A slow tire leak is more than just a nuisance. A leak can lead to low tire pressure. Not to mention, prolonged running on an underinflated tire can lead to more extensive tire damage or even cause a dangerous blowout.
If you’re experiencing a slow leak, here are some things to look for:A tire puncture: It is a common misconception that a puncture will cause the tire to immediately go flat. However, in many cases the object that caused the puncture remains lodged in the tire and prevents the air from leaking out quickly. As with all tire leaks, it is important not to ignore a puncture. Eventually to object will either wear down and/or work its way out of the tire. For more on this read our article How to Repair a Tire with a Safe, Permanent Fix.
Wheel damage: Another common cause for slow tire leaks is damage to the area where the tire bead meets the rim. This type of damage is typically cause by the driver hitting the curb, taking a speed bump at high speeds OR those dreaded potholes! The impact deforms the wheel’s metal surface which may cause the tire to pull away from the mounting surface of the wheel.
Valve stem damage: The third most common cause for slow tire leaks is worn out or damaged valve stems. Time, use and exposure to elements can cause your valve stems to wear out and cause leaks.
Diagnosing your tire leak:
If your vehicle is equipped with TPMS, you will know right away if you have a leak. If the sensor light on your dashboard goes off, you inflate all the tires back to proper pressure and the light goes back on a few days later – you likely have a leak. If your vehicle does not have TPMS, its important to check your tire pressure regularly.
Once you’ve identified that you have a leak, use TECH Chek to locate the source of your leak. Simply spray the product all around the tire.
Where the surface of the tire begins to bubble is likely the source of your leak.
It’s important to have your tire diagnosed by a professionally trained tire shop or mobile tire repair service as soon as possible. In the case of a puncture, you may want to use a tire repair kit to keep your tire properly inflated until you can have it serviced. The leak should then be permanently fixed using a proper tire repair consisting of a cured rubber stem and repair unit.
If the leak is caused by a damaged valve, a trained tire technician can typically replace the valve at a minimal cost. In some cases, however, the tire may need replaced.
If the leak is caused by a damaged wheel, a tire technician may be able to reseat and seal the tire using a bead sealer. However, if the damage to the wheel is significant, unfortunately that means you may need to replace the wheel itself.
To read more about the types of damage that can and cannot be repaired, click here!
So, you have a flat tire or one that’s leaking air.
It’s not the end of the world. Luckily there are safe and cost-effective ways to properly repair most tire punctures. The purpose of this article is to show you the difference between a safe, permanent repair and a temporary string, plug or patch repair.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) and the Tire Industry Association (TIA), the only method to properly repair a tire puncture is to fill the injury with a repair stem and back the stem with a repair patch. This is commonly known as a combination repair or a patch/plug repair.
Patch/plug repairs are most often performed using a one-piece repair unit that combines the repair stem and cap (or patch) into one unit. However, special circumstances may require the use of a two-piece combination repair (ex. If the angle of the puncture exceeds 35 degrees). The repair is then permanently bonded to the inside of tire and through the injury channel using a cold, chemical vulcanizing process. The repair essentially becomes part of the tire, creating an air-tight seal that keeps air in and moisture and contaminants out (more on this procedure below).
Emergency roadside plug repairs are NOT intended to be a permanent tire repair. Plugs and string repairs are designed to get you back up and rolling long enough to get home or to the nearest service center to perform a proper tire repair.
The common misconception with plug and string repairs is that because they hold air, they are safe to use. While it is true that many plug repairs do a great job of keeping air in the tire, that’s only part of the equation. Because they’re not completely sealing the injury, plug repairs may allow air and moisture to penetrate the body of the tire. Over time, this could lead to a dangerous (or even deadly) blowout.
A Patch-Only Tire Repair Leaves Your Tire Susceptible to DamageA tire repair that uses only a patch is also NOT considered proper or safe. A properly installed patch will do a great job of allowing the tire to hold air. However, similarly to the plug-only repair, the patch does not fill the injury channel.
Therefore, air and moisture could seep into the tire from the tread surface and eventually damage the tire.
Only a proper patch/plug repair completely seals the puncture from inside the tire and through the entire injury channel. There are a few extra steps necessary to perform a proper tire repair in accordance with industry guidelines. We’ve developed a simple acronym to help organize and remember the steps: R.E.P.A.I.R.
First, the injury is drilled out using a carbide cutter to strip away and damaged cords or belts. Next, the inner liner is cleaned and buffed to a slightly rough texture. This also helps maximize adhesion of the patch/plug repair.There are a number of factors that may determine whether or not your tire is safe to repair.
These factors fall into three main categories:
The occasional flat or leaky tire is an unavoidable part of life. But, taking shortcuts to repair it can be dangerous to you and your passengers.
Take the time and do the research to do the job right and/or find a reputable tire repair shop trained in proper tire repair procedure.
Most of the cars are equipped with wheels without a tube, which maintain pressure in the tire during a puncture.
They guarantee safe driving even when flat, and with little damage they can hold their shape for several days. Despite their practicality, you should immediately look for the causes of wheel leaks. If you do not repair a punctured car tire in advance or do not fix warped alloy wheels, the operation of the car will lead to an emergency.
Since even tubeless tires flatten for no apparent reason, you need to carefully inspect the car and the condition of the wheels in order to detect a malfunction in advance. This will help to avoid a number of problems during the trip.
Driving with flat tires adversely affects the performance of the machine. The vehicle has poor traction, the steering wheel pulls to the side with a bad tire, acceleration and braking are deteriorating. If the tires of the car are slowly deflated, this leads to increased fuel consumption.
