Had this problem with the last set of tyres and the new ones I've just had fitted.

Both fronts and 1 rear keep going soft. NSF is worst - within 1 week it'll drop from 34psi and I notice a pull to the left as I did yesterday - checked it and it was barely 20psi. Car is a 54 plate Fabia VRS by the way with 105K on the clock.

Fed up with constant trips to the garage and 20p's to use the airline.

Do my alloys need a refurb? I've read about corrosion causing leaks. Would it most likely be around the rim, or the valve? There is some bubbling on the surface of the rim around the valve area on the outside face of the rim.

Is there anything can be done perhaps by a tyre place to help "seal" the valve or bead?

Funds are tight so can't afford a new set of alloys!!

The corrosion could be round either the rim or the valve, it's impossible to say which without taking the tyre off and having a look.

take it to a decent tyre fitter and get them to dunk the wheel and tyre in their 'wheel bath' this will show you where all the leaks are, then remove the tyre and address the leaking area of the wheel, you really need to put some spray paint back onto the wheel once the corrosion has been rubbed down, otherwise it will corrode again very quickly.

Have taken the NSF to be dunked before with the last set of tyres but they couldn't find anything. Leak was so slow it didn't show it seems.

Some tyres are known for letting air out more than others. My winter Michelins let more air out than my summer Toyos because of the different rubber compounds!! Also have you tried looking at the valve stem?? This is the centre part of the valve that you press to release air as these can be loosened!! Had problem with previous car, bought tyre valve stem tighting tool (Draper) fixed "air leak"

Didn't know about that fabdavrav - I'll head back to where I bought the tyres and get them to check.

There is an alloy refurb place round the corner where I work but I reckon that'll be uber £'s.....

I had the same thing happening on my wheels and once i had them refurb'd they have been good as gold. Car is a similar age and mileage.

Nice to see another Sittingbourne resident

There is a sealing compound which can be used to make a better seal between the tyre and the alloy if it is corroded. Get the tyre removed and check the inside of the rim for corrosion then wire brush it and use the sealant before refitting the tyre.

A lot of tyre places do this apart from Kwik fit. Probably a lot cheaper than alloy refurbs - I had a set of wheels done in Birmingham for £120 including removal and refit of tyres.

Edited 30 March, 201115 yr by djdazzy

I was going to say the same as djdazy. I had some new tyres put on the other day. My old ones kept going down at varying rates. When they took the old tyres off the wheels were a right mess and very coroded. They wire brushed them and painted/sprayed some orange gunk on the rim before fitting the tyres.

The orange gunk fills any imperfections in the rim so that no air escapes.

My tyres have been fine ever since and I'm SO happy I don't have to pump them up twice a week any more.

Taking it back to my local STS in the next day or so as they fitted the new fronts for me recently. Have asked for them to do their best to seal the bead & valve which they agreed to do - no mention of charging me as they fitted the tyres!

If this doesn't work it'll have to be a refurb job I guess.

I think they corrode pretty badly IMHO. My wifes VRS is a 2006 and they wheels are in pretty bad shape.

I have slow leaks on at least 3 out of the four tyres. The rear left side one is the worst. From 34psi to 16psi in two days...

Had them all resealed and beaded and still terrible

Okay - worse case scenario - if my alloys can't be "fixed" as such - what standard fitment alloys from say Seat or VW for example would be a straight swap? Would like to keep the 16" tyres as I've just paid out for them!

A lot of tyre fitters don't remove all the bonded rubber deposits stuck on the sides of the inner walls of the wheels after removing the tyres. After 2 or 3 tyre replacements this surface can be badly marked by rubber deposits. The commercial pressures of time & cost don't allow them sufficient time to do this part of the job properly . Thus there isn't a perfectly smooth sealing surface for the new tyre. The assumption made is that the tyre sealant they use will seal the gaps caused by these deposits. This isn't always the case and very small leaks will occurr thro' these gaps. Sometimes some tyre fitters resort to the use of grinders to try remove these rubber deposits . This can lead to removal of the coating on the inside of the wheels and leave a rough surface leading to more small gaps. An obtuse angled hand scraper is the best tool for removing these rubber deposits but that takes a little time to go all round each side of each wheel.

If you get "slow" leaks after tyre replacement then the tyre shop should be asked to fix the leaks.

Thanks VW - I've got a day off next week so I'm going to leave the car with them as they're only round the corner and see what they come up with. Don't mind spending a few beer tokens if it saves the hassle of constantly checking the pressures!

Okay - worse case scenario - if my alloys can't be "fixed" as such - what standard fitment alloys from say Seat or VW for example would be a straight swap? Would like to keep the 16" tyres as I've just paid out for them!

a very quick list:

16" Octavia Spiders (generally found on/off early hatches and all estates)

Seat Ibiza Mk4 PD130 Sport/FR

VW Golf Montreal 2's (found on GT TDI 150's amongst others)

Worst case scenario a set of 16" steel wheels from a low end golf or Beetle or transporter would do the trick

all of which woudl allow you to take your alloys off, remove the tyres, put the tyres on the new wheels, refurb your alloys, then reverse the process (or you could sell the alloys if you prefer the looks of the new wheels!)

check the for sale section here though there are always suitable 16" wheels coming up for sale.

Okay - worse case scenario - if my alloys can't be "fixed" as such - what standard fitment alloys from say Seat or VW for example would be a straight swap? Would like to keep the 16" tyres as I've just paid out for them!

or buy my pro race 1.2s int the for sale section hehe