Wheels/Tyres: Leaky wheels

[morsing]

Hi,

What can you do about a leaky wheels? I had a set of Virgos refurbished, wasn't cheap, about 5-6 years ago, but now one leaks very, very slowly and another leaks enough it needs pumping up every 5-6 days.
Is there a way to find out why and even fix it? Or is it time for "new" wheels, bearing in mind any set of Virgos will be old?

Thanks

[Clifford Pope]

Obvious question - are you certain it is the actual wheel leaking, rather than the seal between the tyre and the wheel?

Alloy wheels can become porous with age. I believe there is special paint to apply to the inside of the wheel, but I'd have thought an ordinary aluminium etch primer followed by standard paint would work just as well.

[Dippydog]

Spray some water around the entire rim/tyre[easier done with the wheel off and laid flat and you can do the inner rim easier too]and check for bubbles,don't forget to spray round the base of the valve and remove the dust cap and drop a little water around the valve core-it doesn't take much for the core not to seat properly and allow a small leak around it.

[Bob Meadows]

A descent tyre shop should be able to resolve your problem: ~ had a Virgo wheel done recently, a brush applied sealant was applied to the inner rims- been fine since. Bob.

[heckflosse]

common problem on old alloys, especially Landrovers.
X2 with the sealer stuff on the rim, talk to a decent tyre place

[ksmi]

Originally Posted by Dippydog

Spray some water around the entire rim/tyre[easier done with the wheel off and laid flat and you can do the inner rim easier too]and check for bubbles,don't forget to spray round the base of the valve and remove the dust cap and drop a little water around the valve core-it doesn't take much for the core not to seat properly and allow a small leak around it.

+ One, As DD Says. Adding a drop of shampoo helps with the bubbles,wheels off makes it easier,drop them in the bath with 'The Boss'?
Wheel/tire sealer on eBay?


Good hunting, Regards,Keith.
.

[Clifford Pope]

Two different problems being confused here. Tyre/rim sealant seals the interface between the tyre and the rim.
I assumed the OP had already concluded the wheel itself was leaking - ie air seaping through the porous metal, which can happen with age but more rarely.

[morsing]

Hi,

I haven't tried to figure out where the leak it, my moan was rather about spending 400 on wheel refurbishment every 3 years... Plus the hassle of getting it done, not just the money.

All the tyre shops I've ever spoken have always said they can't do anything about leaks...

So, why is a high quality refurbishment fine for a couple of years, then not?

[Clifford Pope]

Sealing round the rim when fitting the tyre is routine - a quick wirebrush and then they slop on that gloopy soapy stuff.
Re-sealing if it develops a slow leak is easy - they just deflate the tyre and push it in from the rim, slop some more stuff on and reflate.

Sealing the wheel itself with appropriate paint ought to be part of a wheel refurbishment surely? Alternately a garage did once fit a tube to a wheel that was persistently leaking.

I'd confirm that the refurbisher did indeed seal the wheels against porosity, and then complain that they didn't do it properly.