To understand the problem, let's examine the reasons for which it releases air:
Unlike a puncture, it is less common. During operation, the sidewall is often damaged. Since this part is thinner than the tread, it is easily cut when hitting a bump. This can happen when the disc gets into a deep hole, in case of hitting a curb. With a small cut, the air is bled slowly, with a large gap, the wheel quickly loses its shape. In case of severe deformation, repair is often impossible. 
Since a faulty nipple deflates silently, only specialists will be able to detect the problem. During repair, you need to disassemble the wheel. This will provide the necessary access to glue the place where the nipple fits on the cast disk. It is often difficult to find the reason why the air in the wheel slowly bleeds. Even the masters can not always immediately detect a malfunction. You can find the problem yourself in the following way - pump over 1-2 atmosphere and listen to see if air comes out. If no sound is heard, then the wheel is wetted in a soapy solution and lowered into water. The area where air will begin to bubble will be the puncture site.
In cases where the wheel bleeds air on the car, but does not deflate when it is removed, it is necessary to disassemble and wipe the inside of the tire. In the presence of sharp objects, the fabric will catch on, indicating the puncture site.
Detect the causes of rubber puncture near the nipple, on the rim of the alloy wheel or in the tread using indirect causes: ;
If the tire on the car began to slowly deflate as a result of a side cut, then such a repair is not easy even for masters. Unlike a tread puncture, the area near the rim of an alloy wheel is softer and thinner. This does not allow you to put a patch or install a harness. Even after removing the cause, the damaged wheel will slowly bleed under load. Also, repairing a side puncture is dangerous because it affects the durability of the tire. Therefore, with a strong side cut, it is better to change the wheel to a new one.
In the event that a tread puncture is the cause of air bleeding, the tire can be easily repaired. It is important that in this case the rim of the cast disk is not damaged, and the hole size is no more than 4-5 mm. If a larger object hits, it will not be possible to repair the wheel on your own, so you need to sign up for a service station. If the tire on the car descends slowly, and the puncture diameter is several millimeters, a rubber band, glue and an awl will be needed for repair.
If the tire bead does not seal against the rim, the defect in the cast rim must be repaired first. There are many reasons why a dent appeared on the surface - due to falling into a hole at speed, upon contact with the curb. If you do not align the disk, the tire will slowly deflate, it may depressurize when driving a car. Dents are "rolled" in the service. You can fix the breakdown on your own on the road with the help of a heavy object - sometimes it is enough to hit the rim with a hammer to stop lowering. However, this is a temporary option.
If the rim is OK and the wheel continues to bleed, the problem may be in the spool. On the road, such a “puncture” can be corrected by pressing hard on the nipple. In case of deformation of the nipple, contact the specialists, as it needs to be changed.
Since the wheel itself may be the reason why the wheel began to deflate, let's look at the problem in more detail.
The rim is damaged when hitting a curb, due to old age or improper storage, which affects the tightness of its fit to the tire. Deformation of a cast wheel is also possible due to poor-quality alloy.
In case of advanced corrosion or mechanical damage to the rim, the disc is repaired or replaced with a new one. It is forbidden to pour sealant inside. It won't fix the rim problem, but it will definitely ruin the tire.
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Tires Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 SUV
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Winter Drive protection
Tires Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 SUV
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Tires Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ SUV
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Tires Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV
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There are many reasons why a tire deflates.
First of all, punctures occur due to foreign objects that are found on the roads - screws, metal fragments, glass and other debris. Breakage can occur due to a rim that has fallen into a hole, which cracks and begins to bleed air. Tires can also be damaged due to a malfunctioning suspension of the car, which increases the load on the rubber.
Having studied the reasons why flat tires, let's summarize. In order not to create an emergency during the trip, you need to check the discs for wear, measure the pressure regularly. If you find a defect, contact a specialist. For repairs in extreme conditions, we recommend having a set of harnesses, keys and a jack in the trunk, it is worth putting a full-fledged spare tire.
Photo https://www.roadandtrack.com
, and the specialist in tire fitting did not find visible punctures, cuts or other damage to the rubber. What could be the reason for the depressurization of the wheel in this case, and how to determine it, the AvtoVzglyad portal figured out.
Ivan Flyagin
The vast majority of modern cars are equipped with tubeless tires, which allow maintaining pressure in the wheel for some time with a slight puncture. That is why, unlike tires with a chamber, which, if damaged, can instantly go down or even burst at high speed, such rubber is considered the safest.
Most often, tires are blown out due to a puncture or a side cut, but sometimes the driver does not find visual damage on them, and in order to determine the cause of depressurization, he turns to the tire shop. Even if it happens on a trip, far from home in an unfamiliar area, it is still better to replace a flat tire and not hesitate to diagnose and repair it. The use of various tire sealants in this case will give a temporary effect. But, first of all, it is necessary to establish the cause of tire depressurization.
What does the specialist do in this case? To begin with, he usually pumps the wheel 1-1.5 atmospheres and tries to catch by ear where the air comes out. If there is no result, then most likely, he will moisten the surface of the tire with plenty of soapy water and determine the location of the damage by the emerging air bubbles.
But even this sometimes does not help, and then the wheelmaker will dip the entire wheel into a tank of water. Alas, even in this case, there may be no bubbles, since it happens that the removed wheel holds air, and if you install it on the car, it lets it through. This is mainly due to an object stuck in it - a self-tapping screw, a nail, a piece of wire. One effective way to solve the problem in such a situation is to disassemble the wheel and run a rag over the inside of the tire. If the rubber caught some sharp object, then it will definitely stick out from the inside, and the rag will catch on to it anyway.
If the master has not been able to find damage to the rubber, then the wheel can be lowered only in two cases - due to a malfunction of the disk, or due to depressurization of the spool (nipple).
