Flat Tire

[catprotector]

Today, I brought my car into Discount Tire and had air put in all my tires. All of them were in very good shape. I was able to drive my car fine with no problems. Tonight, I saw that one of my tires was completely flat. I didn't have any kind of a blow out because when I parked the car in it's normal spot it was fine. How can a tire go flat in a matter of hours? Even if it had a nail in it, I'd still have enough air at least to drive it over to the tire shop in the morning.

[moon03]

Tires can go flat because the air gets out a cut where the tread meets the road or even on the sidewall and can open when the tire sets on that part and be closed when rolling or set on the top inflating to proper pressure is not the cause of the tire going flat but that may have caused a cut to open more and cause the air to excape. I had a 65 Mustang with Michlen tires in the late 60's early 70's and after about 8 years still had 75% thead wear left but sidewalls wouldn't hold air, weather checked after 90,000 miles on 40,000 mile tires replaced all 4 but only left side tires leaked, was told I could put radial tubes in them and keep going there are options but they start after you find out why the air got out.
just want you to know flats happen and reasons very.

[catprotector]

Originally Posted by moon03

Tires can go flat because the air gets out a cut where the tread meets the road or even on the sidewall and can open when the tire sets on that part and be closed when rolling or set on the top inflating to proper pressure is not the cause of the tire going flat but that may have caused a cut to open more and cause the air to excape. I had a 65 Mustang with Michlen tires in the late 60's early 70's and after about 8 years still had 75% thead wear left but sidewalls wouldn't hold air, weather checked after 90,000 miles on 40,000 mile tires replaced all 4 but only left side tires leaked, was told I could put radial tubes in them and keep going there are options but they start after you find out why the air got out.
just want you to know flats happen and reasons very.

They checked my tires today and told me they were in good shape. Why after 7 hours would one of them suddenly go flat? When I parked my car everything was fine.

[jsgold]

In my opinion the culprit is a leaky valve stem. we just went through this ourselves on my son's car. Most of the time the old ones are left in the rim and they can start leaking after the pressure is taken off them while the tire is changed, then when air is put in they don't seal right. Maybe even a simple case where a little dust gets in there. In our case the stem was leaking and would not seal so the tire dealer replaced it n/c. Try this... take the cap off the tire taht went flat and put a little water on it and see if you get bubbles. If you do take it back and ask them to replace the stem. Should have anyway in my opinion. Other than that maybe they did not seal the tire properly, maybe the rim had some rust on it, or maybe a bent spot on it. They should have noticed these things though. Keep an eye on this tire, check pressure in it for a while if you get no bubbles... to be sure..

[catprotector]

Originally Posted by jsgold

In my opinion the culprit is a leaky valve stem. we just went through this ourselves on my son's car. Most of the time the old ones are left in the rim and they can start leaking after the pressure is taken off them while the tire is changed, then when air is put in they don't seal right. Maybe even a simple case where a little dust gets in there. In our case the stem was leaking and would not seal so the tire dealer replaced it n/c. Try this... take the cap off the tire taht went flat and put a little water on it and see if you get bubbles. If you do take it back and ask them to replace the stem. Should have anyway in my opinion. Other than that maybe they did not seal the tire properly, maybe the rim had some rust on it, or maybe a bent spot on it. They should have noticed these things though. Keep an eye on this tire, check pressure in it for a while if you get no bubbles... to be sure..

You were close. I took my car in this morning and it turns out that it was the valve core. They said sometimes when they check the air or tire pressure the thing gets stuck and the air comes out. They fixed it and I'm road worthy now.

[jsgold]

Yes, that is what I was refering to. The valve stem can leak from it's base or, as in my son's case the valve itself. I did not put it as such but that is what it is, a stem with a valve in it. They should be replaced every tire change but a lot do not do it or will charge a lot for a cheap item. My son's valve started leaking right away after the change even though it never did before. Aren't cars wonderful? LOL. Good to see it is fixed.

[catprotector]

Originally Posted by jsgold

Yes, that is what I was refering to. The valve stem can leak from it's base or, as in my son's case the valve itself. I did not put it as such but that is what it is, a stem with a valve in it. They should be replaced every tire change but a lot do not do it or will charge a lot for a cheap item. My son's valve started leaking right away after the change even though it never did before. Aren't cars wonderful? LOL. Good to see it is fixed.

Thanks.