Flat tyres (Just a wee moan)

barnaclebill

A few years ago I bought some tyre dust caps that needed a small tool to unscrew them, this was to prevent kids letting the air out.
They worked ok for me but my garage broke the small pin in the tool (ham fisted) but worth trying if it is kids fooling around.

paulpud

Tyres can go flat sometimes for no apparent reason, it's a problem I have with my car. My tyres will be fine sometimes for weeks then I'll go out to the car to find a tyre has gone flat overnight. The chap who does my tyres has told me the alloy wheels aren't very good and getting a good seal between the tyre and the wheel is difficult and, as mentioned earlier, I think temperature can have something to do with it.

The really small very cheap inflators aren't great but I keep one of these in the car

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/ring-automotive-air-compressor-12v-100psi-a12kc

I paid about 12 quid for it a year or so ago and it does the job perfectly - 5 minutes and the tyre is back up and good to go until the next time it decides to deflate.

Miss165

Thanks for all the replies.

Unfortunately the garage hasn't been to look at the car yet, however I did treat myself to a tyre compressor (comes with a nice wee bag and everything!:D)

I put both tyres up but they slowly deflated (You could hear the hissing) and I've just checked now after 1 hour and both are flat again.

neilmcl

Miss165 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies.

Unfortunately the garage hasn't been to look at the car yet, however I did treat myself to a tyre compressor (comes with a nice wee bag and everything!:D)

I put both tyres up but they slowly deflated (You could hear the hissing) and I've just checked now after 1 hour and both are flat again.

Could you tell where the hissing was coming from, ie, tyre or valves?

vqmismatch

If the valves are hissing a not uncommon prank where I grew up was to crack off the valve cores slightly. It lets the tyres down without having to hold down the needle and allows a much faster getaway.

A 99p valve core tool is needed to do them up.

Norman_Castle

If you pour water onto the tyres you may be able to find the leak.

Robisere

neilmcl wrote: »

Could you tell where the hissing was coming from, ie, tyre or valves?

Wet fingers, hold over each valve. You will feel it if the valve(s) is/are leaking. Another source may be a puncture in both tyres from something on the road, which seems unlikely as it would have to be something lying across your path and the width of the car. Sorry I did not get back to you about the inflator, glad you have one but after this problem is sorted, you will need it again, to regularly check correct tyre pressures (from your car's manual).

Let us know how this turns out, I for one am interested to know if the valves have been tampered with. Unless someone has actually pushed something into the tyres.

Miss165

The mechanic just called and said it looked as though someone had vandalised my tyres. There were small punctures on the sides of both.

I don't know if perhaps it's worthwhile reporting this? Not that I'm expecting any action of course, but just if it has happened to other people or is the beginning of a course of vandalism in the area. Thoughts?

neilmcl

Yes, you should report it.

Miss165

Just got the bill... £180