How to Check for Air Leaks in Your Tire

Article provided by wikihow the wikihow manual.

You might not notice a tire leaking air until it's flat, or nearly so. Driving on a flat tire can damage the rim beyond repair. If you have a tire pressure monitoring system on your car, it might give you early warning of an air leak. Regularly checking your tire pressure also gives you a chance to catch air leaks before they leave you stranded. But once you know a tire is leaking, finding the leak can be a challenge.

Steps

1. 1
   

   Jack the car up to take pressure off the leaking tire.
   Jack the car up to take pressure off the leaking tire. Remove the tire from your vehicle if possible to make it easier to check for hard-to-find leaks. If you're using a bike, lay the bike on its side to inspect the tire.

   Ads by Google

   Improve On Fuel Economy.

   Mobil, The Worlds Leading Synthetic Engine Oil. Find Out More Online.
   Mobil1.co.in
   • Remember to check the car's tires before jacking it up, and use only a jack meant to support the vehicle's weight. Never crawl underneath a vehicle supported by jacks.
2. 2
   

   Look for the leak.
   Look for the leak. If the puncture is large or an object that punctured your tire is still in the tire, it might be readily visible.
3. 3
   

   Listen for the tire leak.
   Listen for the tire leak. You might be able to hear the faint hiss of pressurized air escaping. Even if you can't pinpoint the exact location, hearing the leak can help you narrow down the search area.
4. 4
   

   Feel for the leak.
   Feel for the leak. Move the palm of your hand slowly across the area where you suspect the leak might be, about an inch away from the tire surface.
5. 5
   

   Fill a large spray bottle with one part liquid soap to four parts water.
   Fill a large spray bottle with one part liquid soap to four parts water. You can also keep this mixture on hand in your vehicle as part of an emergency kit. Spray the tire thoroughly all over, including around the valve stem and near the rim. You'll see air bubbles coming from the leak.

   
   

Tips

• Remember to check the sides of the tire, near the rim and around the air valve for leaks--not just the treads.
• If you still can't find the leak, lay the tire on its side. Cover the tire with water from a hose or bucket. If you see air bubbles forming along the bead where the tire meets the rim, you've located a hard-to-find air leak.
• Once you've located the leak you have several options. You can seal the tire with a patch--if you have a patch and know how to use it--or use an aerosol tire inflator/sealer. However, aa1car.com recommends against using an aerosol tire inflator/sealer if your car has direct tire pressure monitor. It is safe to use aerosol inflators/sealers with indirect tire pressure monitors.
• Your other options include installing the spare tire, or if the leak is very slow you can fill the tire with air, then drive slowly and carefully to a service station.

Things You'll Need

• Spray bottle
• Mixture of one part liquid soap to four parts water
• 
  

Article provided by wikihow the wikihow manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Check for Air Leaks in Your Tire. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.