Tyre Woes

Level 2 User Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 57

Last night I pumped my tyre up to 32 psi
I tested the pressure again about 30 mins later and it was down to 30 and left it overnight and its gone down to 28.

So, after some investigation I've establised that it's losing air somehow - they don't call me special for nothing Laughing

The tyre itself looks fine, it's a decent Cooper racing tyre, I'm really worried that my alloy might be bent or something like that?

The style of the alloy is in a way good, as the spokes stick out meaning it's near on impossible to kurb the rim as the middle part of the spoke takes it all.
So there is no damage to the rim.

How hard is it to bend an alloy or basically ruin one?

I've been over a few kerbs and potholes - The car drives fine, I don't know if I'd feel it if it was bent?

I can't see anything in the tyre to cause it to deflate, and the tyre looks to be fully seated on the rim correctly, so I can only think there is a problem with the actual wheel or hopefully valve?

Oh, and should a tyre place be able to look at if for free?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

take the valve cap off, put some spit on it, if it bubbles the valves leaky. Now if the valves old I find wd-40 spraye don then pump the tyre up sorts that out in most cases.

Next if thats not the problem take the wheel off, get a bucket of soapy water and spread it around the rim and tyre, any bubble mean a leak. Chances are its a rim leak.

If it is a rim leak the tyre comes off, the rim gets wires brushed up then rim seal is applied to the wheel then the tyre refitted.

It's doubtfull its ben but if it is it can be straightened depending of course on the bend.

Level 2 User Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 57

Thanks ever so much Chris.
I've chickened out today too bloody wet and crappy out to be working on wheels, for good measure I will however spray some WD40 over the valve and pump it up and check again tommorow.

Thanks again.