I think my tire is losing air - Revision history

Bokonon at 04:55, 4 July 2009

2009-07-04T04:55:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:55, 4 July 2009
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Category:Tires]]		[[Category:Tires]]
	Tire leaks are usually ~~traced~~ to three different causes:		Tire leaks are usually traceable to three different causes:

	*Foreign object in the tire (nail, glass, etc.)		*Foreign object in the tire (nail, glass, etc.)
Line 6:		Line 6:
	*Tire bead not properly seated.		*Tire bead not properly seated.

	Inspect the tire for anything unusual looking. You're looking for anything that isn't tire colored, and doesn't brush right off. Nail heads can look like rocks, but they don't brush away. If you're in a quiet environment, and the leak is a fast one, listen to the tire as you spin it around to see if you can hear any hissing. If you find a nail and the tire is still holding pressure, DO NOT remove it on the side of the road. Get to somewhere safe like a gas station, then find help. ~~If you have~~ a ~~nail hole in your tire, no shop will patch it for liability reasons. Patching~~ can ~~be done and is safe only if done well, and~~ if the ~~hole is in the middle of the tread. Sidewall holes cannot be safely patched, and the tire must be replaced. It's always safer to replace the tire~~ with ~~a new one than patch it, and~~ this ~~is the recommended action if you're uncertain of what to do~~.		Inspect the tire for anything unusual looking. You're looking for anything that isn't tire colored and doesn't brush right off. Nail heads can look like rocks, but they don't brush away. If you're in a quiet environment, and the leak is a fast one, listen to the tire as you spin it around to see if you can hear any hissing. If you find a nail and the tire is still holding pressure, DO NOT remove it on the side of the road. Get to somewhere safe like a gas station, then find help. You can carry a [[What can I do if I get a flat out on the road?\|plug kit]] with you for this situation.

	~~You~~ can ~~check to see~~ if the ~~valve stem~~ is ~~leaking by mixing dish soap and water about 1:10 (more water than soap), and applying it with a brush or spray bottle around~~ the ~~valve stem, including inside~~ the ~~stem~~. ~~If any bubbles form~~, ~~that's most likely where~~ the ~~leak is. Valves can~~ be ~~tightened with a valve stem core tool, available at any automotive store. They're usually either built into a valve stem cap, or come as a separate tool. This will solve internal valve stem leaks~~. It's ~~unusual, but sometimes a valve stem core may need~~ to ~~be replaced -- these are inexpensive from~~ the ~~automotive store and easily done by anyone who can turn~~ a ~~screwdriver. If~~ it~~'s leaking around~~ the ~~base,~~ you ~~need professional help~~ to ~~get the tire off and a new valve stem installed~~.		If you have a nail hole in your tire, no shop will patch it for liability reasons. Patching can be done and is safe only if done well, and if the hole is in the middle of the tread. Sidewall holes cannot be safely patched, and the tire must be replaced. It's always safer to replace the tire with a new one than patch it, and this is the recommended action if you're uncertain of what to do.

	~~Using~~ the soap ~~mixture from the previous paragraph~~, ~~apply~~ it around the ~~bead of~~ the ~~tire to check for leaks there~~. ~~This is the part~~ where the ~~rubber of the tire meets the metal of the wheel rim~~. ~~Again~~, ~~look for bubbles~~. ~~If you see any~~, ~~the tire needs~~ to be ~~reseated. This is best~~ done by a ~~professional~~, ~~as it requires a way~~ to get the tire ~~bead unseated,~~ and ~~an air compressor to reseat it~~.		You can check to see if the valve stem is leaking by mixing dish soap and water about 1:10 (more water than soap), and applying it with a brush or spray bottle around the valve stem, including inside the stem. If any bubbles form, that's most likely where the leak is. Valves can be tightened with a valve stem core tool, available at any automotive store. They're usually either built into a valve stem cap, or come as a separate tool. This will solve internal valve stem leaks. It's unusual, but sometimes a valve stem core may need to be replaced -- these are inexpensive from the automotive store and easily done by anyone who can turn a screwdriver. If it's leaking around the base, you need to [[Mounting & balancing tires yourself\|get the tire off]] and install a new stem.

	~~Finally~~, ~~if you've got a sufficiently large container, you can fill~~ it ~~with enough water~~ to ~~entirely cover~~ the ~~lowest~~ part of the tire ~~and rim (ie, less than 1/3~~ the ~~total height~~ of the wheel ~~and tire) and run the tire through that~~. ~~Look carefully~~ for ~~a small trail of~~ bubbles~~, and it will lead you right to the leak~~. If you~~'re only losing a couple of PSI a week~~, ~~you probably won't~~ be ~~able to see the leak in a water tank~~.		Using the soap mixture from the previous paragraph, apply it around the bead of the tire to check for leaks there. This is the part where the rubber of the tire meets the metal of the wheel rim. Again, look for bubbles. If you see any, the tire needs to be reseated.

