Right front tire issue - United Bimmer Community

DEATH2000 · 12-03-2005, 01:11 PM

My car's been sitting in the garage for a while now, so today when i go out to get gas in it, the right front tire is really low on air. So im thinking shit, that aint good. I drive over to the ghas station and after about 10 agravating minutes the tire still doesnt have any air in it. It looked just as low as when i first saw it. It pissed me off that it wasnt inflating. Could it be the cold? Or will i probably need a new tire?

**Spieluhr** · 12-03-2005, 01:21 PM

first off, gas station air pumps never hook up properly to the tire. You need to go to Les Schwabb, Discount Tire, or whatever professional tire place you have in the area. They will check the pressure for free most likely. It is either a slow leak, or you might have a nail or something in the tire, because you said it wasn't totally flat, in which case you can probably patch it.

DEATH2000 · 12-03-2005, 01:36 PM

^^ Thanks, im scared to drive it thouch cause its icy and theres lots of snow. I doubt its a nail cause the car hasnt moved in 30 days, and it was fine when i left it.

**xsperf** · 12-03-2005, 01:54 PM

1st of all, dont be afraid to drive it, unless its TOTALLY flat, b/c actually tires that arent fully inflated are better in the snow b/c there is more surface touching the ground

since its probably not a nail, it could be b/c when the tire was first put onto the RIM there is a black seal that goes around it, since its getting cold, it could have cracked and is letting some air in.. whens the last time you changed your tires?

**Spieluhr** · 12-03-2005, 01:54 PM

^^^
then probably just a slow leak, nothing to worry about. but first off, you never want to let your car sit for 30 days. even if you just start it and let it run for a while, rev it a little. it will preserve it much more. Car's don't like to sit, it's hard on the engine, suspension, and tires.

DEATH2000 · 12-03-2005, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spieluhr

^^^
then probably just a slow leak, nothing to worry about. but first off, you never want to let your car sit for 30 days. even if you just start it and let it run for a while, rev it a little. it will preserve it much more. Car's don't like to sit, it's hard on the engine, suspension, and tires.

Yea i know, but i had pretty much no choice. I wasnt allowed to drive it until today. And i did start it once in a while, just wasnt able to move it sadly.

Quote:

whens the last time you changed your tires?

The tires that are on there now are the tires that were on the car when i bought it in late april of this year.

I was gonna put on the spare, but the lug nuts are bieng a pain in the ass and wont come off. So ill just drive it to the nearest tire place see what they can do. Thanks for the help

DEATH2000 · 12-03-2005, 02:31 PM

Heres the tire as sits in my garage right now:

**catalyst** · 12-03-2005, 02:35 PM

Are you sure you were putting air into your tire?

That doesnt look completely flat, but if it wasnt holding air then its obviously leaking somewhere.

DEATH2000 · 12-03-2005, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catalyst

Are you sure you were putting air into your tire?

That doesnt look completely flat, but if it wasnt holding air then its obviously leaking somewhere.

Thats the thing, im not 100% sure air was getting in.

**Dudesky** · 12-03-2005, 02:50 PM

Get a spray bottle and spray the shit out of the wheel with water. then try and inflate it, see where the leak is comng from, if any. Then go from there. Depending on where the hole is, there are tire repair kits you can buy that don't require removing the wheel off the hub.

nick_318is · 12-03-2005, 03:06 PM

You might have a slow leak, i would suggest you do what was said above

Storamin · 12-03-2005, 03:43 PM

take it off and take it to a tire place and have them check the pressure. use the spare. to break the lug nuts use your foot. that always works for me...

xsperf, the wider the tire the worse it will handle in the snow. the wider it is, the more it acts like a plow when turning in snow. this is why cars have typically narrower tires for winter, and wide tires for summer performance.

DEATH2000 · 12-03-2005, 04:46 PM

Well i appreciat all your help. I took it to Kal tire nearby, and yea it kinda does have a slow leak, so im just gonna keep an eye on it and if it gets bad again ill just throw on the spare.

And the air hose at kal tire inflated it in like 5 seconds, were as the gas station one did nothing. It was retarded.

**c1apton** · 12-03-2005, 05:06 PM

Depending on how long the car's been parked and temp differences, tire pressures can drop easily. A 5 degree temp change down can cause a 1-3 psi drop. That's why tire cos always preach check tire pressures monthly. When you start off cold in the morning and drive 5 miles tire pressures go up 2+psi - always check tire pressures cold.
Re: Gas station air pumps - they're pretty questionable and their "customer use" pressure guages. Alot of those outside air pumps get moisture in the brass coupler and freeze and don't always open when you attatch to your valve stem.