Leaking rim seal on alloy wheel ..

[Petrolize]

Looking for some advice,

One alloy on our car has a leaking rim/tyre seal..

Will the alloy have to be refurbished, which means it will never be as good again, and costs £50-60. Bear in mind the nearest reputable refurbishment centre is at least a 200mile round trip. A set of refurbished alloys will cost £110, and although it will be more of a ‘dull silver’, at least they will all be matching.

Alternatively buying a single alloy is an option, but none are for sale on eBay etc are in such good condition as the others on the car since it is a low mileage example. A brand new one would cost £190.

There is a set of 4 alloys for sale (in a larger size) from a higher spec model in top condition, which may suit the car quite well (or best to keep the car original)? This would cost £250+ including delivery.

Is there an easy solution..

Thank you in anticipation

[Eggman]

Try explaining the problem your local tyre shop first - ask them to remount the tyre. They may do it for a 'drink' if they're quiet (or the boss isn't around); swapping tyres seems to be a fitter's perk in the independents.

I had a wheel that leaked to the extent that it needed air every other day and would be completely flat after about 3. When I was getting some new tyres, I asked the fitter to pay special attention to that corner and he painted the inside of the rim with some black gloopy stuff that looked like mastic. Problem solved.

[sidgolf]

all the tyre place will do is remove the tyre, grind the corrosion away where the tyre-bead sits,paint some black'gloop'on the same area,refit tyre and away you go.

wheel looks exactly the same before and after.

[Eggman]

Grind? Wire brush!

[Petrolize]

Thank you for the responses, it sounds an easy job, however it was a tyre place we took the wheel first. It was originally thought there was a problem with the tyre, and not the alloy as such.

[Eggman]

Did you watch them doing the job? The guy who cured my leaky wheel went to quite some trouble wire brushing it and feeling for any roughness before he applied the gloop. You'd notice them doing that. If not, get back to the shop!

Also, try to choose the oldest and most grizzled-looking fitter if at all possible; the child-apprentices invariably seem to make a crap job of anything remotely out of the ordinary.

[TheEnd]

The black stuff is bead sealer, pretty similar to the rubber glue you'd get in bike puncture repair kits.

Works great for that stuff, but i do remember going into a tyre place, and the guy in there had never heard of it.

I'm amazed anyone could work in an particular industry and not have come across something that most of the other places use.