Losing tyre pressure

The place to "speak geek"
User avatar
jimbo
Posts: 755
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2011 6:48 pm
Location: bucksburn, aberdeen

Losing tyre pressure

Post by jimbo » Wed Nov 07, 2012 4:06 pm

Clark Motorsport noticed that my tyre pressures were seriously low, and I only checked them myself a couple of weeks back.

The rear was down EXTREMELY low :shock:

There was nothing wrong with the tyres, no nails or whatever stuck in them, so not sure why this would be. Answers on a postcard

Thanks

James
S1 Elise 111s

User avatar
Dominic
Posts: 14446
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:14 am
Location: Milton Of Campsie
Contact:

Re: Losing tyre pressure

Post by Dominic » Wed Nov 07, 2012 4:15 pm

Faulty valve? Leak in the wheel - crack somewhere?.. or bad seal from tyre to wheel.
http://www.dsaccountancy.com

1999 Lotus Elise Sport 135'99

User avatar
Rich H
Posts: 9314
Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:11 pm
Location: Preston

Re: Losing tyre pressure

Post by Rich H » Wed Nov 07, 2012 4:18 pm

Corrosion on the tyre sealing area?
1994 Lotus Esprit S4 - Work in progress
1980 Porsche 924 Turbo - Funky Interior Spec
2004 Smart Roadster Coupe - Hers

User avatar
jimbo
Posts: 755
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2011 6:48 pm
Location: bucksburn, aberdeen

Re: Losing tyre pressure

Post by jimbo » Wed Nov 07, 2012 4:34 pm

Anywhere in Aberdeen I can take it to have this checked?
S1 Elise 111s

User avatar
Shug
Posts: 13835
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2005 8:28 pm
Location: Deepest, Darkest Ayrshire

Re: Losing tyre pressure

Post by Shug » Wed Nov 07, 2012 4:40 pm

Most tyre places will have a big tub of water - fully inflate, push underwater and look for bubbles (obviously, wheel off car :)) Fairly foolproof method. Needs to be a really slow puncture not to show anything if you weight it and leave it there for 10 minutes while the kettle boils for a brew.
2010 Honda VFR1200F
1990 Honda VFR400 NC30
2000 Honda VTR1000 SP1
2000 Kawasaki ZX-7R

User avatar
vet111s
Posts: 577
Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 3:19 pm
Location: North Glasgow

Re: Losing tyre pressure

Post by vet111s » Wed Nov 07, 2012 5:07 pm

Have heard of some alloys becoming porous over time. Might be difficult to pinpoint this though.
I'd agree, rule out obvious leak first.

Ali

User avatar
meatball
Posts: 5043
Joined: Sun Dec 31, 2006 9:50 pm
Location: LOST!

Re: Losing tyre pressure

Post by meatball » Wed Nov 07, 2012 5:49 pm

I agree with Rich...corrosion.

User avatar
j2 lot
Posts: 7660
Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:47 pm
Location: Strathaven / Glasgow

Re: Losing tyre pressure

Post by j2 lot » Wed Nov 07, 2012 6:14 pm

+1.
We had the same problem with the winter hack & ended up getting wheels refurbished as its less hassle and risk than going to blow the tyres up every other day. Been spot on ever since.

N.B. if you listen to various experts you should be checking your tyres at leat once a week preferably daily :shock:
2015 Lotus Evora
2022 Polestar 2 LRSM Plus
2023 Skoda Kodiaq Sportline

User avatar
Rag_It
Posts: 4286
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 2:43 pm
Location: Perth/Fife

Re: Losing tyre pressure

Post by Rag_It » Wed Nov 07, 2012 8:06 pm

Yeah Audi has the same problem, corroded alloys.

Car is going in next week to the Wheel Specialist in Dyce. www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk

Dave :thumbsup

User avatar
r10crw
Posts: 1966
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:14 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire

Re: Losing tyre pressure

Post by r10crw » Wed Nov 07, 2012 8:09 pm

10% fairy and the rest water in your standard squirty mr muscle container and spray the wheel/tyre. You should be able to see even the the smallest leaks from the foamy bubbles.
Hairdresser at heart.

User avatar
jimbo
Posts: 755
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2011 6:48 pm
Location: bucksburn, aberdeen

RE: Losing tyre pressure

Post by jimbo » Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:18 pm

Cheers guys, will try that fairy test first, then potentially contact that wheel specialist (once I save some more pennies!)

Sent from my TITAN X310e using Board Express
S1 Elise 111s

cla5h
Posts: 1073
Joined: Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:39 am

Re: Losing tyre pressure

Post by cla5h » Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:27 pm

Just had to get one of the fronts on the Elise re-sealed as there was a slight leak from the inner edge due to corrosion (paint blistering and flaking off from that area.)

My bath was very dirty after I'd tracked down the spot it was leaking from - using a little soapy water outdoors wasn't revealing anything.

User avatar
Dominic
Posts: 14446
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:14 am
Location: Milton Of Campsie
Contact:

Re: Losing tyre pressure

Post by Dominic » Thu Nov 08, 2012 10:38 am

RAMTOP_ERROR wrote:
My bath was very dirty after I'd tracked down the spot it was leaking from .
But your wheel & tyre were very clean! :thumbsup
http://www.dsaccountancy.com

1999 Lotus Elise Sport 135'99

User avatar
Stevie
Posts: 26
Joined: Thu Apr 22, 2010 9:50 pm
Location: North of Glasgow

Re: Losing tyre pressure

Post by Stevie » Tue Nov 13, 2012 10:00 pm

I run with ULTRASEAL (liquid tyre sealant) in my tyres. Have done for years. I would suggest given a try.

User avatar
Rag_It
Posts: 4286
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 2:43 pm
Location: Perth/Fife

Re: Losing tyre pressure

Post by Rag_It » Tue Nov 13, 2012 10:46 pm

The Wheel Specialist in ABZ has proved to be awesome.... Willie was fantastic, the missus picked up the car and they appear to have done an awesome job!!

Post Reply