Slow leaks in tires/deteriorated wheels

[Grebus1]

My wife's '04 wagon has slow leaks in multiple tires. Tire shop couldn't find anything using their tank, and so they took the tires off and inspected the wheels. They said the rims where the tire beads sit are deteriorating and that's why the slow leaks. The area had been sealed with some stuff before and that's what they put on there again, but it's just a temp fix. Has anyone else experienced this on 3 year old wheels? The leaks are worse at the front of the car--when you rotate the tires, the ones that end up in the front are the ones that leak (more weight on the tire?).

[shorod]

Before I got too excited about changing out the wheels or having them re-coated, I'd change out the schreader valves in the valve stems. I've experienced quite a few slow leaks caused by leaky valves. That's a cheap place to start anyway.

-Rod

[Grebus1]

Rod, by schreader valve do you mean the inner core of the valve stem? This is the part that can be unscrewed and removed with one of those little valve core tools?

[97TaurusGuy]

Also, instead of the tire place just putting on a sealer they need to clean the mounting surface. I change tires for a national company, have seen lots of newer cars that have deterioration around the mounting surface. it is normal for alloy wheels. Putting sealer on will be a very temporary fix. All they need to do is remove the tire from the rim, using a wire grinding wheel, carefully grind the mounting surface while the rim is spinning around on the tire changing machine. They need to press gently, not to hard, don't want to create a rough surface neither. After doing this sealer usually isnt necessary but soent hurt anything neither. Also do what Shorod suggested, replace the valve.

When were the tires installed???

[shorod]

Originally Posted by Grebus1

Rod, by schreader valve do you mean the inner core of the valve stem? This is the part that can be unscrewed and removed with one of those little valve core tools?

Yep, that's what I am referring to.

-Rod

[Grebus1]

Thanks for the replies. 97TaurusGuy, I believe the tires are original as they are Continentals and the car only has about 40K on it (we've had it for about 18 months). So the tire shop should have known that this is somewhat of a regular thing and just taken care of it? They didn't charge my wife anything, but the guy who she was dealing with seemed to think that this was unusual. Maybe they were trying to make a wheel sale?

[97TaurusGuy]

Yes, the tire shop should have known that this is a very common problem. It does sound as if they were just trying to make a wheel sale. I have to "clean up" the mounting surface on almost every alloy wheel that I put tires on. Very seldom do I see one that is clean enough just to put the new tire on. I would start by replacing the valves. It is quite easy. What I would do is take it to a well known tire service place. (sam's club and walmart only $5 to repair a tire). They will replace the valve stem and clean mounting surface and seal it usually. They will also usually rebalance it if they take a tire off a rim. Just make sure you tell them what you want done. Good Luck!!