Anyone fix a very slow leak with a tire spoon?

[rjs987]

Just replaced the rear tire on my Vulcan S. Put on a Bridgestone Battlax T33 160/60R17. When I was done and added air to 40 psi. Then noticed a very slow leak right at the joint between the bead and rim. The soap/water solution that was remaining was bubbling very slowly. I pushed a tire spoon under the rim and pried just enough to move the rubber and then let it set back and the bubbling stopped. Watched it for a while and it seems to have resolved. Will see what the psi is tomorrow.

Anyone else fix a bead leak like this or will it still be a problem? What are the chances that it was just a rubber flashing causing the leak and when I moved the bead it cleared?

 

[rjs987]

It was already inflated. But I was considering deflating all the way and reinflating again. Either way, I would have used a spoon to push the bead away and let it go back on the rim.

 

[TerryS]

I haven't had to do what you describe, but in my experience it is rare for a tyre to seal to the rim perfectly immediately. Most tyres that I have mounted have lost a few psi in the first 24 hours after installation, but then settle down to "normal" sealed behaviour for the rest of their natural lives. I have become much more anal about cleanliness of the bead sealing surface on the rim and give that a careful scrub down to remove any old debris, and also use ample lube to help the bead glide into its new home.

To answer your question, I doubt that you have a problem now that the bead is happily settled.