Tire going flat - thoughts?

[MikeG]

I replaced the inner tube on my 82 750 a few weeks ago at Joe Nardy's tire changing event. I thought that would solve my slow leak problem but it apparently hasn't. The valve is good and I can't see any obvious problems on the tire so I am thinking it must be a problem with the rim pinching.

I found a rim in good shape for 10 bucks near me so I think I ma going to go pick that up. When I get the tire off I am going to inspect it closely for any damage. The bad news is I am broke so this will mean at least a couple weeks of no riding for me

Has anyone else run across a situation like this before? Maybe there is something simple I am missing.

[Steve]

My first test is to apply a soapy water solution to the valve stem to see if it's leaking. If the valve stem is OK, start applying soapy water to the rest of the tire to see where the bubble show up. When you find the bubbles, you now have a location in which to concentrate your efforts. Most of the leaks I have had with tubes were loose valve stems.

Did you by chance save the old tube? Inflate it to see where it was leaking. Maybe you have something stuck in the tire that is poking through, into the tube?

.

[pntrdave]

Maybe you have something stuck in the tire that is poking through, into the tube?

My son just had that problem with his 50cc scooter. Got a flat tire pulled the tube and replaced it, The repaired tire was flat next morning, he forgot to check the tire to see what had caused the original flat. Small screw thru tread and just barely sticking into inside of tire was just enough to puncture new tube and allow a slow leak.

[81ZUKI75]

Phantom Leakers

Got a flat tire pulled the tube and replaced it, The repaired tire was flat next morning, he forgot to check the tire to see what had caused the original flat. Small screw thru tread and just barely sticking into inside of tire was just enough to puncture new tube and allow a slow leak.

I had a similar issue myself years ago..

The SECOND time I broke the tire down I found an spot on the tube that was rubbed through . Close inspection of the inside of the tire revealed a small pin or wire that I had missed the first time. It would lay flat against the carcass but put just enough pressure on the tube to rub a leak in it.

[mike_of_bbg]

Grab a wad of cotton the next time you take the tire off, run it around the inside of the tire, and see if it snags on anything.

[chef1366]

I use baby powder on the inside of the tire. This keeps the tube from pinching.
In my experience slow leaks mostly come from the valves.

[yaddy]

Here's one that got me on my yz426 a couple of years back.
The tyre would keep going flat, would take around 2 to 3 days to go down fully. When i checked the valve, it was ok, when i checked the tube, that seemed ok too! I eventually realised (after a couple of weeks and 3 tyre removals! ), the problem was the rubber seal inside my stainless dust cap. The tube itself was sound, but when i screwed the cap on after each check of the tyre etc, it would depress the valve slightly and cause it to leak! DOHHHHHHHHH, shame on me!

[exdirtbiker]

+1 on everything above.
Have mutiple experiences with the same problem on MTB bicycle...
thorns SUCK !!!!
a squirt bottle of Windex.. or any "soap" will help you find the source.
and I LOVE my Motion Pro levers... 20 years old, and worth 10 times more than they cost !

[Zooks]

If it's going flat... it's probably because the air is getting out somewhere.



sorry, couldn't resist.

[Marine36]

Sure it not the other one swelling up.

Seriously +2 on all the above.

[yaddy]

Is it flat all the way around, or just at the bottom?

[mighty13d]

if the tire is going flat (becoming square), it must have been made in Canada!


(obscure South Park reference)

[pntrdave]

Tire going flat - thoughts?

Hmmm.... add air

[tejasmud]

Y'all are crazy......

Sorry, the "air must be gettin out" comment was too much...


Really,

Have it checked, or find the leak and fix.

I don't do tires.

Spent 2.5 months in the hospital because of friggin tires.

My own fault, but I still ride.

With good tires though..

[themess]

If you're using a tube, sealing between the wheel and the tire isn't your problem. If soapy water doesn't show a problem at the valve stem, the problem is somewhere else in the tube. Remove it, marking it's orientation. When you find the leak in the tube, you need to find where that spot has been touching the tire or the rim so that you can fix whatever caused the leak. Chalk can work. Some office stores sell ballpoint pens with silver ink, which stands out on black rubber. It's my favorite way to mark rubber temporarily.

Put the partially inflated tube in a laundry tub of soapy water and look for bubbles. If the leak is fast, you should be able to find it by listening and looking. Mark the spot, and go back to the rim and tire and hunt until you find the problem. If you don't find anything, it is possible that the problem is a small rock or wire that is loose. You could also have the bad luck to have bought two bad tubes.