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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / March 2006Two flat tires...why?
Looked out the window today and noticed that the rear tire on the RV looked odd. There was a cover over it as the RV is winterized until our first trip in March. I took the covers off and the passenger side rear duals are both flat. Not only are they flat, but they will not inflate. The inner tire will go up to about 20 psi, but then goes down. The outer tire goes only to 5 psi, then deflates. Both are distorted. The RV is parked on blocks that are 2 ft square on the lawn beside the house. The other tires are OK. The vehicle hasn't been moved for several months. The tires are relatively new, about 3 years old. Question: Why would these 2 tires both go down? Any ideas? John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee > Looked out the window today and noticed that the rear tire on the RV > looked odd. There was a cover over it as the RV is winterized until our [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee Are they on the side away from the house? If so you could suspect foul play. Other wise, check the age of your spare tire and if not over four years old, air it up and take both of the other tires down to the tire shop for inspection. They might be able to tell what happened. But you must remember time goes by fast and they might just be showing their age like me.  SignatureBut then I have been proclaimed to not know any thing I am talking about by the other folks here, so do as they say and dont blame me. :-) BILL P. Just Dog & ME I see where John Andrews <andrewsjp@chartertn.net> contributed: > The tires are relatively new, about 3 years >old. Question: Why would these 2 tires both go down? Any ideas? Have you made a neighbor mad, or do ya have vandals? Inspection of the tires will determine if they've been slashed, had the valves loosened, or just has a slow leak from a nail. Either way they won't re-inflate until demounted and allowed to resume round shape. Will Sill The Curmudgeon of Sill Hill > Inspection of the tires will determine if they've been slashed, had > the valves loosened, or just has a slow leak from a nail. Either way > they won't re-inflate until demounted and allowed to resume round > shape. Bingo, that happened to me a couple of times with a single tire. Jacking up the tire so that it is off the ground might help since you say that it does hold some pressure. That might allow the seal at the rim to reestablish itself, or give you a chance to push it back into place. That's what I did. SignatureJon JPinOH >Looked out the window today and noticed that the rear tire on >the RV looked odd. There was a cover over it as the RV is [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee Severe puncture wound? Ice pickitis? SignatureFrank Tabor Because they have slow leaks?? Why else would a tire go down? SignatureSteve Barker > Looked out the window today and noticed that the rear tire on the RV > looked odd. There was a cover over it as the RV is winterized until our [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee > Because they have slow leaks?? Why else would a tire go down? I have actually experinced a tire going totally flat because the pressure got low enough to allow it to seperate from the rim. There wasn't a puncture, it was just me not checking it often enough. SignatureJon JPinOH >>Because they have slow leaks?? Why else would a tire go down? > > I have actually experinced a tire going totally flat because the pressure > got low enough to allow it to seperate from the rim. There wasn't a > puncture, it was just me not checking it often enough. Sounds like I have to find a way to jack up the axil. The problem is that the RV is parked on grass with concrete pads just for the wheels. It is pretty wet here now so I have to find a good support for the jack on the wet ground. That is next. I am not proactive on this because it snowed today. John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee (Its not really cold, just a little snow.) Yeah I've had that happen also. WHEN THEY GET TO ABOUT FIVE )(*^)(&^(*^&%^%%!!!!! PSI! But the question is, why would they get low enough to break the bead?? Cause they have slow leaks. SignatureSteve Barker >> Because they have slow leaks?? Why else would a tire go down? > > I have actually experinced a tire going totally flat because the pressure > got low enough to allow it to seperate from the rim. There wasn't a > puncture, it was just me not checking it often enough. > Yeah I've had that happen also. WHEN THEY GET TO ABOUT > FIVE )(*^)(&^(*^&%^%%!!!!! PSI! But the question is, why would they get > low enough to break the bead?? Cause they have slow leaks. Tires are not permanently impermeable to air lose. Air does pass through the rubber and given enough time, the tire will go flat. That has nothing to do with puncture or a bad mounting job although those could be contributing factors. SignatureJon JPinOH >> Yeah I've had that happen also. WHEN THEY GET TO ABOUT >> FIVE )(*^)(&^(*^&%^%%!!!!! PSI! But the question is, why would they get [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >with puncture or a bad mounting job although those could be contributing >factors. According to the manufacturer's pamphlet I got with the new coach, tires can and will lose 1 - 1 1/2 pounds per month. The need to check those pressures on a regular basis is obvious. George >>>Yeah I've had that happen also. WHEN THEY GET TO ABOUT >>>FIVE )(*^)(&^(*^&%^%%!!!!! PSI! But the question is, why would they get [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > George I have no problem with that, but I am supprised that two tires on the same location went flat and none of the others show any indication of low pressure. However, the tires were rotated and balanced before we stored it this winter and the duals on both sides have stainless steel braid covered extensions on the valves. The weather should be nice on Thursday so I will get them off and inspected then. John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee >> On 13 Feb 2006 19:13:32 +0100, "Jon Porter" <jporter@netwalk.com> >I have no problem with that, but I am supprised that two tires >on the same location went flat and none of the others