Leaky tire? maybe not...
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 197
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Leaky tire? maybe not... I had a weird thing happen last week when mounting some 315's.
I came out to my car the next day and one tire was flat. while filling it back up the valve was leaky on the OUTSIDE of the stem's base... not through the middle.
Once I got to the shop the tech soaped the wheel and we saw bubbles comming from the valve stem base and from the rear edge where there was a clip-on wheel weight (which I really hate using anyway... I forgot to ask for stick-ons only when they balanced it).
So we ditched the clip-on weights, and buffed the wheel down, then added some tire sealer to the bead and valve stem surfaces before putting it all together. Works great.
The issue is that this rim is an original from a texas-purchased 1995 ZR1. It's chromed (probably a local dealer option, I was under the impression ZR1's were painted from the factory supplier), and the chrome is starting to lift in its old age. :/
So as an FYI, when the chrome goes bad (yes it well eventually), you may have sealing problems where the chrome starts to bubble. As a temporary fix, you can knock off the chrome, buff it smooth as possible, and apply tire sealant... that should help. But ideally, you'll need to get it re-chromed...
Fortunately I have 2 spare ZR1 rims to chrome and rotate in. Extra rims/tires are always a good thing.
While I've seen bad chrome jobs, or even old chrome bubble like this, I never gave much thought to it affecting the seal abilities of the wheel... just FYI.
<--- this has nothing to do with this thread... it's just damn funny. :p
I came out to my car the next day and one tire was flat. while filling it back up the valve was leaky on the OUTSIDE of the stem's base... not through the middle.
Once I got to the shop the tech soaped the wheel and we saw bubbles comming from the valve stem base and from the rear edge where there was a clip-on wheel weight (which I really hate using anyway... I forgot to ask for stick-ons only when they balanced it).
So we ditched the clip-on weights, and buffed the wheel down, then added some tire sealer to the bead and valve stem surfaces before putting it all together. Works great.
The issue is that this rim is an original from a texas-purchased 1995 ZR1. It's chromed (probably a local dealer option, I was under the impression ZR1's were painted from the factory supplier), and the chrome is starting to lift in its old age. :/
So as an FYI, when the chrome goes bad (yes it well eventually), you may have sealing problems where the chrome starts to bubble. As a temporary fix, you can knock off the chrome, buff it smooth as possible, and apply tire sealant... that should help. But ideally, you'll need to get it re-chromed...
Fortunately I have 2 spare ZR1 rims to chrome and rotate in. Extra rims/tires are always a good thing.
While I've seen bad chrome jobs, or even old chrome bubble like this, I never gave much thought to it affecting the seal abilities of the wheel... just FYI.
<--- this has nothing to do with this thread... it's just damn funny. :p 