	If you ~~decide~~ to ~~take~~ the tire ~~to a dealership or tire store~~, ~~be sure what~~ the ~~problem is,~~ and that you ~~can show it~~ to the ~~mechanic~~. ~~Otherwise~~ you'~~ll have to pay them~~ to ~~find~~ the leak~~, when you could have found it for free~~.		Finally, if you've got a sufficiently large container, you can fill it with enough water to entirely cover the lowest part of the tire and rim (ie, less than 1/3 the total height of the wheel and tire) and run the tire through that. Look carefully for a small trail of bubbles and it will lead you right to the leak. If you're only losing a couple of PSI a week, you probably won't be able to see the leak in a water tank.

	If you decide to ~~patch your~~ tire ~~instead of replacing it, there's only 1 acceptable patch, and that's~~ a ~~Mushroom style plug/patch that's applied from the inside (ie... the~~ tire ~~has to~~ be ~~removed from~~ the ~~rim.) It's only to be done if the hole~~ is ~~within the center 1/3rd of the tread,~~ and you ~~lose 1 speed rating for each patch. This is in context of~~ the ~~Rear~~. ~~A front tire should not be patched under any circumstances. When patches fail~~, you have ~~a SUDDEN loss of air, very much like a blowout ~ and FAR worse than getting a nail, or any other type of slow~~ leak.		If you decide to take the tire to a dealership or tire store, be sure you know what the problem is and that you can show it to the mechanic. Otherwise, you'll have to pay them to find the leak.

	Bike shops usually won't patch a tire, but normal tire shops ~~will usually~~ fix it for you if you carry in ~~Just~~ the tire.		If you decide to patch your tire instead of replacing it, there's only 1 acceptable patch, and that's a mushroom style plug/patch that's applied from the inside (the tire has to be removed from the rim). It's only to be done if the hole is within the center 1/3rd of the tread, and you lose 1 speed rating for each patch. This is only for the '''rear'''. A '''front''' tire should not be patched under any circumstances. When patches fail, you have a SUDDEN loss of air, very much like a blowout. It's FAR worse than getting a nail, or any other type of slow leak.

			Bike shops usually won't patch a tire, but normal tire shops might fix it for you if you carry in just the tire (off the wheel).

MIK: I think my tire is losing air. moved to I think my tire is losing air

2008-04-26T16:50:51Z

I think my tire is losing air. moved to I think my tire is losing air

← Older revision	Revision as of 12:50, 26 April 2008
(No difference)

Bokonon at 17:47, 28 May 2006

2006-05-28T17:47:51Z

New page

[[Category:Tires]]
Tire leaks are usually traced to three different causes:

*Foreign object in the tire (nail, glass, etc.)
*Valve stem not tight, or leaking
*Tire bead not properly seated.

Inspect the tire for anything unusual looking. You're looking for anything that isn't tire colored, and doesn't brush right off. Nail heads can look like rocks, but they don't brush away. If you're in a quiet environment, and the leak is a fast one, listen to the tire as you spin it around to see if you can hear any hissing. If you find a nail and the tire is still holding pressure, DO NOT remove it on the side of the road. Get to somewhere safe like a gas station, then find help. If you have a nail hole in your tire, no shop will patch it for liability reasons. Patching can be done and is safe only if done well, and if the hole is in the middle of the tread. Sidewall holes cannot be safely patched, and the tire must be replaced. It's always safer to replace the tire with a new one than patch it, and this is the recommended action if you're uncertain of what to do.

You can check to see if the valve stem is leaking by mixing dish soap and water about 1:10 (more water than soap), and applying it with a brush or spray bottle around the valve stem, including inside the stem. If any bubbles form, that's most likely where the leak is. Valves can be tightened with a valve stem core tool, available at any automotive store. They're usually either built into a valve stem cap, or come as a separate tool. This will solve internal valve stem leaks. It's unusual, but sometimes a valve stem core may need to be replaced -- these are inexpensive from the automotive store and easily done by anyone who can turn a screwdriver. If it's leaking around the base, you need professional help to get the tire off and a new valve stem installed.

Using the soap mixture from the previous paragraph, apply it around the bead of the tire to check for leaks there. This is the part where the rubber of the tire meets the metal of the wheel rim. Again, look for bubbles. If you see any, the tire needs to be reseated. This is best done by a professional, as it requires a way to get the tire bead unseated, and an air compressor to reseat it.

Finally, if you've got a sufficiently large container, you can fill it with enough water to entirely cover the lowest part of the tire and rim (ie, less than 1/3 the total height of the wheel and tire) and run the tire through that. Look carefully for a small trail of bubbles, and it will lead you right to the leak. If you're only losing a couple of PSI a week, you probably won't be able to see the leak in a water tank.

If you decide to take the tire to a dealership or tire store, be sure what the problem is, and that you can show it to the mechanic. Otherwise you'll have to pay them to find the leak, when you could have found it for free.

If you decide to patch your tire instead of replacing it, there's only 1 acceptable patch, and that's a Mushroom style plug/patch that's applied from the inside (ie... the tire has to be removed from the rim.) It's only to be done if the hole is within the center 1/3rd of the tread, and you lose 1 speed rating for each patch. This is in context of the Rear. A front tire should not be patched under any circumstances. When patches fail, you have a SUDDEN loss of air, very much like a blowout ~ and FAR worse than getting a nail, or any other type of slow leak.

Bike shops usually won't patch a tire, but normal tire shops will usually fix it for you if you carry in Just the tire.