Community Forums

Gary RVRoamer · 06-25-2016, 11:43 AM

If you can't add air, you can't drive on it without potentially ruining the other tire in the pair.

No professional will dare to advise adding air to a leaky tire, cause if it should explode (rare, but possible), they would probably be held liable if you sued. So, you have to make that call.

You described it as a slow leak, but it doesn't sound all that slow to me. If 95 psi is your normal, you are going to have to add air every time it gets down to about 80, and that seems like it may be often. Do you have the means to add air on the roadside? And will you?

dano50 · 06-25-2016, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

If you can't add air, you can't drive on it without potentially ruining the other tire in the pair.

No professional will dare to advise adding air to a leaky tire, cause if it should explode (rare, but possible), they would probably be held liable if you sued. So, you have to make that call.

You described it as a slow leak, but it doesn't sound all that slow to me. If 95 psi is your normal, you are going to have to add air every time it gets down to about 80, and that seems like it may be often. Do you have the means to add air on the roadside? And will you?

I do have the ability to add air on the roadside and I would if I felt it was an ok idea to drive it to the repair facility. After reading all of the comments and suggestions, I don't think it is a good idea to drive it anywhere. Where I left it (for family to use for the weekend) is an hour + drive away, so I am going to leave it where it is until the new tire and new rim I ordered arrive next week. Then I'll bring the tire up and call a service that can change it for me. Thanks for your help.

slickest1 · 06-25-2016, 11:58 AM

I won't go in to my experience with the tire industry that I left behind and went into the trucking industry.
When you are out there using the products the common sense answer to a problem does not make sense to the experts.
I have seen many bent lips on rims. they stick out about 3/4 of an inch further than the tire and can and will hook on a curb or a rock and thus be bent enough to leak.

As for damage to the tire it likely is not, unless you ran into the curb at over 10 miles per hr.
I currently drive a gravel truck and backing over curbs straight on and sometimes at an angle is almost a daily occurrance. The sharp rock and and rough terrain they see daily would shock the average person on these threads. That is why I would air it up and go to a shop. You can have that rim repaired and use it for a spare depending on how bad it is bent.
I am not out to flame anyone for their thoughts just explaining mine.

dano50 · 06-25-2016, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dano50

While driving around a tight curve, my right rear wheel snagged the edge of a rock wall and bent the rim. It is about 1.5 inches of the rim that was affected. There is a slow air leak. I was able to make it to my destination about 5 miles up the road and set up camp for the weekend. I have the ability to add air as needed to get it to a repair shop to replace the wheel. Would it be a bad idea to drive it to a shop as long as I checked the air frequently and added as needed? I am a currently camped in a pretty remote location and would prefer to get it somewhere more accessible if possible, but I don't want to do anything to make matters worse. Any ideas to stop the slow leak between the tire and the rim on the way to the shop? There was no damage to the tire or the coach, amazingly enough. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks for all of your comments, suggestions and warnings. I do have the ability to add air on the roadside and I would if I felt it was an ok idea to drive it to the repair facility. After reading all of the advice, I don't think it is a good idea to drive it anywhere. Where I left it (for family to use for the weekend) is an hour + drive away, so I am going to just leave it where it is until the new tire and new rim I have ordered arrive next week. Then I'll bring the tire up and call a service that can change it for me. I have contacted my insurance to see what they will cover. Although I really want to get it home, I think this would be the best and safest way to handle it. Thanks to everyone for your help.

Dtwallace · 06-25-2016, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dano50

Today I ordered a new tire from a commercial tire shop and planned to have them put it on when it comes in next week. They told me not to add anything to the tire for the leak and not to add any air on the trip back. They said if we drove slowly 20-40 we should be fine. It is on the right dual wheel and it has a tag axle. Why do you think the shop is telling me not to use the sealant or add air? If I should be adding air, I would definitely be checking it and adding as needed.

With all due respect to the person who suggested adding a sealant, I'm sorry but that's a bad idea.

Reason is this is an aluminum wheel and sealants like slime will act like an acid to the aluminum.

Second, the tire shop hates to deal with wheel that have these sealant in them because they cause an awful mess, and just plane harder to work on.

A side wall leak cannot be sealed with a sealant because the sealant will never cover the sidewall area.

The recommendation not to add air is for your safety, a possible sidewall damaged tire can explode without warning as you add air.

That being said, just enough air to keep it on the rim should be safe, as once you break the bead, you need to stop.

Continuing with the tire floating the bead can cause the tire to come apart if run too long, (five miles @ 30mph should be ok).

You've seen tire treads on the roadway, that's why....

Hope that make sense.

DTW

Ray,IN · 06-25-2016, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dtwallace

With all due respect to the person who suggested adding a sealant, I'm sorry but that's a bad idea.

Reason is this is an aluminum wheel and sealants like slime will act like an acid to the aluminum.

Second, the tire shop hates to deal with wheel that have these sealant in them because they cause an awful mess, and just plane harder to work on.

A side wall leak cannot be sealed with a sealant because the sealant will never cover the sidewall area.

The recommendation not to add air is for your safety, a possible sidewall damaged tire can explode without warning as you add air.

That being said, just enough air to keep it on the rim should be safe, as once you break the bead, you need to stop.

Continuing with the tire floating the bead can cause the tire to come apart if run too long, (five miles @ 30mph should be ok).

You've seen tire treads on the roadway, that's why....

Hope that make sense.

DTW

Adding air to a car tire on a bent rim is one thing, airing up to 95 psi is a hospital visit in the making. That is exactly why OSHA regulations require truck tire shops to use a tire cage to inflate new or repaired tires.