Tyre - massive constant pressure drop? NOOOOOOO!!! (update)

[gordy.r]

I have a 6 month old tyre on the rear (245/40/17 Dunlop Le Mans digi-tyre) that all of a sudden decides it doesn't want to stay inflated???

It is losing about 20psi a day (normally inflated to 32psi) and i have had it at the tyre doctor 2 days running now. They have had it off, given it the water test, new vavle innards, re-sealed the tyre and refitted it all twice now and still it leaks air!!!

They are as stumped as i am about it all, and at 290 bucks for a new piece of rubber with a 500 mile journey looming over my head tomorrow i need to act fast!

Question is though....... has anyone experienced anything similar?

and...... if i don't put the same tyre on the rear as the other (they say it will have to be ordered from Mr D'Lop himself and could take a few days, is it bad to put another brand on the rear to sort me out for just now???

(i am in the process of caontacting Dunlop too, because i am sure this aint right )

cheers forum dudes and dudettes

gordy

[revturbo]

i once had a tiny crack in one of my tyres, and i used to have to keep pumping that up!

if you've found a fault that dunlop dont know about you may find yourself with 4 free tyres!

[gordy.r]

if you've found a fault that dunlop dont know about you may find yourself with 4 free tyres!

Would be nice! But can't see it myself [-o<

So anyone any opinions on the different tyres on the rear situation???

[skinthespin]

Maybe its just not sealing on the rim, are the wheels corroded/damamged at all?

[jonb-]

As skin implied, could be a rim problem.

Who's trying to charge you £300 for a 245/40/17?!?!

[gordy.r]

As skin implied, could be a rim problem.

Who's trying to charge you £300 for a 245/40/17?!?!

Yeah they looked at the rim, but couldn't see any defects.

(sorry not £290 meant to type £190 !!! My bad )

Have had to replace the tyre with the only tyre they had in.....

pirelli pzero

Are these any good??? Was meant to be £170 but got it for £130 fitted etc.

[jonb-]

Yes they are, but you really want to get another on the otherside asap. Different tyres on the same axel isn't ideal.

[gordy.r]

Im now 230 miles into my 500 mile journey with my new tyre on and still having to stop every 60 miles to put air in! Its dropping 18psi in that time! what is wrong with my alloy???

[Lauren]

Im now 230 miles into my 500 mile journey with my new tyre on and still having to stop every 60 miles to put air in! Its dropping 18psi in that time! what is wrong with my alloy???

porous alloy?

[ugli-stix]

Have you checked that 32psi is the correct pressure for your profile tyres? Have you tried putting in slightly more (whilst still keeping it under the tyre maximum)? It might be that its not enough to seal it properly - especially if there's even a slight dent in the rim.

[jonb-]

Im now 230 miles into my 500 mile journey with my new tyre on and still having to stop every 60 miles to put air in! Its dropping 18psi in that time! what is wrong with my alloy???

porous alloy?

I'd go with the above, but having seen your car at bruntingthorpe i'd be extremely surprised, the alloys looked mint.

I assume they re-valved it?

[JeffD]

Trying not to state the obvious bit it must be either the rim,tyre or valve. LOL

Can you get a tyre fitting place to swap the 2 tyres/rims and put new valves in to?

If they both stay up then it may of been valve.

If the same rim/different tyre goes down changes then it sounds like the tyre.

If the same rim still goes down it will be the rim. If its the rim are you sure it isnt buckled in any way? Any corrosion? also if its a split rim with a seal on the inside this may of become damaged and will need professinaly re-sealing.

[raptor95GTS]

the chances of two completely different tyres having the same fault is very rare. I'd guess lauren is bang on with the alloy issue

[Andy Champ]

They have had it off, given it the water test

Let me check I understand this correctly.

They took your wheel and tyre, immersed it in water, and no bubbles came out?

That's a damn funny leak. Either the air is going through a trans-dimensional warp, or it only leaks when the car is moving - or they are so keen to sell you some P-Zeros (pretty good BTW, I had a pair on the back) that they didn't do the test properly.

I'd suggest you find a pond and hold the tyre underwater for a bit. Or stick it in a dustbin or something - but make sure it's fully immersed. Years of pushbikes taught me that air leaks do funny things.

Andy

(ps hosepipe ban doesn't stop you filling a dustbin with water to do this. Nor emptying it on the lawn afterwards...)

[jonb-]

I've solved it. Someone is following you around and letting it down when you're stationary.

[jonno]

My mate had this on some cheap tyres he used on his porsche. It was caused by the tyres not seating on the bead properly, they dont leak when stationary but everytime the wheel rolls over the part that isnt seated very well a small amount of air comes out.

Solution?

Well, he over inflated his to 45psi and left it for the weekend without using it. They were fine after that.

Neil.

[skinthespin]

Thats a fair point, when we fit tyres here we inflate to 60 psi then deflate afterwards.

[gordy.r]

I guess i best post how i discovered it all first....

Ive had the car 5 months now with no problem at all. I left it for 2 days to go visiting friends (which isnt unusual because i leave it upto 4 weeks at a time without driving it sometimes) and when i got back the tyre was flat.
Took it to the garage as mentioned, they could find to fault with the tyre, so i have had it changed. Problem still occurs.

Whether it be driving or stationery it still loses pressure, ive had it upto 40psi and still, it deflates.

I am gonna take it to a alloy wheel specialist today and see what they say.

Just strange why it happened so suddenly???
And why when it is definately losing pressure, can they not find it during the tests???

[gordy.r]

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I took the tyre and alloy today to another garage and they confirmed my worst fears.....

The alloy itself has a fracture on the strong point at the base of one of the spokes.

Guy reckoned it would be unable to be fixed, but why didnt the tyre people i took the tyre to 3 times pick up on this, and upon taking the rim off my car it seems they have also scratched the alloy with their pnematic nut removing tool thingy

Not a happy bunny on all fronts.

Anyone know a supplier of A-TECH alloys wheels in the UK (specifically my alloys)

Or someone who can repair alloys in the Portsmouth area???

thanx

gordy

[raptor95GTS]

can't help but sorry dude. How did a wheel suddenly break when not in use though?