Why Does My Tire Keep Losing Air?

Why does my tire keep losing air? 

Perhaps, some ideas just spring into your mind, yet I bet not all have the all-rounded answer at a time. 

Flat tires on the road for a getaway freak you out, making you low beyond the trip to Los Angeles or San Francisco. Oh, can’t imagine how bad things go and that’s why you should grasp ways to avoid and deal with a tire losing air! 

To ensure an on-beat journey, place an eye on these tips revealed below with DriveRevolve!

Why Does My Tire Keep Losing Air?

Ways are found in a large number in terms of a car whipping up, just for tires, you can replace the new tires with vibrant color or a catchy look. A new RV Spare tire cover can also make your day!

Losing air tires indicates the less-perfect situation of any tire, stemming from various reasons like missing valve caps or even wheel damage inside. 

Tire Damage

Low tire pressure light illuminates and leaves you with nerves. Your ties are likely punctured with a nail, leaving you to go downtown when BOOM. Oh well, that’s creepy beats as a nail will leak 2-3 psi every day, going with flat tires wholly. Under a lousy ignore, things worsen and the whole tire is ruined. 

You can’t help but seek the expert look soon or strive to get the nail out. Do it soon or else you will end up with a blowout somewhere and safe risks. 

Potholes and curbs hitting can be another culprit. The tire’s sidewall gets misshapen and all tires lose air gradually. In this case, check your tire for slashing or bulging. 

Your tires also often suffer from rough roads and harsh weather, leaving scars. With sidewall damage, you must replace yet most problems on the tread are repairable. 

Bead And Wheel Issues

Bead points out the tire’s edge sealing directly to the rim. It can become unseated from overinflation, underinflation, or a corroded or bent rim, leading to air loss. 

To halt this issue, let’s drive carefully and make sure the tires are mounted the right way. Or else, the tire bead will collapse. 

Defective Valve Stem

The valve stem seems fragile when it comes to the tire’s air system. 

It’s likely to get hurt from leaks and cracks, appearing worn signs over time, notably by road salts and chemicals. 

A tire replacement will be needed in case of under-tightening (triggering air leaks) or over-tightening valve stems (making stem split). 

Missing Your Valve Caps

Losing valve caps will certainly come with an air-lose tire! 

The reasons may come in two: you forget to put it back before driving or after doing the tire pressure check. 

Temperature Changes

Outside condition changes can impact the tire pressure. Psi will drop by 1 with every 10-degree decline outside. Meanwhile, when the weather warms up, the tire’s air may expand and even reach over levels. 

Psi for tires should be 32-35. Pump more air if the current figure is below or allow air to release by pressing your tire valve’s pin with the back of your air hose nozzle. 

Even so, if adding air is in vain and you still see the low reading, check your TPMS as it may worsen. 

A Faulty TPMS

Tire losing pressure but no leak can stem from a wrong TPMS, causing an inaccurate reading. 

In this case, adopt a tire pressure gauge or take a tire pressure inspection to handle failed tire pressure sensors.

TPMS sensors often last from 5-7 years or 60,000 – 80,000 miles. Reckon the timeline based on this to determine a TPMS check!

How To Let Air Out Of Tire

How to deflate a tire? Doing this just owing to over-inflation or pressure detection requirements. 

Here comes 2 popular measures to have things done: one with a screwdriver and one using a digital tire pump. 

Method 1. Reduce The Tires’ Pressure

Employ a pressure gauge to reckon the airflow through the tire valve. Other than that, prepare a needle nose plier, or a screwdriver, and plastic bags.

#1: Locate Your Tire Valve

The tire valve, looking like a tube with a valve cap on top, is often found between your tire’s spokes. Its length is 1-2 inches, typically. 

#2: Turn Your Valve

Turn your valve anticlockwise to dismantle its cap and it. The valve is a metal part with a pin in the middle.

Put the valve cover inside a plastic bag for safekeeping.

#3: Test For Tire Pressure

Do this step with accuracy! Ensure the pressure does not stay above or below with a pressure gauge, which is calibrated in pounds per square inch (PSI). Read the manufacturer through to ensure the correct level before the procedures are done. 

