So around the middle of September I got a warning on the iDrive from the Flat Tire Monitor. The tires looked okay but I put air in them anyway. I didn't notice if one tire had less air than the others so I thought the FTM was just being sensitive. A month later around the middle of October, I get the warning again. I put more in. Then during the middle of November I got it again. It seems to be happening every month. However, 2 weeks later around Thanksgiving I got the message again. This time the front driver side was noticeably less. A week after that and the front driver side was less again. Just recently it popped up 2 days in a row.

Anyway, I dismounted the wheel and checked for leaks and punctures in the bathtub. I didn't see any punctures, but noticed that air was leaking along the side of the rim. Although there are mild scratches in that area, the rim didn't look bent. The tire itself looked fine and no bubbles on it.


Here's a pic. Notice the 2 bubbles on the left and right side of the pic showing the leak.



Is this a simple issue of just have the tire re-mounted and to make sure they put more of that stuff in the rim to seal it? The leak started real slow from monthly, bi-weekly, then eventually everyday so I don't think it's a bent rim issue and more like a seal going out issue. I could be wrong. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

Try reseating the tire bead on the rim, with sufficient lubrication.

 

The stuff they put on the rim is lubricant only, it is not a seal, that is down pressure of the yre on the rim.

As has been pointed out, it is possible that it has not been properly seated and a re-fit might work.

 

Would that require a tire dismount?

 

No dismount, they do not need to take the tire off the rim. They can use the bead breaker and free up the edge of the tire and lube it and refill with air. They can make sure the surface is clean between the bead and the rim to get a tight seal.

I've never been a fan of any of those hose sticky gooey fix it sealants.

 

Is the rim chromed? I see this happen on chrome rims often where the chrome has deterioration and peeling at the seal.

 

Sometimes putting about 45psi in then deflating to desired psi can fix it.

 

^Happend to one of my rims.

go to a local tire shop might cost you 5-10 bucks. They will clean it off and reseal it. Mine did not need any bead sealer, but it wouldn't hurt to apply it..

 

Polished aluminum, not chromed. Regarding the bead, what if I let all the air out and push and pull on the tire along the side, then put air back in? Would that work? Or, would that mess up the bead sealer?

Sorry, I have to admit that I don't know anything about the bead sealer thing. Is that applied outside the tire as it gets inflated the first time or inside?

 

Tires are too vital to your safety, take no risks, let the shop do it properly.