If you have ever had a tire on your vehicle that keeps losing air, you know how frustrating it can be to find the tire flat over and over again. Sometimes the leak is so slow that it is hard to find, but there is something you can do about it. 

Dangers of a Slow Leak

If you have a tire that is regularly leaking air, but you can't seem to figure out where the hole in the tire is, you may find yourself adding air to the tire every few days. While this might work for a while, eventually, the leak is going to become a problem and grow to a size that either damages the tire beyond repair of will no longer hold air at all. 

A slow leak might not seem like a big deal, but if the tire is leaking because of a flaw in the tire, damage to the tire, or damage to the wheel the tire is on, the tire may eventually fail while you are driving. A failure at any speed can cause an accident, and you or someone else could get hurt as a result of the crash.

If you have a reoccurring slow leak, take the vehicle into a tire shop and have a tech check the tire and wheel for you. 

Tire Repair

A tire that is leaking slowly over a couple of days, most likely has a pinhole, a nail in the tread, or is not properly seated on the wheel. All of these conditions are repairable, but you need a tech to look at the tire and determine where the leak is.  

Pinholes or a nail in the tread are simple to find. The tire is inflated, and the tech can use a water tank to submerge the tire. Air bubbles will appear where the tire is leaking, and the tire tech can mark the hole then look closely at the tire once it is out of the tank. 

A patch can be put on the inside of the tire to stop the leak in most cases.  For bigger holes, a plug is inserted where a nail or screw was in the tread. A plug only works in the tread of the tire, so if the hole is in the sidewall, the tire will need replaced. 

Dirty or Rusting Wheels

Another common cause of slow leaks with car tires is dirty or rust under the bead of the tire. The wheel often has rust or corrosion building up where the tire seats and the seal between the tire bead and the wheel start to let air seep by. The solution is for the tire tech at your local shop to take the tire off the wheel and clean it, then reassemble them. 

For more information, contact companies like Evans Tire & Service Centers.