What Causes Slow Punctures? | Hometyre Edinburgh Mobile Slow Puncture Repairs at Home or Work

With the recent weather, we’ve had more and more people call in regarding their TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) light illuminating on the dashboard. Whether it be a change in the air temperature causing the air pressure in the tyre to drop slightly to a genuine puncture, it’s always best to double check and monitor the tyre!

There are several potential reasons for a slow leaking tyre:

Punctures

A genuine puncture in the tyre tread: This is the most common cause of a slow leak as a foreign object has penetrated the tyre allowing air to escape. If the object is relatively small, such as a nail, a piece of glass, it can remain hidden deep within the tread and, in some cases, not even cause a pressure loss.

Valve Damage 

A more common issue is relating to a damaged valve stem: The valve stem is the part of the tyre that allows air to be added or removed. If the stem hasn’t been changed out before, there is a good chance that the rubber has become brittle and is leaking air from one of the cracks!

Wheel Damage

Instead of the tyre, the issue may lead to the wheel itself. At best, the issue could be with the bead. Corrosion on the bead of the wheel is more prevalent in older vehicles with steel wheels but can be seen on vehicles with alloy wheels. The corrosion starts to bubble up causing an uneven surface for the tyre to sit on allowing air to leak out. This can be cleaned back and resealed using a rubber sealant.

If you’re unlucky enough to encounter a pothole, who isn’t on our roads at the moment, you probably know the feeling of a sudden jolt as the wheel slams into the side of the hole followed by a moment of dread as you await the TPMS light to illuminate. If the wheel rim has been bent or damaged, the tyre won’t sit flush causing a leak.

Dry Rot

One that most daily drivers probably wont encounter as this is more for vehicles kept in extended periods of storage and more commonly found on caravans is dry rot: If a tyre is old or has been exposed to the sun for extended periods of time, it can develop dry rot, which can cause the tyre to become brittle and prone to cracking. Cracks in the tyre can lead to slow leaks.

It is important to address a slow leak as soon as possible, as driving on a tyre with low air pressure can be dangerous and can lead to further damage to the tyre. You should have the tyre repaired or replaced as soon as possible.