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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Wheels and Tires Forum Sponsored by The Tire Rack > What could cause tires go flat frequently?



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      09-02-2011, 11:09 AM   #1
bumere90
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What could cause tires go flat frequently?

This problem started recently. Both of the front tires lose air. I have to check the pressure and put air once every 4-5 days.
When this first started I took the wheels off and took them to a local tire shop, techs found some inner corrosion on both rims. They cleaned the rims with some special compound and I had no problems for 2 weeks. The problem came back yesterday. Any thoughts on this?
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      09-02-2011, 11:10 AM   #2
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Are you parking in somebody's drive-way...around here, that's considered the "friendly" way to wise them up, as opposed to having the City tow 'em!
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      09-02-2011, 11:14 AM   #3
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bad valve stem? damaged bead?
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      09-02-2011, 11:15 AM   #4
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did you pay for the fix? i'd take it back and make them fix it again.. or take it someplace else for a second opinion
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      09-02-2011, 11:17 AM   #5
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Valve stems were replaced and the beads were corroded but not damaged.
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      09-02-2011, 11:18 AM   #6
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I wouldn't rule out a cracked rim...
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      09-02-2011, 11:27 AM   #7
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+1 for cracked rim.
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      09-02-2011, 11:28 AM   #8
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+1 one on the cracked or bent rim. A small crack or bend on the rim can be just enough to slowly lose air.
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      09-02-2011, 11:57 AM   #9
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r u over weight like the Garfield in your avatar..jk? My friend civic tire needed air very offen due to his 300+ pound.
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      09-02-2011, 11:59 AM   #10
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Check inside the valve, the actual valve core - you can buy a special tool to tighten it, it's like a normal screw. So I'd check that first.

Otherwise, the rim may be cracked... I say take it to a tire shop with a Hunter GSP9700, they can measure the rollout and other things to determine if the rim is bent/cracked.
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      09-02-2011, 12:20 PM   #11
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no one has mentioned this. possible bent or cracked rim.
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      09-02-2011, 12:33 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by woot335woot View Post
I wouldn't rule out a cracked rim...

This was my first thought.

The other possibility is a small puncture, but that would be unusual to be more than 1 tire.


I'd guess that the corrosion is from a split in the rim somewhere which is causing the leak.
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      09-02-2011, 12:33 PM   #13
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How does a rim crack? Hitting a pot hole?

Can you see a crack if there's a crack?
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      09-02-2011, 01:18 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jrjinsa View Post
How does a rim crack? Hitting a pot hole?

Can you see a crack if there's a crack?
Most tire shops can test the wheels to see if they are holding air and where they are leaking from....or you can get a huge clear tub or a pool and submerge the wheel in water and see if there are tiny bubbles coming from anywhere on the wheel.

Or get a spray bottle of soapy solution and spray all over the tire/wheel, you should see the little bubbles growing in places where there are leaks.
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      09-02-2011, 01:27 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by woot335woot View Post
Most tire shops can test the wheels to see if they are holding air and where they are leaking from....or you can get a huge clear tub or a pool and submerge the wheel in water and see if there are tiny bubbles coming from anywhere on the wheel.

Or get a spray bottle of soapy solution and spray all over the tire/wheel, you should see the little bubbles growing in places where there are leaks.
Thanks Woot335Woot! I learned something new.
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      09-02-2011, 01:28 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by woot335woot View Post
Most tire shops can test the wheels to see if they are holding air and where they are leaking from....or you can get a huge clear tub or a pool and submerge the wheel in water and see if there are tiny bubbles coming from anywhere on the wheel.

Or get a spray bottle of soapy solution and spray all over the tire/wheel, you should see the little bubbles growing in places where there are leaks.


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      09-02-2011, 01:40 PM   #17
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I had the same thing happen to me, I would lose a few lbs of pressure a day and the low tire light would come every 3 to 5 days. I took it to the dealership 3 times, the first 2 they said they could not find anything, including submerging it (to look for air bubbles i assume), the 3rd time, they kept it overnight and ...they saw 5 lbs missing. it would up being a pin hole in the rim, needed a new rim, which warranty covered since it was only 1 year in. Not easy to find, they need to keep it a faw days to be sure. good luck.
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      09-02-2011, 01:52 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jrjinsa View Post
Thanks Woot335Woot! I learned something new.
Learned that one from my Dad, he's been a mechanic for like 40 years! It's a wise old man maneuver!
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      09-02-2011, 08:01 PM   #19
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a leak
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      09-02-2011, 09:06 PM   #20
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are you sure the inside tire tread isnt wearing out? maybe they overlooked this. i had the same problem and an alignment cured that
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      09-03-2011, 03:01 PM   #21
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I had this problem recently in one tire (two seems rare); turns out I had a small puncture in the sidewall that was diagnosed by dunking the tire into a water bath as described by woot335. The puncture must've been from a pothole or curb rash while parallel parking.
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      09-03-2011, 08:40 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by D_o_S View Post
Check inside the valve, the actual valve core - you can buy a special tool to tighten it, it's like a normal screw. So I'd check that first.
+1. Just remove the cap, and gob of spit over the end of the valve stem. If it bubbles, it's leaking.

I had a buddy that had a similar leaking tire issue. Turns out it was flashing on the bead of the rubber which wouldn't let it seal properly.
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