Anyone fix a very slow leak with a tire spoon?

rjs987

rjs987

Robert
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Joined
Sep 25, 2009
Messages
1,093
Age
71
Location
West Des Moines, IA
Bike
2024 Kaw Vulcan S
2026 Miles
007457
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?
 
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.
 
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.
 
Deflate the tire.
Push it or even ride it "some". How much will vary with how tight the bead is.
Add air and see if it seals up.

I always used a generic tire lube-sealer that I bought from a tractor supply type store. It dries to a thin film like silicon sealer and was easy to remove when I replaced the tire next time. I always cleaned the wheel real good before a new tire went on.
 
W0QNX said:
I always cleaned the wheel real good before a new tire went on.
Click to expand...
A small cordless angle-grinder (Bosch) with a non-abrasive nylon wheel/brush...
then a wipe-down (+ visual inspection of the wheel)...
then the generic tire lube...

And as mentioned above, does a tire need a few warm<>cold circles to set fully...
 
I've had a few leaks like this caused by the tire molding whiskers getting caught in the bead. I always cut them off if they are in the bead area with a razorblade.
 
I did notice a whisker on the bead... what I call rubber flashing. I didn't cut it off since the tire was almost mounted on the rim when I noticed.
 
You got me thinking - I searched all over Google and every reference to these little whiskers were listed as Vent Spews. I searched for Vent Sprues and the molding channels for casting and molding came up but nothing about tires. More useless info to fill my brain!
 
I finally checked the tire pressure again... 2 days later. 20*F warmer today than when I first put air in. Started 2 days ago at 58*F at 40 psi. Today at 78*F it was at 40.5 psi using the same tire gauge being careful not to loose air while putting the gauge on the stem.
I think what I did fixed any leaks.
 
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