If your car’s tyre is losing pressure too frequently, it might be due to a continuous slow leak. A leaking tyre causes the air pressure to escape from car tyres slowly but continuously. Not only does it affect the fuel economy of the car, but it is also dangerous as an imbalance of pressure in all tyres can make the car difficult to handle and control.
Moreover, driving a car with slow leaks in the tyres can lead to extensive damage such as tyre blowouts. Let’s go through the causes, symptoms and fixes of leaking tyres in detail.
Symptoms of a slow leak in tyres
Identifying a slow leak in a tyre is easy. Let’s go through the common symptoms of slow leak in tyres:
Tyres going down frequently
Flat tyres are a common sign of a slow leak. If your car tyres need inflation frequently, there is a slow leak in them. A slow leak can affect both new and used car tyres. Here are some useful flat tyre prevention and maintenance tips.
Tyre pressure drops when parked for short durations
Car tyre loses air, deflates and even gets distorted if parked in one place for a long duration. This usually occurs when the car is parked for months. That said, if the car tyre loses pressure after being parked for just a few days or weeks, there are slow leaks in the tyres of your vehicle.
Low pressure on one tyre
Another indicator of slow leaks in tyres is low pressure on just one of the tyres while others remain filled. If one tyre of your vehicle goes down more regularly than others, there is a slow leak in that tyre.
If this is the case, don’t inflate the tyre, instead have it checked by a service technician to address the underlying issues. Here are some best car tyre inflators for vehicle owners. A leaking tyre can also happen because of a puncture in that tyre, a bent or damaged rim, a defective valve stem, or a nail in the tire, among other reasons. Here are some common reasons why car tyres lose pressure.
What causes slow leaks in tyres?
In addition to inner and outer tyre wear, slow leaks in tyres can happen because of a few factors. Let’s go through the most common causes of a slow leak in car tyres.
Tyre puncture
Common causes of slow leaks in car tyres include a puncture. While punctures can cause tyres to go flat immediately, they can also cause a slow air pressure drop.
For example, a nail in the vehicle tyre will cause a slow leak till the nail is inside the tyre, preventing the air from escaping quickly. This is why it is important to not ignore any puncture in the car tire. Ignoring car tyre punctures caused by nails or screws may result in excessive tyre damage.
Leaks around the wheel rims and tyre beads
If there are no punctures, but the tyres are leaking, check the wheel rims and the tyre beads. There can be slow leaks in tyres around the wheel rim or the tyre bead.
The tyre bead is part of the tyre that attaches to the rim tightly. With the passage of time, the tyre bead can wear off because of its exposure to aggressive agents on the road.
Moreover, tyre rims can bend or get damaged when driving over potholes or hitting a road curb. In case of a slow leak in the car tyre rims, contact a service technician and get it checked.
Damaged valve stems
Another cause of slow leak in tyres is a damaged valve stem. Valve stems are important components of the wheel. They help regulate the air pressure for car tyres. Air pressure is inflated or deflated in the car tyre through valve stems. The valve stem consists of two essential parts – the valve stem core and the valve stem cap.
If you lose the valve stem cap, dirt and debris will cover the valve stems, causing air leaks. The system can also become brittle or corrode with time due to its location and exposure to aggressive agents on the roads. Damaged valve stems typically cause slow leaks in tyres. Here is how to fix a damaged tyre valve stem.
Normal wear and tear
There are different types of tyre treads and over time car tyres wear off. As the tyre wears down it can cause slow leaks. Depending on the road conditions, tyre condition and driving style, tyres usually last around 40,000 kilometres and 5 years. If you think the tyres are wearing off before this distance or duration, you can measure the tyre tread depth using a coin.
How to find slow leaks in tyres
There are many ways to identify slow leaks in tyres. We have compiled the most common ways of finding slow leaks in tyres.
Listen to your car tyres
Leaking tyres emit a hissing sound. The larger the leak, the louder the hissing sound. This means that slow leaks emit small sounds. That is why you will have to listen closely to hear the hissing sound from car tyres. Move your hand on the tyre to feel a hole or puncture in the tyre. If you feel one, it is the reason for the slow leaks in the tyre.
Using soapy water
Another effective method to find slow leaks in car tyres is by using the soapy water method. Mix soap detergent in water and spray it on the tyre’s suspected surface. First, pour the soapy water on the valve stem then proceed to the other areas including the tyre sidewalls, the centre treads, and the tyre beads.
The soapy water starts bubbling on leaking areas. That said, the degree of the bubble and when it’ll start depends on the leaks. Detergent water poured over a tiny leak will take time to start bubbling, and the bubbles will be small.
Use Water
Another way to determine slow leaks in car tyres is by submerging them in a water drum. Once you put the car tyre in the drum, the leaking areas start to bubble. Do not bring out the tyre once you spot a leaking area. Let the tyre sit in the water for a few seconds. The tyre could be leaking from multiple places.
What to do if there is a slow leak in car tyres?
After identifying the causes of the slowly leaking tyres, the problem must be fixed. If the reason behind a slow leak in tyres is a puncture, remove the screw or nail and fix the flat tyre with a puncture repair kit.
Moreover, if the slow leak is caused by a defective valve stem, have it replaced by a professional tyre technician. Sometimes, the entire tyre may need a replacement.
If the cause behind the slow leak in the tyre is the tyre bead, apply a slow tyre leak sealant on the edges of the tyre and the rim. This seals the tyre and wheel rims properly to prevent slow leaks.
That said, if the tyre is leaking because of a damaged or bent rim, have a tyre service mechanic diagnose the problem and advise a solution. Sometimes the solution is a rim replacement. The technician may also reseat the car tyre and apply a tyre leak sealer to plug the leaky tyre.
Lastly, if the leak occurred because of normal tyre wear, replace them. If you are looking to replace damaged car tyres, here is a list of used wheels in the UAE.
That is all about slow leaks in tyres, the causes, symptoms and solutions.
Tyre maintenance is necessary for road safety and fuel economy. Therefore, when buying a used car in the UAE, always check the tyre’s condition.
Stay tuned to dubizzle’s top auto blog for more on tyre DIY solutions, tyre repairs and more.
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