Tires slowly leaking

barkleydave

barkleydave

Well-known member
Last fall I put on 4 new Firestone tires. Replaced tubes with rubber stems and all tubes came with valve stem valves.

All 4 tires tend to leak down in a month from 35# down to around 28#

Since all 4 are going down at about the same rate.... I am guessing it is the valve stem valves. (My spare which was not replaced holds within 2 lbs all year.

Has anyone else ran into this and if so recommendation for a replacement valve would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
Be thankful they didn't blow up when you were trying to air them up. There are lots of threads about junk tubes. Most come from one source.
 
To determine if is the schrader valves replace one [also check for tightness] see if it happens? bobbycoke
 
It's getting cooler here where I live, tire pressure will be lower. Driving will heat them up and raise pressure too.
 
I look for a valve stem valve leak by rubbing somespit across theopening with my finger---if the spit bubble blows up and pops the valve is leaking----if it stays flat--no leak
 
Kurt in NJ said:
I look for a valve stem valve leak by rubbing somespit across theopening with my finger---if the spit bubble blows up and pops the valve is leaking----if it stays flat--no leak
Click to expand...

That is the way I was taught to check them too. I always check them whenever they are installed and if there is a leak.
 
valve stem valves
Click to expand...
I've always heard them called valve cores.

I look for a valve stem valve leak by rubbing somespit across theopening with my finger---if the spit bubble blows up and pops the valve is leaking----if it stays flat--no leak
Click to expand...

X3
 
A few years ago, I bought new Goodyear tires, and all new tubes, and had them installed. After a couple of weeks, just for fun, I checked the pressures.....they were all down a couple of pounds. I suspected the valve cores, so went to the trouble of replacing all of them. Did not help at all. I then knew these were a bad batch of tubes, likely from China. The old tubes were probably 10-15 years old, and I should have kept them. And what is amazing is that all five tires leak almost exactly the same amount over a few weeks. Very disappointing!
 
If you got tires or tubes that leak a small amount of air over some time try putting a few oz. of radiator coolant in them.(Good ol green Prestone,not the eco friendly stuff that dogs can drink or the pre-diluted stuff). Stops the leaks that just permeate through the porous rubber without damage to the rubber (or the rim if tubeless,even aluminum wheels) Sounds kinda odd but it works been, using the trick for years with the paddle tires on our sand cars and tubeless slicks on the drag cars
 
I had a slow leaker I finally replaced. I put some air in the leaker and put it on a shelf in my garage. About a month later it was flat. Upon close inspection I noticed that it had several small splits along the seam of tube, all the way around. I was surprised it held air as well as it did. Made in China. Now resides in the landfill.
 
Two years ago I bought new tires from Lucas Tire. Falling back on my motorcycle days you ALWAYS replace tube and tire at same time. So I also bought their "Best Tubes".. . I had my doubts as they where made in INDIA. To my surprise they have never lost more than a pound.
 
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Many tires and tubes are now made in India. I just bought a set of B.F. Goodrich that are printed on the side BFG -USA made in India. Wayne
 
I recently replaced some old tubes with rubber stems units from Brattons. Been good so far.

Did you make sure the valves were tight ? They probably are, but,,,,,
 
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