show any [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee I would suspect that the recent handling may be the culprit. I have had tires go flat for seemingly no reason. Once I had the wheels polished and found a tag axle tire flat the next morning, bead off the rim. I figured that the wheel polishers had hot the end f the stem with their polishing wheel and left a bit of polish in there holding the valve core open. On another occasion, I had wheels balanced and also had the steel braid extensions. Again, next morning, found a tire flat. found the extension had not been tightened. tightened it up and no more leaks.. Hope this helps, George That would be 18 psi a year. OK. If they start out at say even as low as 52 (where I run mine) then at the end of a full year, they'd be down to 34. Then I'd have to question why hasn't the unit been used for a full year, and what dummy wouldn't check the tires after they sat a full year? And NO not all tires lose air as a rule just sitting around. Granted, some seem to, but not all. If mine did, I'd be trading them in for some that don't. SignatureSteve Barker >>> Yeah I've had that happen also. WHEN THEY GET TO ABOUT >>> FIVE )(*^)(&^(*^&%^%%!!!!! PSI! But the question is, why would they get [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > George >That would be 18 psi a year. OK. If they start out at say even as low as >52 (where I run mine) then at the end of a full year, they'd be down to 34. >Then I'd have to question why hasn't the unit been used for a full year, and >what dummy wouldn't check the tires after they sat a full year? And NO not >all tires lose air as a rule just sitting around. Granted, some seem to, >but not all. If mine did, I'd be trading them in for some that don't. I run Michelins (Load Range E) on our Class B -- 65 front, 80 rear. I seldom need to add air, and when I do, it's never more than a couple of pounds. I probably lose more in checking them than they lose by themselves. GB in NC Are they tubeless? If so, rust and corrosion between the bead and teh rim will cause such leaks. If this is the case, you'll have to have them dismounted and a rubber seal applied. If they are tubes, they have a hole in the tube or the valve is bad. If you have AAA or similar insurance, they will come out and change them for you. If not, good luck! :-) Hank <~~~hates leaky tires one pissed neighbor? > Looked out the window today and noticed that the rear tire on the RV > looked odd. There was a cover over it as the RV is winterized until our [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee > one pissed neighbor? Not a chance... I am so well liked in the neighborhood..... hmmm! >>Looked out the window today and noticed that the rear tire on the RV >>looked odd. There was a cover over it as the RV is winterized until our [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >> >>John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee OK, here is the skinny! Both of the tires had rubber valve stems. The extension tubes places a stress on the stems causing them to crack and eventually to fail. Looking at the stems that failed indicated that they had a permanent set to them. They also had deep dirty cracks where the stems eventually failed. Looking up valve stems on the internet I find that the rubber stems are only good for 60 psi cold inflation pressure. High pressure stems are good for 100 psi and are metal. Two kinds are available, snap-in and those mounted with and o-ring and bolted through the rim. The quick answer was to replace the valve stems with high pressure metal stems. When that was done, the tires inflated properly and seem to be holding air (4 hours so far.) The work was done by Interstate Repair Service who was sent by AAA RV. I recommend this operation for RV tire service in the Knoxville area. The operator was knowledgable and skillfull and experienced with RV tires. His truck (not a tow rig) had all the equipment to do the job right. The operator pulled both wheels, replaced the valve stems with high pressure stems and was done in about 45 minutes. He also fixed a few small mistakes by my local tire vendor. AAA paid for the trip. I paid for the work. Next thing to do is to take the RV to the tire store and tell the manager of my experience, some feedback so to speak. Then get high pressure stems on the other side, while I watch, cause the workers there are more likely to do Corvetts than to do RVs. Thank to all who gave info. And my neighbors are off the hook. John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee >> one pissed neighbor? > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >>> >>> John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee > OK, here is the skinny! Both of the tires had rubber valve stems. The > extension tubes places a stress on the stems causing them to crack and [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee And if you are in a hot climate those rubber stems rot fast. When living in the San Fernando Valley, parking on blacktop parking lots with air temperatures reaching 120 degrees at times, the rubber stems only lasted about a year. Windshield wiper blades even less. >> OK, here is the skinny! Both of the tires had rubber valve stems. >> The extension tubes places a stress on the stems causing them to crack [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > air temperatures reaching 120 degrees at times, the rubber stems only > lasted about a year. Windshield wiper blades even less. Good point about the age of rubber valve stems. Well, the other two stems were replaced today at the Michelin dealer where the tires were originally purchased. Matlock Tire in Knoxville and in surrounding towns did the work. Both the remaining valve stems were cracked and about to fail, although one resisted removal fiercely. I sort of supervised the work by the tire technician. These guys are not tire experts. My oversight was needed to get the job done correctly. This guy had clearly never installed standoffs for the extensions before. And he had to be cautioned to not overtighten the wheel cover lock nuts. The air gun should not be used for these. Best to all. Lesson learned. SignatureJohn Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee |
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