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For a couple of years now, my wife's car (2012 Hyundai Sonata) has suffered from very slow leaks in both front tires. You can pump them up, but after six weeks or so, the low-pressure warning comes on. The guy in the tire store wants to be helpful, but he says that when a leak is that small, he can't detect it. The auto dealer says that a possible cure would be to grind the bead (where the tire seals to the rim) which would cost $45 a wheel, but they don't guarantee any success. I'm wondering if there's a way that a rim can develop a microscopic leak, and you just have to replace it if you want a cure. I suppose it's significant that it affects both front wheels, so it's not likely to be a fault in either tire. Any ideas?
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I doubt it's the wheels. More likely valve stems going bad. How many miles do the tires have left? If this has been going on a couple of years, just fill them up once a month. I wouldn't pay any kind of diagnostic fee for sure. I'm guessing when you get a new set of tires and valve stems the mystery leak will disappear.
My mom has this problem on her car right now. The front right tire loses 1 PSI per day, the other tires stay equal. She inflates the tire frequently and it just keeps slowly leaking. The tire shop doesn't know what to do, thinks it might be mechanical.
Alloy wheels have improved in the last few decades, but it's not uncommon for them to have leaks anywhere across the rim bed. Have a good wheel shop check them and, if necessary, seal them.
I'm assuming that the old soapy water trick has been done. I didn't mention it, but since others are chiming in about their problems.. Specifically Matthew.. I'd certainly hope that's been attempted.
I figured the OP, since they were at a tire shop and the leak was so miniscule, they had tried the soapy water and failed.. But.. with others coming in on this.. Feel that has to be mentioned.
Windex.. Bottle of water with a couple drops of dish soap.. All work just fine.
As stated on the can, it is important to have your tire inspected and repaired within 3 days or 100 miles (whichever comes first). Be sure to notify the qualified tire care professional that Fix-a-Flat has been installed. At the time the affected tire is inspected by a tire care professional, they should clean the sealant from the tire, prepare the area and repair with a U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) approved patch/plug.
You have to have the tire removed and put into a tub of water to see we’re leak is when you see bubbles then you will know we’re the leak is that’s the only way to check out a slow leak. Also I’ve see fix a flat cause tires to become out of balance because all fix a flat is a liquid plastics that hardens inside the tire and sometimes it hardens along the sidewalks and creates an imbalance.
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