28 Oct Does Your Car Have A Slow Tire Leak? 5 Common Causes
When autumn arrives, it brings shorter days and plenty of cool, crisp air. It’s my favorite time of the year. Autumn is also a time for some home and vehicle maintenance tasks to prepare for winter. Bringing in the garden hoses, cleaning the gutters of leaves, and swapping out the summer gear for winter gear in the car. It is pretty common to see the tire air pressure warning light turn on when you start your car in the morning. The TPMS warning light usually signals low air pressure in one or more tires, but is it a puncture requiring tire repair or a slow tire leak from something else? Let’s review some common causes below and walk you through some basic tire maintenance tasks.
What Is A Slow Tire Leak?
You should monitor your tires regularly, since they naturally lose about 1 psi of air pressure each month. Over time, a loss of air pressure will cause an under-inflated tire. Driving with a slow tire leak can impair vehicle handling and stopping, which can be dangerous.
5 Common Causes Of A Slow Tire Leak
Here are five common reasons for slow-leak tires:
1) Damaged Rim
A slow tire leak can occur from a damaged rim. If you hit a curb or pothole, or have a fender bender, a damaged rim may explain low air pressure in one or more tires. Tire manufacturers design tires to fit the rim via the tire bead. The edge (or bead) of the tire fits snugly against the rim to seal the wheel and maintain proper inflation. However, exposure to road salt and other corrosive chemicals may damage the rim or tire bead, leading to imperfections allowing air pressure to escape.
2) Old Tires
All tires have a set lifespan. Even vehicles with low mileage can have tires with little tire tread wear and still experience a loss of air pressure due to deteriorated rubber and micro-cracks. There is no safe tire repair method to restore old tires that are leaking air. It is vital for your safety to replace tires that are 10 years or older, have low tread, or have exceeded their designated mileage marker.
3) Puncture
Sharp objects like nails, screws, glass, and other road debris can lodge in the tire sidewall or tread, causing a slow tire leak. If the object falls out, it leaves a small hole or tear, allowing air to escape while you are driving. When the puncture is mild, you may not notice the problem right away. Situations like these require a tire repair appointment to locate and repair the slow tire leak with a patch and plug (if possible). Not all punctures are repairable, so be sure to consult an experienced tire technician for guidance.
4) Temperature Change
The air inside your tires automatically expands or contracts as the temperatures rise or fall. Your tires lose about 1 pound of air pressure per 1 square inch for every 10 °F drop in air temperature. You can easily fix this discrepancy by adding (or releasing) air to your tires when the temperatures drop with the change of seasons.
5) Valve Stem
The valve stem is a part of the tire and wheel assembly that helps regulate air pressure. It is the part that allows you to add air to inflate or release air to deflate your tires. Valve stems have a protective cap to prevent dirt and debris from accumulating around the valve stem core, which can cause air leakage. If you lose a cap, purchase a replacement to prevent a slow tire leak. Additionally, the valve stem can corrode, become brittle, or crack due to UV rays, moisture, road salt, automotive chemicals, and age. Most valve stems are replaceable, so that may be a good option instead of replacing the whole tire.
Practice Routine Tire Maintenance
Buying new tires is expensive, so if you want to make them last as long as possible, practice routine tire maintenance. What is tire maintenance? It is simply staying proactive with scheduling service according to your factory recommendations and noticing changes in your vehicle’s behavior. Let’s review some tire maintenance tasks all drivers should perform.
Check Air Pressure
Checking your tires’ air pressure frequently helps ensure they are properly inflated, which can extend their lifespan. Under-inflated or over-inflated tires wear unevenly, so they often fall short of their estimated mileage marker. For example, a tire that is consistently under-inflated by 20% will lose 20% of its mileage lifespan due to excess tread wear. So, a tire that would travel 60,000 miles with proper air pressure may wear out at 48,000 miles. Buy yourself a tire air pressure gauge and check your tires every time you get gas. Top off low air pressure to keep your tires in top shape.
NOTE: Always fill your tires to the air pressure cited in your owner’s manual or on the driver’s door jam sticker, but NOT the psi noted on the tire.
Replace Missing Valve Caps
Your vehicle’s air valve cap keeps dirt, moisture, and debris from damaging the valve and helps prevent a slow tire leak. If you’ve lost the cap to your tire’s air valve, you don’t need to panic, since it’s not dangerous to drive your car without it for a short time. However, you should replace the missing cap as soon as possible to prevent unnecessary air loss or damage to the valve.
TPMS Warning Light
The TPMS warning light (tire pressure monitoring system) alerts the driver when a tire’s air pressure falls outside the normal range. If the TMPS dashboard light is on, check the air pressure on all four tires and add more air (or release air) if necessary. If the light stays on even if the pressure is correct and you do not have a slow tire leak, schedule a diagnostic appointment for your local tire specialist. You may need to replace old or faulty TPMS sensors.
Tire Rotations
Tire rotation is an important part of routine tire maintenance. A service technician repositions your vehicle’s tires in a specific pattern (front to back, side to side, or across) to ensure even tire tread wear. Some auto manufacturers suggest scheduling a tire rotation service every 5,000 miles. Your owner’s manual will include a service interval for your specific vehicle.
Wheel Alignment & Balancing
Wheel alignment is an adjustment to a vehicle’s suspension system. It adjusts the tire angles to correct any misalignment in how they contact the road surface. Proper wheel alignment helps increase tire performance, improve handling, and extend tire life. Tire balancing uses tiny, adjustable weights on each rim to ensure the tire balances equally, ensuring a smooth ride. Unbalanced wheels can cause your vehicle to shake or even bounce when traveling at higher speeds. If you suspect your vehicle requires a wheel alignment or tire balancing, schedule an appointment right away.
Tire Repair in Plymouth Meeting, PA
Plymouth Auto & Tire Center will take care of all your tire repair and replacement needs. We also provide excellent tire maintenance services, including wheel alignment and balancing, as well as tire rotation. If you are looking for someone in Plymouth Meeting, PA, to determine whether a puncture is causing your slow tire leak or to verify your air pressure, our skilled and caring team of mechanics can help!
Schedule Tire Repair Service
Call us at (610) 825-6558 for details on our full range of tire repair and replacement services. We can schedule your next appointment over the phone, or you can visit our website to choose a time that works for you. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Buy New Tires At Plymouth Auto & Tire Center
Purchase your tires at cost through Plymouth Auto & Tire Center. We have partnered with two of the largest tire wholesalers to bring you great deals on all major tire brands and models! Go to our website for more information.