Alloy wheel and tyre pressure

[JDougan]

My Toyota Auris (2013) offside rear tyre is leaking air - significant drops of up to 10 psi within a few days of pumping tyre. Two visits to different KwikFits have told me the tyre is in good shape and that I need to have the alloy wheel refurbished as this is what is causing the tyre not to grip the wheel properly resulting in air loss. Now a body repair shop says I'd be wasting my money (£75+vat) to have this done and I'd be better with a new wheel. Has anyone else had this problem and how did you resolve it ?

[Catlover]

I normally would dismiss much of what a KwikFit fitter says, but this time I tend to agree with them, and £75+vat for a wheel refurb is about right. That would include repainting the wheel, bring it like new.

[eygo]

i dont think there will be a cheap resolution for this isssue as i think the wheel has taken a knock and distorted the rim and this is why you are losing air ,

when you go over bumps in the road the tyre will flex and this is probably when the tyre leaks some air.

solution buy another rim

[flash22]

Avoid quikfit like the plague, find a local independent they should dunk test it or pull the tyre inspect it and clean the bead, they may even use some bead sealer

if you have a valve tool make sure the stem is tight

Its ott to refurb the rim it its ok, a spin on a balancer will soon show if its out of shape

[TonyHSD]

Kwick unfit are the worst garages in uk for sure. However this time what you bee told might make sense . If the wheel is corroded the corrosive part deforms and make the wheel out of shape and it is the reason indeed for air pressure lost. It depends if the wheel is in good shape in general and if you find some good traders that can refurbish it properly may be a good decision, or perhaps just get a used one in better conditions of eBay. Just look around and do what is best for you. One of ours is exactly the same. You can temporarily fit it with that spray can: Holts Tyreweld 400ml https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000Y8WB8W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_zPzpEb4RH8T7W

, I did few cars including the current one with success. 
Good luck 

[flash22]

if there is corrosion on it the seat, when the tyre is pulled they will see it they should wiz it off with a sander/roloc and use a bit bead sealer job done

 

I hate tyre slime it makes a mess for the fitters = ££

[TonyHSD]

Some independent garage perhaps can do it, but kwick fit, omg don’t think so. 👍

[Stivino]

I know I can recommend this place.

I've used them myself and they did a good job.

They are just off the city by-pass at the exit after the one for Ikea.  That's if one was heading east.

[JDougan]

Thanks for all your recommendations. The body repair shop didn't look at the wheel but seemed to be suggesting this might be a common problem with Toyota but I don't get any sense of that from those of you who have responded. A fuller inspection of the wheel seems the best way forward. Thanks again.

[Stivino]

My Toyota alloys are 12 years old and look like new, they don't let air out, either.

[TonyHSD]

The corrosion on any car and components depends on where and how the car has been used, vehicles travelling on motorways in winter times and those who are used in mountain regions and areas with harsh conditions, salt grid, ice snow, sand, mud, all those are prone to corrosion. My both Auris has corroded alloys, and btw both cars had the alloys refurbished at some point of ownership before, I can see that clearly. Toyota cars in general doesn’t have the best body protection despite they have long warranty on paper. AUDI and vag in general are one of the best in that terms. Also it is important whether or not the painting is genuine on the car including alloys, once the original coat is damaged or repaired it will not be as good as factory one for sure. 
Regards 

[Steve 10]

Put some soapy water into a squirt bottle and check it yourself.

Try around the tyre bead, very common to leak here.

Is the rim damaged ?

[Stivino]

IMHO Toyota bodywork is as good as anybody else's.  They offer the same 12 anti-perforation warranty as VW/Audi.

Mine is 12 years old and there's not a mark on the paint, it's like new.

[MagicBoy]

Worth noting that anti-perforation warranties only cover corrosion that starts inside and works its way to the surface

[JDougan]

52 minutes ago, Steve 10 said:

Put some soapy water into a squirt bottle and check it yourself.

Try around the tyre bead, very common to leak here.

Is the rim damaged ?

I can't see any damage. Although over 6 years old, I've only had the car for 3 months and I've certainly not had any bumps but there could be something preexisting. It's also inconsistent and i suppose might only happen when forces play on the wheel over different road surfaces, so I'm not sure it will register even with soapy water. The KwikFit people did this without success - though given what was said earlier maybe i should try it anyway. Thanks.

[Steve 10]

16 minutes ago, JDougan said:

I can't see any damage. Although over 6 years old, I've only had the car for 3 months and I've certainly not had any bumps but there could be something preexisting. It's also inconsistent and i suppose might only happen when forces play on the wheel over different road surfaces, so I'm not sure it will register even with soapy water. The KwikFit people did this without success - though given what was said earlier maybe i should try it anyway. Thanks.

I used to fit tyres in my younger days and came across this quite often.

Generally caused by inbedded dirt and old rubber along the rim bead.

Removing the tyre and a good clean with a wire brush, then coat with bead lubricant.

Usually solved the problem.

Sometimes you have to squirt very soapy liquid and leave for 5 mins to find the real slow leaks.

[JDougan]

That's helpful. Thanks.

[mrpj]

I'd also squirt some soapy water at the valve or even just change the valve core before spending larger amounts on refurbishment, resealing etc..

As Flash suggests, the whole wheel and tyre needs dunking in a big bath of water.

[yossarian247]

16 hours ago, TonyHSD said:

The corrosion on any car and components depends on where and how the car has been used, vehicles travelling on motorways in winter times and those who are used in mountain regions and areas with harsh conditions, salt grid, ice snow, sand, mud, all those are prone to corrosion. My both Auris has corroded alloys, and btw both cars had the alloys refurbished at some point of ownership before, I can see that clearly. Toyota cars in general doesn’t have the best body protection despite they have long warranty on paper. AUDI and vag in general are one of the best in that terms. Also it is important whether or not the painting is genuine on the car including alloys, once the original coat is damaged or repaired it will not be as good as factory one for sure. 
Regards 

The only car I've ever had seriously corroded/porous alloys on was VW Group! (Ok it was a Skoda and perhaps the quality of the wheels was not so good with it being their budget range.) One of the wheels used to lose 5-10 psi per week, regardless of what tyre was fiitted to it. Coupled with the car developing weird blisters under the paint on the doors by the time it was 5 years old it didn't create a very good impression of VW group's rustproofing abilities.

[oldcodger]

Hi,

Have this 'leaking' problem on 3  of 4  the wheels on my 2006 Corolla, which I suspect is down to corroded rims rather than deformed ones.

Had enquired at a few places about having them refurbished as there is a lot of paint peeling /corrosion around the center /wheel nuts, but they all need the car or just the wheels for a week !

Had looked at getting replacement alloys but so many on the market, though few looking anything like the originals as we do not want to make it look like a boy racer, plus its hard to tell what quailty /strength they are, as have read cheaper ones can be easily dented /kerbed.

Can anyone suggest a good alternative rim to the original ones c?   other than that seems the only other way  is to buy a set second hand wheels and get my old ones refurbished, probably costing about £400 - £500 in total ( ouch!)

[eygo]

if your rims aren't kerbed then try a company that powder coats as they will be able to blast the wheels before powder coating them

as you will probably pay a premium for using a company the specialises in refurbing wheels

[flash22]

The big company around here is https://www.lepsons.com/

[Mooly]

A Corsa that lives on our avenue used to always have four very flat looking tyres and the owner said they all deflated at about the same rate and would do so in just 3 or 4 days. They were alloys and the official diagnosis had been that they were porous. I think he tried some kind of sealer (done by a tyre outfit) but they were always troublesome.