Just my luck

[firefighter4634]

So I went out to the garage after work today since the weather was very warm for this time of year and take the new trike for a short ride. I was excited since I have not road it since trailering in home in a snow storm. That's when I noticed the right rear tire was flat. I aired it up and then starting looking for the cause, with soapy water I found the bead was leaking ever so slowy. I know I need to take the wheel off, break the bead and try to reseal it. I was just wondering if anyone else has ever had trouble with new wheels and tires sealing or did I just get lucky, lol.

 

[1dn5up]

So I went out to the garage after work today since the weather was very warm for this time of year and take the new trike for a short ride. I was excited since I have not road it since trailering in home in a snow storm. That's when I noticed the right rear tire was flat. I aired it up and then starting looking for the cause, with soapy water I found the bead was leaking ever so slowy. I know I need to take the wheel off, break the bead and try to reseal it. I was just wondering if anyone else has ever had trouble with new wheels and tires sealing or did I just get lucky, lol.

2things cause that, aluminum wheels will oxidize at the bead causing a leak, and/or the tire bead will get hard and loose its sealing factor. Have my front tire leakin at bead as well, takes a week b4 I air it up for now. The tire needs replacing soon so I'll wate. If there new, then break the bead and put some bead sealer goo around the wheel bead, then air up.

 

[GoldWingrGreg]

Usually bead leaks can be resolved if you take the tire/wheel assembly to a good tire store.

 

[rhino 2]

. I know I need to take the wheel off, break the bead and try to reseal it. I was just wondering if anyone else has ever had trouble with new wheels and tires sealing or did I just get lucky, lol.

Just something that happens, If you are going to break the bead and clean the rim yourself, When you go to reset it, Take a ratchet strap and tighten it around the treads of the tire, this way when you air it up the beads will set faster' with less air needed if you don't have a large capacity compressor.. I've been doing it that way for years, From small wheel barrel tires to large Tractor tires...

 

[CrystalPistol]

... etc ... I know I need to take the wheel off, break the bead and try to reseal it. I was just wondering if anyone else has ever had trouble with new wheels and tires sealing or did I just get lucky, lol.

Did you have the new tires mounted on the new wheels or were they shipped mounted?

Possible they were simply aired up to about normal psi for trike use (20-25 psi) only and never fully seated ...
... and just as possible no lubricant was used and that too sill inhibit bead sealing?

New tires with new wheels should seal without cleaning rust / dirt / corrosion / etc from bead areas but the need for lubricant and sufficient seating pressure still applies..

Before you do all that breaking down, try spraying a little "RuGlyde" in around the edge of the bead between tire and rim while it's totally deflated and then air up to 40 psi to fully seat the bead. After seated, then you can let it back down to 20-25 psi as desired. You can likely do this "on the trike" but at worst, you maybe lay the tire down on the floor.

"RuGlyde" (aka: "Ru-Glyde") is a water soluble soap like lubricant for rubber, comes in sizes from spray cans up to 55 gallon drums, NAPA sells it as does Walmart, etc. .... is a tire protectant / lubricant used mostly for mounting, but makes a great dressing that will not harm rubber and is great for spraying on bushings in suspension parts, etc. Used to be sold by Gulf and other gas stations. I buy it by the gallon myself, been a staple here for over 40 years. I keep some in a handy dandy spray bottle.

Good stuff, dates back into the '30s. http://www.trademarkia.com/ruglyde-71413881.html

 

[Shimpy]

Just something that happens, If you are going to break the bead and clean the rim yourself, When you go to reset it, Take a ratchet strap and tighten it around the treads of the tire, this way when you air it up the beads will set faster' with less air needed if you don't have a large capacity compressor.. I've been doing it that way for years, From small wheel barrel tires to large Tractor tires...

When tubeless was first introduced they were all installed that way. They had a special tube that fit the OD of the tire and when inflated held the tire tight to the rim.

 

[rhino 2]

When tubeless was first introduced they were all installed that way. They had a special tube that fit the OD of the tire and when inflated held the tire tight to the rim.

Yep, Unless you have a large volume commercial air compressor, Thats about the only way to seat the beads on a tire thats off the rims...

 

[michael2480]

If it's a small bead leak you can also try airing it up to max pressure, lay it down on the floor and with a good rubber mallet beat on the tire next to the bead where it's leaking. Check with soapy water to see if it stops. If it simply didn't seat properly when installed this will usually solve the problem.

 

[GoldWingrGreg]

"RuGlyde"

Like CP says. Most tires shops use RuGlyde or a similar product when mounting tires. It aids in mounting, sealing, and then dries. However, tire shops have newer products to help specifically with bead leaks. I had them stop a bead leak on my Toyota. If I recall, it's way a blackish tar used to assist in sealing.

 

[Cruiserbike]

Tire seal issue

You may want to go for a little ride. This way the tire can warm up and move a little on the rimto help in sealing it. Just a thought to try if it is new.

 

[rhino 2]

You may want to go for a little ride. This way the tire can warm up and move a little on the rimto help in sealing it. Just a thought to try if it is new.

Welcome to Trike-Talk and your first post...:wave4:

 

[Gorilla]

You may want to go for a little ride. This way the tire can warm up and move a little on the rimto help in sealing it. Just a thought to try if it is new.

welcome aboard

 

[Ed Hobgood]

You may want to go for a little ride. This way the tire can warm up and move a little on the rimto help in sealing it. Just a thought to try if it is new.

Welcome from Missouri:Coffee:.

 

[CrystalPistol]

Welcome to Trike-Talk and your first post...:wave4:

Oh yeah ...
... that too !!!!!!

 

[michael2480]

So I went out to the garage after work today since the weather was very warm for this time of year and take the new trike for a short ride. I was excited since I have not road it since trailering in home in a snow storm. That's when I noticed the right rear tire was flat. I aired it up and then starting looking for the cause, with soapy water I found the bead was leaking ever so slowy. I know I need to take the wheel off, break the bead and try to reseal it. I was just wondering if anyone else has ever had trouble with new wheels and tires sealing or did I just get lucky, lol.

Just read your original post again. Seems you already had a plan on how to take care of your issue and weren't asking for advise on how to fix it but just asking if anyone has had the same problem. The answer for me would be yes but it's usually not an issue. Whatever method you use to seat it usually takes care of the problem and you won't have anymore issues once it seals.

 

[lgjhn]

Just tossing in my 2 cents worth: IF the tire shop mounted the tire to an aluminum rim and used the old standard soap & water method as the tire mounting lubricant, it will corrode the rim to the point that the tire bead area will eventually start leaking.

I have had 2 Wings in my shop here recently with that very problem. One of these was absolutely terrible. It was leaking all the way around the rim on both sides! I pulled the tires off, and used a fine wire brush on an air tool to clean the corrosion off the rims.

The tire bead will also get very hard and it will tear easily if not careful on the remount. For lubricant, I use the No-Mar vegetable-based lubricant that will not harm aluminum rims or tires. I got both of these repaired and, so far, no leaks.