#4: Release Air with A Screwdriver or Needle-Nose Pliers

You can use the screwdriver or needle-nose plier to release the air by pressing it on the metal pin on the valve. As the air is being released, observe the pressure gauge. And, immediately it gets to the equilibrium pressure, remove the screwdriver from the pin.

# 5: Cover Your Valve

After attaining the recommended air pressure, proceed to cover the valve. This time, rotate the cap clockwise to securely seal it.

Method 2. Deflate Your Tires

This measure requires a tire pump and a screwdriver

#1: Loosen Your Valve Cap

Unscrew it anticlockwise but don’t dismantle it entirely; just loosen a bit.

#2: Make The Most Of Tire Pump

Connect your tire pump to your valve, then lift the lever located on your instrument’s back. Then you can see the existing tire pressure on the computer screen measured in PSI. Go on deflating till you reach the desired air pressure.

#3: Dismantle Your Tire Pump

When reaching the wanted level of pressure, remove your valve’s tire pump. Just flip back the switch and unscrew it from your valve.

#4: Tighten Your Cap

After dismantling your tire pump, tighten your valve cap.

How To Fix A Slow Leak In A Tire: Easy Hack

You can fix a puncture either at a technician’s workshop or at home. If you favor the DIY approach, use tire sealants or a peculiar plug kit.

Using a Sealant

Prepare a sealant, an air pump, and a pressure gauge.

1. Insert the sealant’s nose into the valve or puncture where the tire is losing air. Do sparingly to ensure your sealant is dispensed onto the tire’s inner surface. Pour it until you’ve used the whole standard bottle.

2. The sealant serves as an inner tire’s protective layer. When you inflate it, the pressure will force the mixture into the hole, creating a rubber-like plug repairing your tire.

3. Note that there are pre- and post-puncture sealants. The latter is better for tires losing air slowly.

Take note: Head for propylene glycol sealants instead of ethylene as this is toxic and may harm tires for quite some time.

Using A Plug Kit

A plug kit comprises rubber cement, plugs, a plug tool, a reaming tool, and pliers. 

You might also need a car jack and a lug wrench if you prefer to repair the tire with the wheel removed.

Here’s a step-by-step process with a plug kit:

• Take out the nail from the tire using pliers.
• Utilize a remaining tool to clean the hole, making it compatible with the plug but do not enlarge the hole excessively. If not, it could lead to further damage with more slow air loss or a flat tire at the end.
• Insert the plug into the plug tool and apply a bit of rubber cement to the tool’s tip.
• Place the plug into the tire’s hole and withdraw the tool. Trim the remaining plug part on the surface as close to the tread as possible.
• Let the plug and rubber cement dry. 
• Inflate the tire, and it’s all ready for a safe drive for a while.

It’s crucial to remember that such repairs are suitable for tread damage only. Attempting to fix the sidewall may result in a tire blowout at any moment.

Repairing Your Valve Stem

Get a new valve core and a valve removal tool, or a car jack and a lug wrench to dismantle your wheel. 

After removing the wheel’s valve core, put the removal tool into your stem, then rotate it counterclockwise. 

Clean your stem if you see any corrosion marks, then install the new core. Screw it in place before pumping your tires up. 

Of note: Remember to wear protective glasses to halt debris or old core from reaching you. 

Repairing, Restoring Your Rim

Ask for professional help in the case of a bent wheel. Never hammer the aluminum alloy wheels to impede the entire ruin. Aluminum is quite brittle, so more gentle means should be used to fix such rims.

To address the issue of a tire losing air slowly, a DIY solution involves cleaning the wheels to eliminate corrosion on the rims as well. 

To this end, remove the wheel and dismount your tire first. Gather needed materials, including sanding tools, aluminum metallic polish, and optionally, wax. Start by cleaning and degreasing your wheel’s rims, followed by all paint removal and previous finishes. Thoroughly sand all parts, including spaces between spokes and lug-nut holes, utilizing a low-speed sander for the rim’s center. 

Polish the entire wheel until it achieves a shiny finish. Allow it to dry completely, and if deemed suitable, apply wax. 

Wrapping Up

The vehicle’s performance relies much on the tires’ condition, no doubt. 

Always put an eye on your auto parts, not least your tires. And well, upkeep requires an all-rounded notice with insights. And this post answered one of the common problems: “Why does my tire keep losing air?”

The deflating methods are enclosed in the post as well. Make the most of them in the right scenarios.