Car tyre keeps losing air pressure

roadsidetree

Hi,

my BMW 3 series front driver side run flat tyre keeps losing air pressure. In a typical week OH has to fill air at least 2 or 3 times.

OH took car to BMW dealer and explained the issue. They checked for puncture and said the tyre is fine. But still it keeps losing air pressure which is very annoying.

just wondering whether do we have to replace this tyre? any advice please.

Jamie_Carter

There are a few things that can cause this:

1. A slow puncture
2. The tyre not sealed properly to the wheel.
3. The valve leaking
4. A damaged wheel

The most likely if there is no puncture is the tyre not sealed properly, as they should have changed the valve when they checked the tyre.

diesel_dog

It could be the actual wheel itself that is allowing the air to leak out.

Might be worth taking it somewhere else for another opinion.

WestonDave

How old is the car and is the tyre on an alloy wheel - with age they can have a layer lift away which creates a gap that air can get out as the wheel goes over bumps. Its hard to spot when the wheel is static and fully inflated as that holds the tyre hard against the wheel, but bumps in the road can knock it away and let air out. Might be worth going to a tyre place and asking if they can take the tyre off the wheel, give the wheel a good scrape around and then refit it. Other than that, if it is delamination which isn't fixed that way then the wheel will need to be refurbished.

DonnySaver

I have the exact same problem with my Toyota front wheels. They are alloy and they are 7 years old. My tyres aren't sealing properly around the rim - this is especially problematic in colder weather. My dealership has tried rubbing the alloy rims down and it is slightly better but they have advised me to take the wheels to an alloy refurb company and have the inner rims shot-blasted and re-laquered. They've told me it will cost about £40 per wheel.

roadsidetree

it is 2006 reg 320i auto series. we bought this from local BMW dealer slightly less than year ago.

will get OH to take it to local kwik fit and try to get second opinion

thanks to all your replies.

DonnySaver

roadsidetree wrote: »

it is 2006 reg 320i auto series. we bought this from local BMW dealer slightly less than year ago.

will get OH to take it to local kwik fit and try to get second opinion

thanks to all your replies.

NO NO NO!! DON'T GO TO KWIK FIT !! They'll rob you blind and find all sorts of unneccessary work that needs doing! Go somewhere independent please!

OddballJamie

My boss used to have the same problem when he had a 330D, turned out to be cracked alloys. It's a common fault on BMW large alloys with run flats, was featured on Watch Dog few years back.

He ended up replacing all wheels and switching to normal tyres.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/consumer_advice/bmw_latest.shtml

diesel_dog

DonnySaver wrote: »

NO NO NO!! DON'T GO TO KWIK FIT !! They'll rob you blind and find all sorts of unneccessary work that needs doing! Go somewhere independent please!

I'll second this as it's great advice :T

john_white

DonnySaver wrote: »

NO NO NO!! DON'T GO TO KWIK FIT !! They'll rob you blind and find all sorts of unneccessary work that needs doing! Go somewhere independent please!

I took my car to KF and they checked and replaced the valve for free.

facade

DonnySaver wrote: »

I have the exact same problem with my Toyota front wheels. They are alloy and they are 7 years old. My tyres aren't sealing properly around the rim - this is especially problematic in colder weather. My dealership has tried rubbing the alloy rims down and it is slightly better but they have advised me to take the wheels to an alloy refurb company and have the inner rims shot-blasted and re-laquered. They've told me it will cost about £40 per wheel.

This problem is getting worse since the use of zinc chromate primer has been curtailed, nothing else will stick to alloy. I had to have all 4 wheels refurbed on my Nissan at 4 years old, I see in the forums that all the other boys get new wheels under warranty at 2 years old.:mad:

I agree the OPs problem is very likely a damaged wheel.