crazy wheel?

[427]

I have a set of 5 slot Aluminum mags on my truck. The two front ones never go flat,but the two back ones go down every two days. I have checked the valve stems and its not leaking there. Could it be leaking through the aluminum,s pores? Its driving me crazy! Anybody else ever experience this with mags? Thanks,Brian.

[fordman]

they are probably bead leaks. take some dish soap and water mix. in a spray bottle and spray it on the tires and rims and watch for growing bubbles. that will show the leaks. the mix should be more soap than water to give more bubbles. it's best to have the tires of on the ground to do this. that way the soap will sit on the itres and not run off that fast. or if you have a tank of water large enough to drop the whole thing down into that could also show air bubbles coming from the leaks.

[SteveC]

i had to put tire bead sealer on my new to me rims to get one of them to seal

[sideoilerfe]

Are they 16.5's?

[427]

Theyre 15x7. 235-60-15 on front and 255-60-15 on back.

[peanutman]

I read a bulletin at the tire shop a couple of weeks ago about alloy wheel leaking through the pores, so it is possible. They recommended using tire slim-the green stuff, but said follow the directions and use the proper amount. Do not over fill.

[Hawkrod]

For a supected porous rim, the best fix is a coat of paint. It actually does not take much but a good coat of enamel to seal the pores. Don't paint the immediate bead areas but otherwise a couple of coates of just about any enamel will suffice but I prefer an epoxy type appliance paint. Just paint all the way around the inside surface (have to have the tire dismounted) and let it sit for a coupld of days to fully cure. Hawkrod

[427]

Hawkrod I thought about the paint idea and I think you,re right. It sholud fill in the pores and seal the holes. Thanks Brian.

[peanutman]

Why not use the tire slime and then you dont have to dismount your tires Call a tire shop and ask them. May save you some $$$ and work

[Hawkrod]

Tire slime causes other issues and should only be used as a last resort. Over time is causes corrosion of the rim and can also cause balance issues if it dries out. It really is not something you want to use unless you are deperate or do some type of driving where small puncture are a common risk. Hawkrod

[peanutman]

Yea iv'e heard that before.

[AK F100]

For a supected porous rim, the best fix is a coat of paint. It actually does not take much but a good coat of enamel to seal the pores. Don't paint the immediate bead areas but otherwise a couple of coates of just about any enamel will suffice but I prefer an epoxy type appliance paint. Just paint all the way around the inside surface (have to have the tire dismounted) and let it sit for a coupld of days to fully cure. Hawkrod

This is the correct way. I've got 10 years in the tire & rim service industry and that's the way we use to do it and if I had a problem, that's how I'd fix it. Some of the old wheels made by Eagle Alloy's were painted right from the factory.

Just my .

[Pro-Street/StateTk]

crazy wheel?


This is not about alloy slots, BUT it may help some one! About 20 years ago My wife and I pulled
up at the house and it was ( raining ) and I was unlocking the front door of the house she came
over to me and said the center cap on the back wheel of my 78 ford truck was hissing and bubbling,
and I just laughed and said " Center caps don't (LEAK)" But she insisted that it was leaking!
Well I sat in the house thinking on it, and I thought about the centerline auto drags are
(tWO) PEICE, well the silicone between the front peice and the rear peice was leaking!


P.S. I have ran across this Weld drag lites and a centerline Telstar, it was the Silicone again!
this had nothing to do with (SLOTS)!


Wally Womack