Tire Leaks Every Year

[YamBam]

I have 14" aluminum wheels that leak every year around the tire bead. The wheels carode and oxidize which causes slow leak. At a minimum 2 out of 4 wheels leak every year. I have tried using transmission fluid to reseal the bead. I was told that the transmission fluid has additives that help prevent aluminum oxidation. I was also told at a tire store that there is a paint process where they paint the inside of the wheels to prevent oxidation. $30 a wheel. Has anyone had any experience with the paint process? Any other ideas? I'm am seriously considering replacing aluminum wheels with steel wheels. Wont look so good but hopefully wont leak.

 

[NOS-PRO]

I would think any kind of paint or sealant would keep the aluminum from oxidizing.

My son's tire on his car kept leaking by the bead so we had a little extra truck liner paint and sealed it with that. So far so good.

 

[YamBam]

Did you apply truck bed liner paint with a brush?

 

[yamadoo]

I have gotten frustrated and just put in tubes in past. Seems I was always having to find air and refill at the most inconvenient times and places So far so good Yamadoo

 

[NOS-PRO]

Did you apply truck bed liner paint with a brush?

Yes

 

[YamBam]

Hmmm. Tubes in each tire. That would work. What a concept.!!!

 

[NOS-PRO]

Tubes would work

 

[steiner]

There is a product called Bead Sealer. Remove the tire and clean up the seat on the wheel and clean up the bead on the tire. Apply a coat of sealer to the seat of wheel and let dry or setup. Install the tire using the sealer as the lubricant and set the bead. I have found that it works very well. Tubes work but can be a pain and the tires where not meant to have tubes in them and most shops will forget to install the valve stem lock for the tube.

 

[YamBam]

Is the Bead Sealer an aerosol or do you paint it on?

 

[steiner]

It's a brush on product.
http://www.amazon.com/Xtra-14-101-XTRA-Seal-Sealer/dp/B000GKD722

 

[YamBam]

thanks Steiner. Hey, does anyone know, can you put inner tubes in radial tires? I have Carlisle radial tires.

 

[Tirebuster]

You can put a tube in a radial tire. Just make sure it's a radial tube.

 

[maxdlx]

I put the green slimmy #*$&@ in mine. Clean rims good mount tire deflate add green goup. Works good. Tire guys hate it when you do need a fix.

 

[blueironranger]

I put the green slimmy #*$&@ in mine. Clean rims good mount tire deflate add green goup. Works good. Tire guys hate it when you do need a fix.

there is a good reason, the "slime" reacts with the aluminum causing it to turn black and porous, seen it many times when I use to be an auto tech. I usually just scrub with a NEW stainless brush, primer, and paint the bead areas to fix bead leaks.

 

[maim]

on my bikes when I have to do it, I scrape them down, wire wheel them and then paint them before installing tire. could always do what we do to atv tires. mount them using aviation form a gasket. usually have to cut them off of the rim but no leaks until a sidewall goes missing.