Repeat slow punctures on same wheel

[dannyboy75]

This is a weird one. I've had my Audi for about 2.5 years now, and in that time have had 3 sets of tyres on it. With every set, after about 4-5 months of usage the front offside tyre develops a slow-ish puncture (would go flat in 3 days if left).

To my mind it can't be the tyres as it's too coincidental that it's happened to 3 different tyres (different make & model each time too as I'm no tyre connoisseur). That only leaves the wheel, but then I would've thought the problem would be there all the time. The only thing I can think is that there's a small rough area somewhere around the inside of the wheel rim, which slowly abrades the tyre until it creates a slow puncture.

Can you guys think of anything else that might be going on here? It's doing my nut in, as it's a pain in the arse having to pump the tyre up every 2-3 days, but I don't want to replace a half-used tyre!

[peterb]

Rough spot seems to be the obvious cause, i the absence of any obvious penetration of the tyre. Only way to find out is to take the rim into a specialist and have a look.

[wasabi]

Personally I'd use one of those 'Goop' type puncture prevention gloops. Will fill in the gap.

[dannyboy75]

Thanks guys. Yeah I was thinking about trying the slime/goop stuff. It's surprisingly difficult to find in shops though, even Halfrauds. Shops only seem to have the temporary repair canisters that also reinflate your wheel. Think I'll have to look online for one of the permanent repair ones.

[stevie lee]

that goopy slime is the bane of my existence (repairing scooter tyres)
if the hole is too big it doesn't work to seal it, if the holes too small it just slimes off to another part of the tyre.
and ive had hours of fun deflating the tyre to get it off the rim, the goop thinking the air coming out the valve is a puncture. oh joy.

and I've just found this from a review of some slime from the internet

Slime also will not seal or repair a leak in a valve stem or a puncture in a sidewall of a tire. Slime works on punctures in the tread portion of the tire, the part that touches the road. For the lady who's husband tried to fix a valve stem leak this would not work because of physics (the force of the rotating tire kept the Slime along the outer part of the tire and not by the valve stem

from http://autorepair.about.com/od/produ...re-Sealant.htm


I can only think you've dinged/kerbed/potholed your tyre at some point and damaged the rim. take it to a tyre specialist like peterb says.

[Dareos]

it may mean that the alloy needs a good cleaning, Kwik Fit didnt do it properly for me, had the same problem twice, local garage cleaned the alloy and its been fine since.

[wasabi]

that goopy slime is the bane of my existence (repairing scooter tyres)
if the hole is too big it doesn't work to seal it,

Tubed tyres though - completely different kettle of fish.

I've used various goops for years on large tubeless-tyred motorbikes and highly rate it.

[stevie lee]

a goopy kettle of fish?

I see your point though.

still don't like the stuff mind you. especially since when checking for a puncture in a tube, the tube suddenly had a release of pressure as it split down the seam.
and its not fun cleaning it all off the rims either. (or the floor, or my jumper)

[deejayburnout]

Not to sound insulting but I presume that the valves have been replaced with each tyre change. I have seen a few garages not do this and I have to ask them to do it.

Maybe a duff valve causing issues???

[Zak33]

question to opening poster

do you MEAN puncture? cos a puncture is a hole in the tyre from an external source.. ie nail

or do you mean flat tyre? no hole?

[bytejunkie]

cracked alloy. also certain audi alloys are chocolate soft and ovalise a little. make sure it neither of the above.

final words of wisdom. if you didnt buy the car from audi, make sure they are original alloys. so many replica audi alloys about that are made of poor metal and badly machined.

in short, its time to find a wheel/tyre place that knows what they're doing.

[GoodZE]

Probably the crankshaft

[kalniel]

Probably the crankshaft

Er.. what?

[GoodZE]

Er.. what?

Hahahaha, just a thing me and my mates say whenever something goes wrong with someones car ;-) proper confuses some people

[finlay666]

Funnily enough gf's car has a similar issue with the tyres getting soft very quickly on low profile rubber, will take the alloy to get checked

[herulach]

The rear nearside one on the wife's 10 year old yaris does the same, although somewhat slower. Its a mix of it having been crashed through potholes (bloody bolton council!) and corrosion. I've seen the rim with the tyre off and its pretty wrecked, but given the age 20p in the air machine when it gets filled up is far more cost effective than new wheels.