Maintaining proper tire pressure is critical to your safety, fuel efficiency and the lifespan of your tires. But sometimes there may be an unexpected drop in pressure without an obvious puncture being responsible; this may be caused by temperature fluctuations, slow leaks in valve or rim or minor sidewall damage.
Temperature Changes
Tyres lose air due to natural permeation of rubber, which increases with temperature. Your pressure in your tyres also varies with temperature; every 10 degree Fahrenheit drop causes one or two PSI loss per 10-degree drop, meaning your TPMS light activates on cold winter mornings and you need to fill your tires more often than in warmer climates.
Tires will gradually lose pressure over time without incurring damage, as air molecules seep in through their sidewalls and rim. The process may speed up at higher temperatures but usually slows with age.
If your tires seem to be losing air slowly and you suspect a slow leak, use the time-tested soapy water method.
- Mix equal parts dish soap and water in a spray bottle
- Apply this solution liberally across them
- Pay particular attention to tread areas, sidewalls, bead areas, valve stems and valve stem caps
- Any bubbles appearing here indicate where air may be escaping
- Although extremely slow leaks may be difficult to spot
- Listening for hissing noises near damaged rims may help as well as listening out for hissing sounds that intensifies as an indicator.
No matter the cause, it is vitally important to regularly monitor tire pressure and address any potential issues promptly. Underinflated tires are unsafe, reduce fuel efficiency and performance, increase risk of flats, and require roadside assistance services more often.
Addressing slow leaks can increase tire life by thousands of miles while eliminating roadside assistance costs altogether.
Permeation
When you notice that your tires have low air pressure, recharging them quickly to reach recommended levels is likely necessary. But if it becomes necessary time after time without any visible damages or punctures appearing on inspection, there could be something hidden going on behind the scenes that needs attention.
Permeation, or the movement of gas and vapor through materials, can cause your tyres to gradually lose air pressure over time without any obvious damage or punctures. Although a natural process, permeation still decreases their life and performance significantly.
Permeability in rubber tires is determined by both their inherent elasticity and chemical composition, which determines both how much air can pass through it quickly as well as its amount. High quality tires tend to be less vulnerable to permeation.
Other causes of tyre loss include valve issues, wheel damage and slow leaks in the bead or rim. Regular inspection can detect these problems which may require professional assessment; to do this, follow your car owner’s manual or the driver-side doorjamb for guidance.
Inspect your tires on a regular basis to spot these issues as early detection can prevent costly repair bills in the future. A maintenance routine will keep your tyres at optimal pressure to ensure safe and fuel-efficient driving experiences.
Valve Issues
The valve stem and core seal are crucial in providing air to enter and keep tires inflated, but over time their performance can deteriorate, leading to slow air loss with no discernable punctures or visible damage present.
An improperly fitted pressure cap or missing one can let air escape through the valve stem of your tire and can also become worn over time due to exposure to road chemicals.
Bead damage at the intersection between tire and wheel rim can compromise an air-tight seal and cause slowly leakage of air from your tire over time, which could be the result of driving over an excessive pothole or curb, an inadequate installation by an inexperienced technician, or corrosion.
In order to detect slow leaks on tires, spraying with soapy water containing 20% detergent (for denser results) and looking for bubbles is the easiest way. Spray both inside and outside the wheel as well as across tread and sidewall areas including valve stem bead areas before wiggling valve stem to detect movements or vibration.
A technician inspection can assist in pinpointing its source while regularly checking and maintaining correct tire pressure can ensure you have a safer driving experience while saving fuel efficiently.
Wheel Damage
Many wheel damage issues cause air loss without visible punctures or leaks, creating slow air loss that is sometimes irreparable and poses safety risks to drivers on the road. Bent rims create vibrations at highway speeds which increases risk of sudden tire failure.
If you hear any clunking, thumping, grinding, scraping, whining, roaring or clicking noises coming from your wheels, be sure to visit Les Schwab for professional inspection by one of our technicians. These sounds could indicate structural problems like cracks in the wheels as well as dented or warped areas that require replacement wheels.
Structural damage that compromises a wheel’s integrity is usually irreparable and must be replaced immediately. Such damage may result from hitting potholes, curbs or road debris as well as driving over obstacles at an inappropriate speed or angle which stresses out their carcass and causes individual cords to rupture causing irreparable structural damage to occur.
One quick and effective way to detect bead leaks is to spray the inner side of your tire with soapy water (we suggest adding 20% detergent), with valve stem and wheel in place.
Bubbles will appear where there is a bead leak; this allows for professional repairs to take place more easily. Inspect your rim and valve stem for corrosion damage as this could also contribute to bead leakage issues.
