Can a wheel leak air? | FerrariChat

Can a wheel leak air?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by yellow jacket, Jan 16, 2007.

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  1. yellow jacket

    yellow jacket Formula Junior

    Feb 25, 2006
    294
    Modesto CA
    Full Name:
    Charles Lunsford
    I have 3 piece OZ wheels on my 91 Testarossa and I'm having to put air in my tires every week. I doubt if I have 4 flats. Can these wheels leak? If so, can they be repaired? The wheels were on the car when I bought it, and they seem perfect in appearance. Thanks.....Charlie
     
  2. racerx3317

    racerx3317 F1 Veteran

    Oct 17, 2004
    5,701
    New York, NY
    Full Name:
    Luis
    Check the tires, they maybe he rotting at the beads causing them to leak air. Go to the tire shop and have them looked at, either that or all your wheels have cracks in them.
     
  3. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    36,856
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
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    Brian Crall
    Not unusual for modular wheels. Good wheel shop can cure it.
     
  4. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2006
    15,783
    Cerritos, CA.
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    Mike
    One of my 308 QV original wheel has a pin hole right near the edge of the rim, is this beacause it's a magnesium and it's porous? It loses about 1lbs. a day.
     
  5. Gerry328

    Gerry328 Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 25, 2006
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    Gerry
    If the tires are in good condition, you may want to try Nitrogen instead of air. Nitrogen molecules are larger than air which helps to prevent loss through the porous nature of composite or alloy wheels. Most tire stores offer Nitrogen.
     
  6. Ricard

    Ricard Formula Junior

    Jan 23, 2004
    867
    Donington Park
    Full Name:
    Richard C
    (Oooo I can feel another long thread starting :D)

    ....

    Get a BIG tank of water and stick the wheel/tyre in and watch for the bubbles.
     
  7. kovachian

    kovachian Karting

    Jun 27, 2006
    228
    central Indiana
    Full Name:
    Ron
    If a rim is porous enough it can leak air. Unfortunately a porous rim cannot be repaired, least not to my knowledge.
     
  8. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
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    Feb 24, 2006
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    Mike
    Thats how I found out about my pin hole I dipped it in my swimming pool after I cleaned it of course.

    I'm thinking about removing the tire then apply a thin layer of silicon inside the rim where the hole is. Any thoughts?
     
  9. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    36,856
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
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    Brian Crall
    Hey folks it is a modular wheel. It is 3 pieces and they usually leak between the halves.
     
  10. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,337
    Houston, Texas
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    Bubba
    Thta's right 3 pcs can do that ...take it in and they seal it in the back room..somehow...

    Now a single piece unit that's something else...still, usually a stem seal or valve core or something simple...
     
  11. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,204
    Mount Isa, Australia
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    Pap
    #11 PAP 348, Jan 16, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Yeah, spot on again Rifledriver. I have some fitted to my old Fairlane, it can leak from there ;)

    Have a look at mine, You will find there will be about 50-70 little bolts along the circumference rim on the nave plate of the rim and that's usally where they will leak from like mine did.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  12. DMOORE

    DMOORE Formula 3

    Aug 23, 2005
    1,720
    San Diego
    Full Name:
    Darrell
    I run 2 piece race wheels on my off road car. Yes they can leak. In fact it is very common. A bit of clear silicone on the inside and your good to go. I re-silicone whenever I change tires, Not really necessary, but since I'm there anyways...



    Darrell.
     
  13. Under PSI

    Under PSI F1 Rookie

    May 13, 2005
    4,240
    Phoenix
    Full Name:
    Jim
    What he said. I had 3 piece wheels on my track car, unfortunately they would heat and flex during events and all would lose air. I eventually got sick of it and bought 2 piece wheels.
     
