Topic: Slow Leak from Aluminum Winter Rims

[tortoise]

Flashback to last spring:

My winters were on their last season and the right rear had a slow leak that developed in the spring. I just kept adding air since the leak was slow and I was getting new tires for this season.

Flash to the present:

I recently had a set of WS-80's mounted to these rims.  I was under the impression that mounting new tires to the rims would take care of the problem.

It turns out I was wrong.   I checked the pressure of my left front and it was at 21 PSI.  Damn.

As I see it my options are:

1) Buy a set of Steelies
2) Get the tire remounted and (presumably) the corrosion cleaned up
3) Go on Kijiji and try to find a replacement wheel.

1) isn't going to happen. I MUCH prefer alloys.
2) Will this work or will I be in the same boat?
3) It appears I can get a new wheel for $60 and someone was selling a set for $130.

Wheels are from my 2002 P5. They were summer only while I had it (everything but 3 winters) and then I used them for three winters.  I'm in Ottawa, the land of the salt truck, for what it's worth.

What's my best option?

[aquadorhj]

i hear your dilemma.

remounting and balancing one (with cleaning the wheel) would probably cost as much as buying a new single wheel.

but it's worth a try.  (and if you ask nicely, the place you got the winter tires from may even do it for free)

[tortoise]

They were mounted at Costco.  I plan to give them a call.

I guess I'd assumed that cleaning the wheel was a part of mounting them.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

It kind of depends on how pitted the wheel is. You may be able to get a decent seal with bead sealer alone. More likely the bead seat will have to be sanded smooth and refinished.

[mrthompson]

Are you certain it isn't the valve to blame?

[tortoise]

Totally uncertain.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

One of the big reasons I like black steelies. They don't pit as rapidly when exposed to salt, and if they do, a bid of grinding or a wire wheel, and a rattle can and you're back in business.

[Fobroader]

One of the big reasons I like black steelies. They don't pit as rapidly when exposed to salt, and if they do, a bid of grinding or a wire wheel, and a rattle can and you're back in business.

You can try to get the tire remounted....but Im with Sir O on this one, black steelies FTW!!

[PJungnitsch]

Interesting. Two of my 2004 alloy summer tires are both slow leaking now. I was assuming also that cleaning the rim and remounting would do the job, but maybe not. Will have to spec they use bead sealer.

May also need to be cleaned and sealed where the valve stem sits on the rim.

On my motorcycle that all had to be done, it lasted for the life of the bike. But.....

For you I'd be tempted to just go with the new rims, if they are that cheap for a set. (New though? If used maybe the same problem).

[tortoise]

Black steelies on a white Mazda5 look terrible. 

Have some pride man!

The next set would likely be used from Kijiji.  So yeah, rolling the dice.

[mrthompson]

In my part-time high school career as a gas jockey and tire repair tech I was instructed to use tire bead sealer always.  It helps prevent tearing of the bead when installing the tire on the wheel and it helps seal an imperfect bead.  Perhaps tire shops have gone away from this step?

I've never had problems with aluminum wheels leaking, and said wheels often saw salt (in my pre-winter tire days).

[JG20]

I've had the same issues with my p5 wheels I use for my Speed's and Mazda 5's winter tires. Usually a remount fixes the issue. One time there was actually a small crack on the edge of the rim causing the leak. I ended finding a another set of p5 wheels in much better condition for a great price.  No issues since with that set. Right now I have a slow leak in one older rim...

[tortoise]

Thanks. I called Costco but they were too busy to answer the phone.

Gonna give remounting a shot first.

[Northernridge]

Black steelies. There is a C Class Mercedes sedan in my parking garage and the owner just had his winter tires installed with black steelies. 

[EV Dan]

A few years back I had all season tires mounted on aluminum rims, at an indie tire place. I don't remember now if they used any sealant but they did use a metal brush wheel to clean off the oxidized stuff around the edges. I would definitely have Costco to re-mount that tire.

[PJungnitsch]

So did the remounting work? I'm debating whether to take mine in for that or if the money would be better off towards new rims.

[tortoise]

Funny you should bump this, I just had them remounted last weekend.

I just measured all 4 tires for the first time.  They were:

LF 29
RF 31.5
LR 31.5
RR 32.5

The left front had the largest leak but the right front also slowly leaked.

Before they were remounted I was losing 5-7 PSI per week.

It seems to have helped but since I didn't measure them immediately, I don't know if it totally fixed it.

And of course they didn't balance them properly so I have to go back

[PJungnitsch]

Can show you how mine worked out. Instead of taking a chance on throwing good money after bad with cleaning and sealing I just ended up getting new rims from Costco for not that much:



The old rims are on the bench now:



Bead area, you can see the corrosion that was presumably causing the problem:



Question is, would wire brushing and sealing have worked? I'm debating on whether to put them up on Kijiji or just take them for disposal.

[bridgecity]

^ Cleaning that up wouldn't take much effort.  I'd list them on kijiji as is.

[Fobroader]

To me right on the bead sealing surface looks like porous corrosion......I would honestly try selling them, but they do not look salvageable.