Frustrating leak

[Chris142]

The LR tire on my girlfriends truck leaks. It goes from 36psi to 10 psi in 2 weeks.

I have removed it from the truck and soaped it down, wiggled the valve stem,checked the rim inside and out and beads for the leak with no luck.

Shes at Americas tire now and they can't find it either.

Frustrating!!!!!!!!

 

[abycat]

ya didnt say you put a new stem and seal in it. I would get them to switch the two rims that the two same axle tires are on and if it does it with the different rim you know its the tire.

 

[Rand]

What vehicle(year)

if it was here in ohio.. I'd say rim corrosion or dirt, bad valve stem, lose valve core, pinhole in tire somewhere.

losing about 2lb a day isnt too much but should be detectable.

 

[exranger06]

I had that problem before. I always thought it was leaking from the bead, until one day I was putting air in it on a rainy day and noticed tiny bubbles coming from the tread area. It was a pinhole leak in tire, not the bead or valve stem.

 

[Kestas]

It's been discussed before:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1855388

Losing a pound a day is findable using soap water and overpressurizing the tire. Just have some patience.

 

[rpn453]

I've had small leaks I couldn't find with soapy water. Filling the tub and submerging the tire has always worked though.

 

[Rand]

best way is fill something submerge and have non agitated water with soap in it.

if not possible try to gently pour soapy water on tire

use bucket with warm water and dawn soap.. do not agitate it.. keep the bubbles to a minimum.

 

[CapriRacer]

You may want to consider that the air is leaking out THROUGH the wheel! Yes, the WHEEL! It's been known to happen!

 

[chainblu]

It's also possible that it may not leak until the weight of the car is on it. This would make it very hard to locate.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: CapriRacer
You may want to consider that the air is leaking out THROUGH the wheel! Yes, the WHEEL! It's been known to happen!
I checked for cracks with soapy water and 70 psi in the tire last week. I have a tank that we dunk radiators in so I dunked the tire and wheel. Nothin. Grrrrr.

 

[Vikas]

Originally Posted By: chainblu
It's also possible that it may not leak until the weight of the car is on it. This would make it very hard to locate.


This sounds plausible but I think that is not correct. The pressure in the tire remains the same whether it is on the car or not. Any comments? Even I think it is counter intuitive!

 

[Chris142]

The tire does change shape as it rolls so having weight on it may be an idea. I have heard a tire with a leak roll by going shhhhshhhshhhshhh as it drove by.

 

[Colt45ws]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
The tire does change shape as it rolls so having weight on it may be an idea. I have heard a tire with a leak roll by going shhhhshhhshhhshhh as it drove by.

Yupyupyup.

 

[Papa Bear]

I've seen stems leak when the tire is turning and not leak when it is sitting still. Centrifugal force will push it outward and let the stem leak if it's compromised. . Wiggle your stems while you have the soap on them.

 

[ahoier]

Or just change out the stem + core, for "safe measures" - it may just fix it