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Several months ago I struck a curb making a right turn, going very slowly, but boy it was loud. I expected a flat tire, but by some miracle, all I found was some paint scraped off the alloy wheel. I had an alignment done just in case I had knocked it out, but otherwise the car was fine. But over time, I realize the tire on that wheel is losing air. It takes about two weeks to lose only around 8 psi, so I just add air. My present thinking is since I am retired and living on a very low income, I should wait until the car needs new tires (assuming the problem doesn't get worse) and then if it still leaks on that wheel, I must have damaged the wheel itself. Is this a good approach? It will be maybe another 10k miles before I need tires, and I drive less than 8k a year.
If the tire is still basically holding air, then it's not likely you damaged the tire itself. You may have damaged the wheel, or you may have damaged the valve stem. It could be that you will only need to have the affected portion of the wheel ground down to create a smooth surface on the bead again. Or it could be that you'll need a replacement rim. The best way to find out is to take it to a tire shop. If the rim just needs to be cleaned and/or ground, or if the stem needs to be replaced, that will only cost a few bucks. If the rim needs to be replaced, it'll need to be replaced regardless of when you get new tires. In that case, there's no sense in waiting unless your cash flow situation doesn't give you a choice.
Get a spray bottle. Put in a couple tablespoons of liquid dishwashing soap and fill the bottle. Spray it all over the tire, and look for bubbles. Make sure you spray the valve stem too. You've probably damaged the rim (it should be visible), and that's where it's leaking. It may be repairable if you take it to a wheel shop that knows how to do it.
You can wait until you replace the tires to fix the rim, if that's the problem.
Several months ago I struck a curb making a right turn, going very slowly, but boy it was loud. I expected a flat tire, but by some miracle, all I found was some paint scraped off the alloy wheel. I had an alignment done just in case I had knocked it out, but otherwise the car was fine. But over time, I realize the tire on that wheel is losing air. It takes about two weeks to lose only around 8 psi, so I just add air. My present thinking is since I am retired and living on a very low income, I should wait until the car needs new tires (assuming the problem doesn't get worse) and then if it still leaks on that wheel, I must have damaged the wheel itself. Is this a good approach? It will be maybe another 10k miles before I need tires, and I drive less than 8k a year.
Have the damaged wheel checked in a water bath to look for a slow leak of the wheel itself. Alloy wheels are softer than steel and will crack and not break so you can see it. If this is case it's plain damn dangerous to even drive the car with a cracked wheel.
Get the wheel checked ASAP!!
As to a replacement wheel.....
New is the most expensive, refurbished is cheaper, auto salvage is ok but any wheel from auto salvage checked too!!
Jenny, do you have a spare tire? If you do and if it is full size and in good shape, with air, come to, for example, Pep Boys, they will remove and check your damaged tire for free. Ask them put your spare tire instead and see what they will tell you. It may be nail, you may have damaged tire or it may be bent rim.
Also, on parking lot find someone you think may be helpful and ask his/her opinion on the condition of your tires. This way you will not be pressed by salesman to buy new tire, but second opinion would be desirable, from my point of view.
As mentioned above in case you damaged rim, it may be easily/cheap fixable or you may need a new one. Junk yard may be an option.
Have you had the tire checked? You could have coincidentally picked up a nail. If it turns out it is the wheel, then you can get it repaired or replaced or just leave it alone indefinetely if that's what your finances dictate. I would recommend topping off the pressure weekly if you go that route as an 8psi low tire can be a hazzard, decreas MPGs and increase tire wear.
Have you had the tire checked? You could have coincidentally picked up a nail. If it turns out it is the wheel, then you can get it repaired or replaced or just leave it alone indefinetely if that's what your finances dictate. I would recommend topping off the pressure weekly if you go that route as an 8psi low tire can be a hazzard, decreas MPGs and increase tire wear.
The highlighted part above is exactly why I would not recommend just refilling the tire. It will constantly be running low and cause premature tire wear; doing that to save money to repair or replace the wheel is a false economy and potentially dangerous. If the tires on the car need to be replaced soon anyway, then the downside of periodically refilling the affected tire is minimal. But after that, or if the tire still has a substantial service life, the problem needs to be address sooner rather than later.
There would be some problem in your car tire i think so or there would be some small leakage of air from your car tire, my opinion is that change your car tire, as soon as possible.
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