me a tyre but to try fix it instead, although I did price tyres there, It's out of my way but I'd go for tyres when I'm looking for that and I'd well recommend them to anyone else.

If it doesn't stay inflated at this point and it is the rim, then a replacement tyre would probably just do the same. Going by the rate it was deflating up to now, I should know in the morning.

dh0011

would it be worth getting prevent - a - puncture?
Just an idea someone here might know if it is a good one or a bad one