slow leak tire/rim?

[DBithell]

have '08, stock bfg rugged trails, aluminum stock rims, 40k miles



have one tire that looses approximately 8 lbs/month



can't help but wonder if there is a defect in the rim and not the tire

has anyone else had a similar problem (not explained by nails or dented rims & such)?



suppose will have to get it checked out, very minor problem as far as the history on this truck



Thanks.

 

[TLane]

I've had a valve stem leak, once or twice in my lifetime. Pull the cap off, check it with some spit, see if it blows bubbles. It is possible to have a defective rim. But most of mine have been a nail, sometimes very hard to find. The only good solution is to pull it off and dunk it in a tank of water and look for the bubbles.

 

[TulsaOkie]

such a slow leak sounds just like a valve stem...

 

[DBithell]

thx for replies, thought of the valve stem idea after I posted message. suppose better get it fixed asap. thought I'd ask on the board as just remember a popular mechanics issue about aluminum rims possibly having micro cracks in them - if manufacturer didn't heat the liquid aluminum enough during forging or something like that to save on their costs suppose - hope it's just the stem.

 

[ELamprecht]

I have the same problem but i have the factory steel rims.

When i go out on my hunting lease a always seem to have

a low tire warning come up. It does not occur when in town.

I believe it has to be in the rim to bead joint. I have bfg. I am

running them til the thread goes then i am going to mitchelins.

I ran them on my last truck and never had problems.

Each set lasted about 75,000 miles and 4 flats in 12 years.

 

[mwilson]

If you have the TPMS system on your truck it could be a crack in the valve stem.

I removed the same tire on my 2008 Town and Country 3 times trying to find the stupid slow leak, twice at a tire repair facility and once at the dealers. No one could find the leak. Broke it down, checked it inside and out, soaked it in a tank of water, no bubbles... .

Went out one Saturday afternoon to blow it up yet again and as soon as I put the valve chuck on it the valve stem snapped off right at the height of the nut.

Tire went flat instantly, I swore a blue streak for a good five minutes because nothing is open in town until Monday morning and my odds of finding the correct valve stem/ TPMS module within a 60 mile radius were poor to say the least. Rimmed it over in front of the garage so I could take it off and deal with it at work Monday.

Upon closer investigation I found the crack had been there at least halfway around the valve stem for quite some time judging from the corrosion in the crack.



Moral of the story... . Check the valve stem closely, they are made from a white metal type material and will crack. On the bright side, they are only $40. 00 bucks or so, way cheaper than the system that GM uses. Ours are made by Siemens in case anyone wants to know.

 

[DBithell]

got fixed yesterday $18; service mgr didn't know how they fixed it, 1st told me metal something in tire, then changed that story to no puncture was aluminum to tire bead seal - "aluminum notorious for oxidations", said it was dunked... . etc as the guy that fixed it had gone home



get the tire inspect it myself and low & behold a shinny new stem



as long as the old '08 don't need a shinny new turbo it's all good