1. Hello Guest. You have limited privileges and you can't "SEARCH" the forums. Please "Log In" or "Sign Up" for additional functionality. Click HERE to proceed.

Tires slowly lose air.

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by Jake750, Aug 2, 2022.

  1. Jake750

    Jake750 Member

    Messages:
    126
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Detroit
    So I had new tires put on last by a local bike dealership. Both the front and back slowly lose pressure. After about two weeks they are around 10 psi low. After a month they are nearly flat. They appear to be losing pressure at a similar rate. I cant hear them leaking and there's nothing noticeably wrong with them. They also lose pressure whether the bike is up on the the center stand or not.

    Any advice would be appreciated.

    Thanks fellas.
     
  2. Franz

    Franz Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    3,646
    Likes Received:
    1,037
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Scotland UK.
    Corrosion on the alloy where the bead seats or faulty valves? Unusual for both to be affected though.
     
    faffi likes this.
  3. Jake750

    Jake750 Member

    Messages:
    126
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Detroit
    Yay. What are my options and where should I start?
     
  4. Jake750

    Jake750 Member

    Messages:
    126
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Detroit
    How can the valve be leaking if I keep the caps on?
     
  5. Kickaha

    Kickaha Active Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    729
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    New Zealand
    Take it back to the dealership and get them to fix it
     
    Franz and jayrodoh like this.
  6. faffi

    faffi Active Member

    Messages:
    104
    Likes Received:
    59
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Norway
    Your issues are either as Franz described, or you have a leak around the valve stems, alternatively through the valve cores themselves. Either way, your dealer did a poor job IMO - they should either have informed you that you needed to clean the beads on the rims or offer to clean them (for a fee, perhaps, although it doesn't take long). Perhaps they are willing to rectify it free of charge if you ask nicely?

    But first I would learn where the issues are. Mix a little soapy water (like you are doing the dishes, or blowing bubbles), pump the tires to about 20 PSI, then use a brush to smear the mixture around the beads, where tire meed rim. If you see bubbles, you know the result is dirty - or possibly scored - beads inside the rims. Also, just to make sure, brush around the valve stems where they meet the rims, and remove the valve caps and put a tiny dab on top of the stems as well. Again, look for bubbles. Remember to blow out the water from the valves before refitting the caps, and wipe off all soapy water from the wheels.
     
    Jake750 and k-moe like this.
  7. faffi

    faffi Active Member

    Messages:
    104
    Likes Received:
    59
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Norway
    Because not all caps are full air tight as it is not their primary task - it is to protect the valve cores from the elements. Secondary task is to slow a leaky valve core, and to prevent substantial loss of pressure at very high speeds, speeds that can force the valve core to open.
     
    Franz and Jake750 like this.
  8. Jake750

    Jake750 Member

    Messages:
    126
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Detroit
    Kickaha, is it realistic they would do anything? I paid for a tire change almost a year ago.
     
  9. Franz

    Franz Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    3,646
    Likes Received:
    1,037
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Scotland UK.
    I think air can still escape even with the caps on.
     
  10. jayrodoh

    jayrodoh YimYam Premium Member

    Messages:
    2,522
    Likes Received:
    1,102
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Cleveland
    After almost a year I highly doubt they would. If is started right after they replaced then you would have a case.

    As previously mentioned the caps are to keep debris out of the valve core, not to keep air in.

    You need to get some soapy water and see where it is leaking from. Loose valve core can leak, easy to tighten with the correct tool. Rim leaks will require removing tire and cleaning up rim, re-seating the tire.
     
    k-moe and Jake750 like this.
  11. Jake750

    Jake750 Member

    Messages:
    126
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Detroit
    What's the tool I need? Anyone know of a pervious thread with some info on how to tighten a loose valve?
     
  12. Franz

    Franz Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    3,646
    Likes Received:
    1,037
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Scotland UK.
    Has anyone tried overinflating tyres slightly to try and seal the bead? Might work then reduce pressure to the correct pressure before riding bike.
     
  13. faffi

    faffi Active Member

    Messages:
    104
    Likes Received:
    59
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Norway
    I have done that, often it is enough to go to anywhere between 35 and 40 PSI to get a decent seal, which you can usually run fine on unless you are out to grind away footpegs in the twisties. However, I prefer to take the tire off and clean the beads these days, marking the tire/rim so I can refit without having to balance the wheel again (although I will verify before putting back in bike).
     
    Franz and k-moe like this.
  14. faffi

    faffi Active Member

    Messages:
    104
    Likes Received:
    59
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Norway
    Many valve caps incorporate the tool you need
    [​IMG]
     
    cgutz likes this.
  15. Huntchuks

    Huntchuks Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    951
    Likes Received:
    395
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    East Rochester, NY
  16. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

    Messages:
    19,613
    Likes Received:
    6,703
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The City of Seven Hills
    The same tool is used on bicycle tires. Same exact valve core too.
     
  17. Oblivion

    Oblivion Active Member

    Messages:
    737
    Likes Received:
    93
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Northeast Illinois
    Before you go cranking the valve cores down, did you hit the tires with soapy water yet to find out where the leak is?
     
    jayrodoh likes this.
  18. 50gary

    50gary Active Member

    Messages:
    343
    Likes Received:
    128
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Saginaw, Mi. USA
    Your aluminum wheels could be porous It's not uncommon really My Toyota wheels were that way.
    I had them blasted and powdered coated, and that solved the problem.
    Cheers, 50gary
     
  19. Jake750

    Jake750 Member

    Messages:
    126
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Detroit
    Oblivion, I am going to do the soapy water test tonight.

    Gary, I hope you are wrong because that sounds like quite the hassle.

    I am also going to try over inflating to 40 psi because why not.

    Thanks, guys!
     
  20. Kickaha

    Kickaha Active Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    729
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    New Zealand
    No it is not, but you didn't mention that it had been that long in the original post

    What bike and are the wheels marked tubeless ?
     
    k-moe likes this.

Share This Page