thebluemax
1/2 ton status
Anybody run them? I got a slow leak on one tire and can't find a screw or hole in it. Thought I could run tubes in all 4 tires till I get the truck legal and can afford new tires or fix them properly?
CK5
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tire inner tubes
- Thread starter thebluemax
- Start date
nothin wrong with tubes. just make sure if radial tire it gets radial tube. bias tires can run bias OR radial tubes.
and std blue dawn dish soap and water works best for tire leak finders. 1-2 table spons full soap to 2 qt water.
i tryed lots over the years as a tire guy and blue dawn basic dish soap is the best in my opinion.
soap the beads first then valve steam and pull the cap and soap the core then soap the tire its self. reason this order is beads and valve leaks tend to take the longest to leak over a hole in the tread. so bubble showing up will take longer.
and set tire down and let soapy water set on bead and see if it bubbles. might take 5-10 min to show. you are looking for unifom bubbles like a big pile of frog/fish eggs in a group.
if big tires watch as most big tubes only use the large valve hole size . you might be forced to open the valve hole up to the large size .
and std blue dawn dish soap and water works best for tire leak finders. 1-2 table spons full soap to 2 qt water.
i tryed lots over the years as a tire guy and blue dawn basic dish soap is the best in my opinion.
soap the beads first then valve steam and pull the cap and soap the core then soap the tire its self. reason this order is beads and valve leaks tend to take the longest to leak over a hole in the tread. so bubble showing up will take longer.
and set tire down and let soapy water set on bead and see if it bubbles. might take 5-10 min to show. you are looking for unifom bubbles like a big pile of frog/fish eggs in a group.
if big tires watch as most big tubes only use the large valve hole size . you might be forced to open the valve hole up to the large size .
Confedneck
3/4 ton status
you checked the tire, but have you tried wiggling the valvestem? probably dry rotted...
One tire I had with a slow leak showed no leaks on the tire or beads--but the innner portion of the rim that faces the inside was pretty flaky & rusty--I tapped on that spot with my ball peen hammer and it was paper thin there--it caved right in and the tire deflated in like 1.3 seconds!...scared the crap out of me--I can only imagine what the results would have been if the rim failed going 65 mph!...
..
Bottom line is check the rims good too!..I've had mags and aluminum ones develop pin holes in them before....I coated one with that liquid rubber stuff Permatex makes on the inside ,the stuff called "Plasti-Dip" that is often used on tool handles...worked great,no more slow leakage..
..Bottom line is check the rims good too!..I've had mags and aluminum ones develop pin holes in them before....I coated one with that liquid rubber stuff Permatex makes on the inside ,the stuff called "Plasti-Dip" that is often used on tool handles...worked great,no more slow leakage..
I have a slow leak in one of my tires too, same issue of carcass separation. I've heard of some using DAP black polyurathane flashing and roof sealant on the bead and with great results. I'm gonna be trying that soon here
All of my tsl's leak, it just makes for a smoother ride as the weekend goes on. 
gotblazers
1/2 ton status
I focking hate slow leaks 
. Bead leaks are the biggest PIA to find... Well second biggest. I've had finishing nails with dirty heads (cant see em) go into tight tread patterns so you literally are not able to see it from the outside and it was a super slow leak so it wasnt showing up in the water. I pulled the tire off and felt the inside and found it. So from now on out thats my last resort. A old man whos tire i was fixing once told me a guy in florida did that exact same thing a rattle snake tooth was in there and poisioned him when he pricked his finger on it. Said he died because they couldnt figure out what it was. Reminded me of a Fordum story 
.
I've had a few weird experiences for instance i had a stack of new tires sitting and i reached inside one to pick it up and go install it on to the rim and out jumped a squirrel faster than i could hardly see. Another time a flat repair came in and from the outside i didnt see anything obvious so i aired it up to 35 psi like i always do and the entire back of the tire exploded. I opened it up and apparently the person had driven it flat with a screw inside and it had torn the interior sidewall to shreds. I saw a mountain of rubber that filled the entire bottom of the tire and over flowing out. I got a whole lot of shet from the guys that day about ''blowing up tires'' as it was probably heard a mile away .
Anyways back on track if i really cant find anything after thoroughly inspecting it in the dunk tank and moving the valve stem around and seperating it and inspecting it internally i use bead sealer on both sides all the way around and replace the valve stem. Never had a customer come back complaining of a leak when i've had to do that so it must work alright
.
. Bead leaks are the biggest PIA to find... Well second biggest. I've had finishing nails with dirty heads (cant see em) go into tight tread patterns so you literally are not able to see it from the outside and it was a super slow leak so it wasnt showing up in the water. I pulled the tire off and felt the inside and found it. So from now on out thats my last resort. A old man whos tire i was fixing once told me a guy in florida did that exact same thing a rattle snake tooth was in there and poisioned him when he pricked his finger on it. Said he died because they couldnt figure out what it was. Reminded me of a Fordum story . I've had a few weird experiences for instance i had a stack of new tires sitting and i reached inside one to pick it up and go install it on to the rim and out jumped a squirrel faster than i could hardly see. Another time a flat repair came in and from the outside i didnt see anything obvious so i aired it up to 35 psi like i always do and the entire back of the tire exploded. I opened it up and apparently the person had driven it flat with a screw inside and it had torn the interior sidewall to shreds. I saw a mountain of rubber that filled the entire bottom of the tire and over flowing out
. I got a whole lot of shet from the guys that day about ''blowing up tires'' as it was probably heard a mile away . Anyways back on track if i really cant find anything after thoroughly inspecting it in the dunk tank and moving the valve stem around and seperating it and inspecting it internally i use bead sealer on both sides all the way around and replace the valve stem. Never had a customer come back complaining of a leak when i've had to do that so it must work alright
.
You might wanna try a local tire shop if you've got a good one (not a franchise/chain). I've had slow leaks (around 10psi/week) and my local guy has always been able to find them and patch them for $20.
