1. KNOW YOUR TIRES’ AGE
When it comes to age, most tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires after 10 years. If your tire age is getting up there,you have a higher risk of your tire developing a slow leak. Over time the tread of your tire will wear down. If it’s a case of wear and age, your best solution is to replace the tires.
2. INSPECT YOUR VALVE STEM FOR ANY DAMAGE
The valve stem is the opening on a wheel you use to inflate or release air from a tire. When it comes to a slow leak, the main parts you should be concerned with are the valve stem core and the valve stem cap. Over time, these parts can corrode or get blocked with debris. You can keep valve stems from being a leakage point by getting them replaced each time you buy a new set of tires for your vehicle.
3. CHECK FOR SMALL PUNCTURES ON YOUR TIRES
Tires are designed to handle all sorts of road conditions, but rough terrain and sharp objects can make an impression over time. Objects like rubble and rocks to nails and screws can either get embedded in your tire or make tiny holes through the tire rubber that cause a slow leak.
If your tires happen to get punctured, do you need to replace them? Not necessarily. If the punctures are under ¼ inches, it is possible to get your tire patched and repaired in most cases.
4. LOOK FOR DAMAGE TO YOUR WHEEL RIM
We all cringe when we hit a rough patch of road. Sinking into a pothole or hitting a curb wrong can do just enough damage to your wheel rim to cause a slow leak. Any bending can ruin the seal between your wheel rim and actual tire and let air escape. Sometimes the wheel can develop a small crack as a result from pothole damage causing a slow leak.
5. CHECK THE TIRE BEAD SEAL
Take a close look where the edge of your rubber tire and metal wheel rim meets. This joining area is called the bead. When your tire is properly inflated, the tire bead is seated flush on the bead portion of the rim. Although the bead is hidden from view, it can be easy to identify leaks from this area with soapy water. Contaminants trapped in this area can cause a slow leak.
