Tires
Can I Use Bigger Tires on My Car?
Can I use bigger tires on my car? Discover the pros, cons, and impacts on fuel and handling. Visit Tires Plus for expert advice on your tire upgrade!
Read More
×
‹
Schedule An Appointment
Schedule An Appointment
Get An Oil Change
Your Nearest Store:
4700 N Brandywine Dr
Peoria, IL
309.340.4981
Most stores are open nights and weekends
Store Hours:
| Day(s) | Hours |
|---|---|
| MON-SUN: | 8:00am-5:00pm |
| Christmas Eve: | 8:00am-4:00pm |
| Christmas Day: | Closed |
Schedule Service
Your Nearest Store:
4700 N Brandywine Dr
Peoria, IL
309.340.4981
Most stores are open nights and weekends
Store Hours:
| Day(s) | Hours |
|---|---|
| MON-SUN: | 8:00am-5:00pm |
| Christmas Eve: | 8:00am-4:00pm |
| Christmas Day: | Closed |
Search For Batteries
All fields are required
Alignment Service
All fields are required
HOW TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX A SLOW TIRE LEAK Spot slow leaks early that sabotage your car tire pressure.
Dashboard warning lights are how your car communicates when something’s not right with your vehicle. So, it can be frustrating when your TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitor System) warning light stays on regularly, even after inflating tires to the right PSI. If it’s not a sensor issue, you may have a slow leak deflating your tire. We’ll talk you through what a slow leak is and how to identify the signs of a slow leak in a car tire.
Complete Auto Care, It's What We're All About
Getting new tires for your car is one of the easiest ways to keep your car running newer, longer. We should know – Firestone’s 113-year legacy in the tire industry makes us experts. But we’re more than just experts in tires – we're the complete package for auto repair. With our 87 years of service experience, we are your source for tune-ups, oil changes, brakes, wheel alignment, car batteries – you name it.
So look around. Shop our full line-up of Firestone, Bridgestone and Primewell tires for most driving styles and vehicle types. See your recommended maintenance schedule, find a nearby store or schedule an appointment – even at night or on weekends at most stores. Then, consider your ride renewed.
HOW TO FIND A SLOW LEAK IN YOUR CAR TIRE
A slow leak is exactly what it sounds like. It is when air steadily escapes your tires through a hole or gap in the fit of your tire. Unless you can stop air from escaping, a tire with a slow leak will always have low tire pressure after some time. Consistently low tire pressure has real consequences, because when tires have low air, they can overheat and even cause a tire blowout. That means the longer you drive around on tires with a slow leak, the more damage you can cause to your vehicle.
Luckily, this can be avoided when you pay attention to warning signs that point to tire issues. Here’s how to spot the signs of a car tire slow leak:
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.
HOW TO FIX A SLOW LEAK IN A CAR TIRE
Stopping a slow leak starts with identifying the source of the problem. A place to start is to look for the signs we’ve outlined above. If you are still having trouble, a good DIY method to narrow down suspects is the soap water method. You can use this method at home by following these steps:
- Apply soap and water to your tires. Create a soapy water mixture and pour it over your tire sidewall, tire treads, tire bead, and tire valve stem.
- Bubbles will show air escaping. Let the mixture sit for a couple minutes. You’ll see groups of bubbles start to appear around the source of the leak.
- Still having trouble? Get help from the experts. Slow leaks can be hard to spot. Bring your vehicle to the experts who can diagnose and fix the slow leak source.
Want to stop a slow leak for good? Our expert tire technicians can help. At Tires Plus we will thoroughly inspect your vehicle to get to the root of the problem. Whether you need a slow leak fixed or other auto repair services, visit your nearest Tires Plus for all your tires needs.
LEARN MORE ABOUT TIRES
Auto Care Tips & Advice
Filter By:
Read More
Maintenance
Everything You Need to Know About Fuel System Cleanings
Is your car experiencing hesitation or rough acceleration? A fuel system cleaning may help with that! Learn about the benefits of fuel system cleaning here.
Read More
News & Events
Don't Miss Out on Tires Plus' 2024 Black Friday Deals!
Ready to find out how you can save big with Tires Plus Black Friday deals in 2024? Gear up for our biggest and best deals of the year. Click to learn more!
Read More
LOAD 3 MORE
SHOWING 6 OF 12