  14. yellow jacket

    yellow jacket Formula Junior

    Feb 25, 2006
    294
    Modesto CA
    Full Name:
    Charles Lunsford
    My wheels are very similar to yours. Are you saying you tightened up the bolts around the edge and the problem went away? I can do that, if not I'll have to do what Brian said and take them to a wheel shop.....Charlie
     
  15. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 10, 2005
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    Nah usally it's too late by that stage and the air that was escaping across the surface usally erodes away the sealant, take them into a wheel shop and get them re-done like Brian recommended ;)
     
  16. shill288

    shill288 Formula Junior

    Feb 24, 2005
    900
    West Coast
    Full Name:
    Steve Hill
    Three piece wheels certainly can leak, but they shouldn't. None of my sets of three piece speedline wheels for a GTO have been the cause of the leak.

    However, I did have a problem once when a well respected race car tire & suspension shop in the East Bay (California) got lazy installing a new set of Hoosier tyres for a track day. They didn't clean the rim where the bead of the tyre sits. So, I got to the track, two tires started to slowly leak air. There was a Challenge race that day at the track. The Pirelli guys were nice enough to take the tyres off, recognized what the problem was, cleaned the rims, put the tyres back on and no more air leak.

    Steve
     
  17. Paul_308

    Paul_308 Formula 3

    Mar 12, 2004
    2,345
    I have a 16" QV Campy wheel which leaks more than 1 psi/day. Posted for suggestions here and no-one could suggest anything to coat the wheel but I'm sure there must be.

    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127208

    Best wheel house in Portland said 'unfixable alloy, use inner tube or toss it'.
    Tire shop said inner tubes are out because of safety concerns.

    I'm still hoping to find a suitable goop to coat the inner wheel and slow the leak.
     
  18. finnerty

    finnerty F1 World Champ

    May 18, 2004
    10,406
    That car is kinda funky with those wheels, almost looks like an old Maser Q-Porte...
     
  19. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    36,856
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
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    Brian Crall
    We never did have trouble with the 288 wheels but but the 550 Barchetta wheels were another story. We couldn't keep air in them. Warranteed a whole bunch of those for leaking at the rim halves.
     
  20. jm3

    jm3 F1 Rookie

    Oct 3, 2002
    4,364
    United States
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    JM3
    Call Roger Kraus Racing in Castro Valley. Tell him Jay sent you. You need old school and Roger is Old School.

    (510) 582-5031

    JM
     
  21. Motob

    Motob Formula 3
    Professional Ferrari Technician

    Nov 11, 2003
    2,353
    Frederick, Maryland
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    Brian Brown
    I used to work for a company that made three piece wheels (copies of BBS race wheels with their own custom centers). We had leakage problems, the fix is to apply a thick bead of high quality RTV sealant at the junction of the rim halves on the inside of the wheel.
    If you look at BBS race wheels, that is how they are sealed.
     
  22. shill288

    shill288 Formula Junior

    Feb 24, 2005
    900
    West Coast
    Full Name:
    Steve Hill
    Roger Kraus Racing are the guys that screwed up and didn't properly prepare my GTO rims for the Hoosier tyres. Anyone can make a mistake of course, but this was just laziness on their part. Of course, the person that incorrectly performed this task may be long gone.

    The tube suggestion is another solution. Most of us Daytona owners with Borrani wheels have been using tubes for years. Some even with the Cromodoras. Yup, not Concours correct, but sure keeps air in the tires.

    Steve
     
  23. kerrari

    kerrari Two Time F1 World Champ

    Oct 22, 2004
    24,001
    Coolum Beach AUSTRALIA
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    Karen H.
    yep, used to check my old splitrims everytime I went out. New one piece wheels - no problem, plus 10 times easier to clean.
     
  24. Motob

    Motob Formula 3
    Professional Ferrari Technician

    Nov 11, 2003
    2,353
    Frederick, Maryland
    Full Name:
    Brian Brown
    I don't think you will find tubes for low profile tires that are used on modern high performance cars. Just dismount the tires, apply some silicone sealer and you are done.
     
  25. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,204
    Mount Isa, Australia
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    Pap
    Thanks :cool:
     

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