Can cleaning tires possibly cause leakage issues?

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stephent007

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I'm not sure if this is standard everywhere but where I live when installing tires onto a wheel the tire shop rubs some kind of grease or oil on the tire before filling the tire with air (to create a seal I believe). Recently I had to have my wheels "re-oiled" as two of them were losing pressure quickly (noticeable after two weeks). I clean my tires once or twice a month with apc and a brush, does anyone know if this is a potential avenue for causing this problem?

Also this is an excellent forum, I've been following the forum for some time now but this is my first time posting.
 
I have never heard of this and i have mounted hundreds of tires. What is rubbed on the tire is just a waterbased lubricant to allow the tire to slip over the wheel easier. The shape of the bead on the tire and rim is what seals it. I'm wondering if you have a defect in your tires.
 
Welcome to Auto Geek. :iagree:with post #2. Cleaning your tires is not causing the slow leak. I recently had the same problem with one of my tires. Took it to two different places and it still leaked. Little less then a lb. a day. Was at Walmart and bought this stop leak thing in a green and black can for 6 bucks. Guess what, it stoped the leak.
stephent007 said:
I'm not sure if this is standard everywhere but where I live when installing tires onto a wheel the tire shop rubs some kind of grease or oil on the tire before filling the tire with air (to create a seal I believe). Recently I had to have my wheels "re-oiled" as two of them were losing pressure quickly (noticeable after two weeks). I clean my tires once or twice a month with apc and a brush, does anyone know if this is a potential avenue for causing this problem?

Also this is an excellent forum, I've been following the forum for some time now but this is my first time posting.
Click to expand...
 
I have never heard of such myself. I would think more tire to rim seal, Possible rubber build up on the rim or rust (if steel rim). We use a paste on tire installs.
 
Its beadseal they put on there. And yes your cleaners will leak into the bead and eat it away over time. That is what they are designed to do.
 
heck said:
I have never heard of such myself. I would think more tire to rim seal, Possible rubber build up on the rim or rust (if steel rim). We use a paste on tire installs.
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Good point, I don't know how I forgot all about dirty rims, I used to have to clean them all the time.
 
I can't even remember how i came up with this theory, but it was something to think about. I was told by the guy at the tire shop that this occurs fairly often and that the solution was re-oiling. I just assumed that the reason for the oil was for the seal. I had the re-oiling done two weeks ago and the wheels don't appear to have lost any air since. I think dirt/rubber/rust between the rim and the tire sounds most plausible. Thanks for all the replies.
 
Jacob Perry said:
Its beadseal they put on there. And yes your cleaners will leak into the bead and eat it away over time. That is what they are designed to do.
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No offense intended as I know that this is sound advice - but just thinking that Jeff is saying this(and not Jacob Perry)- ROFL. Have a good day.
 
Yup, it's a lube, not any sort fo glue or anything.

I've seen chrome peel where the bead sits, or aluminum oxidize, just enough to compromise the seal and leak slowly.
 
I work at a tire shop as well. When installing tires, a lube is used (either paste or gel) to allow the tire to slide over the rim easier for installation. There are cases where wheels that are excessively dirty or corroded can cause the bead not to seat well. That is when bead sealer is used, which is more like a liquid rubber that creates a bond between the tire and the wheel, filling any gaps that might cause air loss and prevent tire slippage. Sometimes a tire or rim might be just slightly out of round and that also might cause loss of air.

Sometimes, its ofter overlooked, but the valve itself might be leaking, either the core or the actual valve.

There are also cases where teeny tiny pinholes are in the tire. There are obviously hard to detect, even when the tire is dunked under water.

Lastly, I do not recommend using a stop leak, or fix a flat or anything that injects a liquid or chemical into a tire, especially on newer cars equipped with TMPS sensors.
 
Rsurfer said:
Welcome to Auto Geek. :iagree:with post #2. Cleaning your tires is not causing the slow leak. I recently had the same problem with one of my tires. Took it to two different places and it still leaked. Little less then a lb. a day. Was at Walmart and bought this stop leak thing in a green and black can for 6 bucks. Guess what, it stoped the leak.
Click to expand...

It is my understanding you want to be careful using stop leak products if you have a tps (tire pressure sensors). Fix a flat doesn't care if you have a hole or a sensor, it will fix it. ;)

Again, just my understanding of being told not to do it, maybe someone else can chime in and if you don't have a tps system, don't worry about it :D
 
Jaretr1 said:
I work at a tire shop as well. When installing tires, a lube is used (either paste or gel) to allow the tire to slide over the rim easier for installation. There are cases where wheels that are excessively dirty or corroded can cause the bead not to seat well. That is when bead sealer is used, which is more like a liquid rubber that creates a bond between the tire and the wheel, filling any gaps that might cause air loss and prevent tire slippage. Sometimes a tire or rim might be just slightly out of round and that also might cause loss of air.

Sometimes, its ofter overlooked, but the valve itself might be leaking, either the core or the actual valve.

There are also cases where teeny tiny pinholes are in the tire. There are obviously hard to detect, even when the tire is dunked under water.

Lastly, I do not recommend using a stop leak, or fix a flat or anything that injects a liquid or chemical into a tire, especially on newer cars equipped with TMPS sensors.
Click to expand...
Good advise on not using fix a flat. It's used to get you home, or specifically to a tire center for repair or replacement. If you have to use the stuff, make sure you drive it immediately so that the stuff doesn't set up in one spot causing an out of balance problem.
 
Jaretr1 said:
I work at a tire shop as well. When installing tires, a lube is used (either paste or gel) to allow the tire to slide over the rim easier for installation. There are cases where wheels that are excessively dirty or corroded can cause the bead not to seat well. That is when bead sealer is used, which is more like a liquid rubber that creates a bond between the tire and the wheel, filling any gaps that might cause air loss and prevent tire slippage. Sometimes a tire or rim might be just slightly out of round and that also might cause loss of air.

Sometimes, its ofter overlooked, but the valve itself might be leaking, either the core or the actual valve.

There are also cases where teeny tiny pinholes are in the tire. There are obviously hard to detect, even when the tire is dunked under water.

Lastly, I do not recommend using a stop leak, or fix a flat or anything that injects a liquid or chemical into a tire, especially on newer cars equipped with TMPS sensors.
Click to expand...


Good to know, i forgot to mention i had all the valves reset and the cores replaced as well, i guess it could've been any of the two as well.
 
It's the tire pressure gremlin! lol

Custom wheels sometimes are more prone to leaks around the rim because of corrosion (?). I've never thought about cleaners eating the lubrication. I suppose it's posible, but I would think this would be minimal if the wheel was rinsed right away.
 
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