Tyres losing pressure after M5 rim refurb

[FasterFreddy]

Hi
A friend of mine has an E39 M5 with original rims and fairly new Dunlops fitted. He recently had the rims refurbed to remove some kerb damage.

He's now finding that all 4 tyres are gradually losing pressure. After only 1-2 days they're dropping 5-10lbs.

I haven't seen the rims myself yet, but from what he's told me it sounds like the refurb people may not have removed the tyres from the rims when they did the work, but they did say it was a "difficult job" and that he might need new rims. Nice of them to tell him this after they did the work and took his money!

They're now trying to turn their back on him and wriggle out of fixing the problem. That's a separate issue. For the moment he wants to sort out the best way to solve the air loss in the short term.

Is this a common problem with these rims in particular?

Any specialists you would recommend he could take the car and get the rims inspected? He's based in London and Surrey so anywhere around the South would be handy.

[DVandrews]

Most leaks are around the bead or from the valve. Wifey's MX5(1 year old) and daughter's MX5(4 yrs old) both suffered with gradual loss of pressure. Removal of the tyres and some black rubbery type sealant around where the bead on the tyre alights permanently cured the problem. The local tyre centre were *very* helpful. It was a bit messy and the wheels needed a good clean afterwards. To test if the valves are leaking lick your finger and stretch a little saliva over the end of the valve (with the cap off), if this starts to create a bubble then the valves are leaking, another way is tank immersion to spot where air is tracking out.

I recently (Saturday) had my E39 M5 wheels refurbed and they appear to be just fine although I will be keeping a close eye on them.

Dave

Edited by DVandrews on Monday 1st November 11:21

[FasterFreddy]

I thought it could be the valves but for all 4 to leak I thought it would be unusual and there is apparently some signs of overspray on one of the valves, which is why I think the tyres may not have been taken off the rims. I can't believe they would take the tyres off and not remove the valves before painting them.

But if they didn't take the tyres off, how would the machining of the rim edge affect the seal unless they removed metal really close to the bead on the tyre?

[DVandrews]

Who knows? sometimes they push the tyres back off the rim a bit but dont remove them, if the area isnt properly cleaned then it could be that some detritus is between the tyre bead and the rim.

I think immersion in a water bath may give a clue as to where the leak is but it sounds like it is from the rim, it would be very unusual for the shell of the wheel to be porous, my guess is that some of the black gloop would see it fixed..

Dave

[volores]

Hi

I have had the same issue with my 18in Alloys on my 330d Msport Coupe - only occurring on one of the wheels. Was convinced I had a puncture given there was a dirty great big nail sticking out of the tyre - but when I took it in to the tyre fitters - the tyre itself wasn't leaking - it was all around the rim.

They suggested I had the wheels re-furbed after putting an extra bead of sealant around the rim - so, all wheels fully refurbed....look great.....but still have the same problem! - same wheel, looses pressure over a period of about a month!

To make it worse the other half kerbed one of the wheels pulling off the drive!

driving me mad as constanlty having to top it up......

[jshell]

Sounds like lack of soap/sealant between tyre and rim... btw, it's not glue.