nermalgod

So our shop T100 with aluminum rims had slow leaks on all four tires. We've lived with it since this summer, but the clutch in another truck died, so I needed to make this one reliable. The tire place that does our service claims that moisture caused the beads to leak and that this is real common in winter. I feel like they just charged me $80 to put new valve stems in (which is what I suspected) on tires that they installed this past spring.

The recap; new tires in spring, started leaking in summer, claimed moisture causing the beads to leak this winter.

What really caused the tires to leak? I've never heard of this. Any recommendations for prevention? Our shop compressor has a moisture trap on it and the rims do not have corrosion that I can see.

refried

aluminum rims are known to leak at the bead, pull them off the rim and take a wire brush to the rim and that should fix it. Chromed aluminum rims are worse, it's almost impossible to remove the corrosion once it gets under the chrome.

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ozziesironmanoffroad

also have them put bead sealer around the bead. it works well. and.. 80 bucks to put new valve stems in??? theyre only 3.99 a piece!!!

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SEAIRESCUE

Likely corrosion where the tire machine scratches the rim. Aluminum rims are clear anodized to prevent bare metal oxidation until goober scratches them during the install process. That is also where dirty and salty water is captured. Other than the valve stem giving you problems, the rims/tires should be match marked and removed. I would then scotchbrite pad clean the rims at the mounting bead, seal them with a rim/bead sealer and the problem should disappear unless the rims are porous. Most tire shops will dunk the inflated tires in a vat to see where they are leaking before disassembly. That makes logical sense to me.

My $0.02

4Crawler

Check the valve stems for leaks, soapy water works. You can also check the beads that way, lay the tire flat and fill the bead area with soapy water and look for bubbles. Could be porous aluminum in the wheel itself. I once had some brand new alloy wheels that had that problem. At the suggestion of the tire place, put in some tire sealant into the leaking one, sloshed it around and never had another leak.

When I got some new alloy wheels for my Toyota, I took the wheels, cleaned the insides, scuffed them up a little with a pad and then put on 2-3 coats of clear polyurethane around the inside surface. Mounted tires up and no leaks at all.

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TC4RNR

that's the first thing i'd do, but a $3 Tire Valve Stem Recore Tool, tighten up all the cores. the Snap-On one i have costed me $11, i was amazed that the first time i used it to check my tire's cores, all of them were loose. 8 weeks later, 2 of them were loose(just a bit), again.

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traben27

go to discount tire (or america's tire if thats what it is there)...all flat repairs are free and no you don't have to have bought anything from them.

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94 4runner SR5 4x4

travis0077

Hi im curious to know if any of you know the average amount of air pressure psi . on average that every tire and rim setup loses a month from contracting and expanding do to heating and cooling down of the air molecules in a tire? And also the reason most tire places are trying to push nitrogen instead of air?

traben27

There's about a 3psi change for every 10 degree change (+ or -) in the outside temperature (apparently). I'd say check it about once a month and you'll be good. The nitrogen verse air thing is just stupid in my opinion...no idea why.

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94 4runner SR5 4x4

travis0077

no discount tire is not free you have to purchase road hazard with your purchase of tire just like you have to purchase lifetime rotate and balance and if you want them balanced.And even then these places do it only if they are franchised owned or participate. I would know i worked at firestone,discounttire, mcgraw tire and bell tire.

traben27

Uh yeah...I currently work at DTC (and have for over a year). Flat repairs are free for everyone. If it can't be repaired though (hole in sidewall/shoulder, run flat, etc) then the spare's put on or you can buy one. If you bought the tire from DTC and have the road hazard, then the tires replaced for free. Bottom line, flat repairs are free for anyone and everyone.

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94 4runner SR5 4x4

travis0077

That is correct 2 to 3 pounds on average a month . Do to air molecules are smaller than nitrogen so when they heat up and and cool down you lose air pressue. So because nitrogen is cold and it stay's cooler the expanding and contracting are less prevelant and the molecules are larger so it does dissipate as fast. meaning less pressure loss.

travis0077

oohps, meant doesn't

traben27

While that may be true, air is almost 80% nitrogen in the first place, so the dissipation rate is really negligible. A lot of places charge for the nitrogen as well, which is even more ridiculous.

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94 4runner SR5 4x4

travis0077

I agree but going by the test and studies crammed down my troat for the past 6yrs. Also studies from other sources that have no bearing or interest at stake. and nhtsb studies i would have to concur. And there is a difference between compressed air and nitrogen or else people would use air compressors on there race cars instead of nos tanks and refills at 40.00 dollars a pop.

traben27

Nos is nitrous oxide, not nitrogen, they're a lot different.

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94 4runner SR5 4x4

travis0077

so im told it has about 80 percent nitrogen in it. don't know how reliable that source is though.

travis0077

Oh and by the way discount tire company are not all franchised owned and also in grandrapids, Mi they sell nitrogen .

eric-the-red

Tires don't loose pressure because of heating and cooling, they loose pressure because the rubber is slightly porous. Gas molecules are very, very small and can pass through the tire. I've noticed the tires on my 4Runner loose pressure a lot slower than the ones on my wifes car, probably because of the thicker rubber. Oxygen is slightly smaller than nitrogen so it diffuses quicker.