A tire that keeps losing air can make you feel like you are chasing a problem you cannot see. You set the pressure, everything looks fine, then the warning comes back a few days later.
Most of the time, it is not a dramatic nail-in-the-tread situation. It is a slow leak at a sealing surface that is easy to miss unless the tire is checked the right way.
Why Tires Lose Air Without A Visible Puncture
A tire seals air through the rubber, the valve stem, and the bead where the tire meets the wheel. If any of those spots stop sealing perfectly, the tire can lose a few PSI at a time without leaving a clear clue on the driveway.
Temperature changes can cause pressure swings, but they usually affect all four tires. One tire that is always low is usually leaking somewhere.
Slow Leaks From The Valve Stem And Valve Core
Valve stems age, crack, and loosen, especially on vehicles that sit outside year-round. The valve core can also seep, which is common after a tire service if the core was reused or the threads were slightly damaged.
These leaks are small, but they are persistent. You may notice the tire holds air for a day or two, then slowly drops again.
Wheel And Bead Leaks That Hide In Plain Sight
Bead leaks happen where the tire meets the wheel, and they can be surprisingly common on older wheels. Corrosion, grime, and tiny bends can keep the bead from sealing evenly, even when the tire looks fine.
Here are a few bead-area problems we see often:
- Corrosion on the bead seat under the tire
- Debris trapped between rubber and metal
- A slight bend from potholes or curb contact
- Clearcoat peeling on the wheel lip
A bead leak can be slow enough that you only notice it when the dashboard light comes on.
Rim Damage And Corrosion That Creates Micro-Leaks
Sometimes the tire is not the issue at all. A wheel can have a small bend on the inner barrel or pitting where the bead seals, and that is enough to let air escape little by little.
Coastal air and repeated moisture exposure can speed this up. The wheel can look fine from the outside, while the sealing surface under the tire is rough.
Tire Damage You Cannot See From The Outside
Not every puncture is obvious. A tiny screw can back out and leave a pinhole, or the puncture can sit deep in a tread groove where it blends in. A slow leak can also come from an older repair that is failing or from driving too long while the tire was underinflated.
Sidewall bruising from a hard pothole hit can also lead to air loss. That kind of damage may not show up clearly until the tire is inspected closely.
TPMS And Normal Pressure Swings
Sometimes the tire is fine, and the reading is the confusing part. A TPMS sensor battery that is getting weak can cause intermittent alerts, or the system may need a relearn after tire work.
Even with a healthy system, pressure drops when temperatures drop. The difference is consistency. A single tire that keeps falling behind the others is usually not just weather.
What Gets A Slow Leak Fixed For Good
The correct fix depends on the source. Valve leaks often call for a new core or stem. Bead leaks usually require removing the tire, cleaning the sealing surface, and resealing it properly. Bent wheels may need repair, and punctures need the right repair method based on location.
What you do not want is to keep topping it off and hoping it stops. Low pressure changes braking feel, tire wear, and stability when you need it most.
Get Tire Services in Hollywood, Virginia Gardens, & Aventura, FL, with Armstrong Auto Care
We can locate the exact source of the air loss, whether it is a valve issue, a bead leak, wheel damage, or a small puncture that is hard to spot. We will fix it the right way so you are not dealing with the same tire going low over and over.
Call
Armstrong Auto Care in Hollywood, Virginia Gardens, & Aventura, FL, to schedule a tire leak inspection and get your tire pressure back where it belongs.
