OT: bead leaks

tomturkey · Aug 10, 2021

Grandsons car with aluminum rims has habitually low tires from very slow but consistant bead leaks. Whats the solution? I know it is at the bead as I have taken them off and put soapy water around the rim. thanks for your help. gobble

workstinks · Aug 10, 2021

The mechanic I utilize removes the tire, wire brushes the rim, remounts the tire and puts grease on the tire bead.
This requires rebalancing. Never had a problem after that

504 · Aug 10, 2021

Dismount the tires and remove the stems. Power wire brush and clean the rim beads. You need to clean off the plastic coating and the corrosion. The coating is what causes the problem,bare aluminum wheels don't cause near as many bead leaks. Now the big step, find and buy a can of Tec brand Bead Seal Also roll up some sandpaper and polish the stem hole too. One thing to remember with bead sealer is every time you break down a bead you must reapply the sealer. Also you can buy cheaper sealer,there is a reason why it is cheaper,it doesn't work half as good as Tec. 504, former tire shop foreman.

Bret4207 · Aug 10, 2021

(quoted from post at 19:17:16 08/10/21) Dismount the tires and remove the stems. Power wire brush and clean the rim beads. You need to clean off the plastic coating and the corrosion. The coating is what causes the problem,bare aluminum wheels don't cause near as many bead leaks. Now the big step, find and buy a can of Tec brand Bead Seal Also roll up some sandpaper and polish the stem hole too. One thing to remember with bead sealer is every time you break down a bead you must reapply the sealer. Also you can buy cheaper sealer,there is a reason why it is cheaper,it doesn't work half as good as Tec. 504, former tire shop foreman.

Bingo. Listen to the man!

Geo-TH,In · Aug 10, 2021

I've seen the tire store in Sullivan put a black caulk on the beads of new tires on aluminum rims. Ask tire stores what they use.

I use silicone caulk on a lawn mower tire. It worked on rusty rims. Then I had to take tire to tire store to replace valve stem. The silicone dried and acted like glue. I couldn't break the bead.

Goose · Aug 10, 2021

I have a large can of bead sealer I use.

It's kind of like black rubber cement with a brush built into the cap.

I just break the bead and put a coat of that around the bead of the tire. Works great.

Any auto supply store should have it with their tire repair supplies.

Tracy Brown · Aug 10, 2021

Hobo,NC · Aug 10, 2021

(quoted from post at 03:57:53 08/11/21) Grandsons car with aluminum rims has habitually low tires from very slow but consistant bead leaks. Whats the solution? I know it is at the bead as I have taken them off and put soapy water around the rim. thanks for your help. gobble

You have to wire wheel them clean. I use bead sealer just because it makes me feel good. I believe and its been discussed to death on professional forums bead seal will not stop the corrosion from coming back... Its just a feel good deal.

cjunrau · Aug 10, 2021

I use oil when seating beads and have NO issues anymore. The oil softens the rubber

caterpillar guy · Aug 10, 2021

The bead sealer is the ticket. We keep a can around for that. I also use it when putting in stems to seal them too. Murphy mounting compound will work pretty good too. Key is a clean shinny rim bead surface.

Christopher S. · Aug 11, 2021

My wife's car has chrome clad aluminum wheels and it has the same leaking issue. The best we've been able to do is wire wheel the bead area and use alot of bead sealer. She can get about 9 months before it becomes an every day task of putting air back in. We've just kept repeating the wire wheel / bead sealer process when the leak gets to bad. A few years ago I asked the same question you have on this forum and someone suggested regular silicone (like in a caulking gun). I've never tried it though.

BarnyardEngineering · Aug 11, 2021

All the cleaning in the world won't do you any good if the rim is pitted. The only thing that helps is bead sealant and even that isn't 100%.

OT: bead leaks

tomturkey

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workstinks

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504

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Bret4207

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Geo-TH,In

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Goose

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Tracy Brown

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Hobo,NC

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cjunrau

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caterpillar guy

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Christopher S.

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BarnyardEngineering

Well-known Member

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