Tirerack
Use the following links to go directly to useful tirerack winter items: Tirerack Winter Tires. Gary's Winter Tire FAQ.
Using the links directly supports E90Post with tirerack sales commision!

  E90Post
 


The Tire Rack

   PLEASE HELP SUPPORT E90POST BY DOING YOUR TIRERACK SHOPPING FROM THIS BANNER, THANKS!
 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Wheels and Tires Forum Sponsored by The Tire Rack > RFT Slow Leak



Wheels and Tires forum Sponsored by The Tire Rack
Please help to directly support e90post by doing your tirerack shopping from the above link. For every sale made through the link, e90post gets sponsor support to keep the site alive. Disclaimer

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      04-17-2009, 09:56 AM   #1
Kleinacus
Captain
United_States
672
Rep
871
Posts

Drives: M2C 6MT Build Week 33
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Philly Suburbs

iTrader: (1)

RFT Slow Leak

So I've had my 335 since the end of Feb and I'm pretty sure one of my run flats has had a slow leak since delivery. I've looked a few times and do not see any bubbles or a nail/screw in the tire. I'm going to try and figure out where the leak is this weekend with some soapy water.

However, I've read a few posts of people that had success inflating problem RFT's to 45 psi and having it 'set' itself. If anyone has had any luck with this, can they please chime in and let me know how long it took to notice no psi loss? I'd like to avoid riding around in Phila with a tire at 45 psi as it is already a war between me, the run flats, and the potholes.

BTW, I'm trying to avoid taking it to a dealership around here as I've heard some horror stories of wheel/tire insurance coverage when taking your car to a dealership outside of where you purchased the car (Flemington, NJ).

Thanks guys.
__________________
2019 m2c 6MT C33/29U/MDOE/4MC/ZEC/Z4G/Z09/AA mid/Remus Axle-back Race/Carbahn Stage 1
2014 B8.5 s4 6MT Monsoon Gray Metallic/Black Optics/RS Grille/GIAC Stage 1/AWE Touring Exhaust & S-Flo Intake/H&R Sway Bars/Bilstein PSS10
Appreciate 0
      04-17-2009, 10:03 AM   #2
noro
Colonel
noro's Avatar
Armenia
90
Rep
2,707
Posts

Drives: '91 M3, '04 E46 ZHP, '72 2002
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Boston

iTrader: (0)

It sounds like the leak maybe around the edge somewhere. I had this issue with non original tires and the problem was that a little piece of rubber from the molding process was stuck between the rim and the tire and was letting air out.

The issue is that you may find nothing after taking the wheel off and checking it in water because the tire will not have any vertical load on it which may be what's opening an air gap.

Try pouring water around the edge of the tire while it is still on the car, sometime a little wetness is enough to her the air come out.

Ultimately the only solution is to remount the wheel and ask the person performing the job to really clean up the rim/tire sealing area.

Also check the stem area in case that's where it's coming from.
__________________
zhpregistry.net - ZHP stats and free classifieds.
Appreciate 0
      04-17-2009, 10:09 AM   #3
Kleinacus
Captain
United_States
672
Rep
871
Posts

Drives: M2C 6MT Build Week 33
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Philly Suburbs

iTrader: (1)

Thanks. Yeah, I was going to try the soapy water in a spray bottle. For the time being, I don't really have a driveway to even jack the car up. The leak only requires air every 2 weeks or so. If I can't find it / fix it, I'll just wait until I'm back in NJ and have them fix it.
__________________
2019 m2c 6MT C33/29U/MDOE/4MC/ZEC/Z4G/Z09/AA mid/Remus Axle-back Race/Carbahn Stage 1
2014 B8.5 s4 6MT Monsoon Gray Metallic/Black Optics/RS Grille/GIAC Stage 1/AWE Touring Exhaust & S-Flo Intake/H&R Sway Bars/Bilstein PSS10
Appreciate 0
      04-17-2009, 10:09 AM   #4
demosthenes
Major
demosthenes's Avatar
United_States
50
Rep
1,162
Posts

Drives: E90 328i 6MT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SF Bay Area

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2008 328i sedan  [0.00]
How much pressure does the tire lose every week?
Appreciate 0
      04-17-2009, 10:15 AM   #5
Kleinacus
Captain
United_States
672
Rep
871
Posts

Drives: M2C 6MT Build Week 33
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Philly Suburbs

iTrader: (1)

3-4 psi. Probably closer to 3. I filled the fronts to 32 and rears to 36 about 2 weeks ago. (manual specified for LT 100 mph as I'm generally below that in the city) Low tire light came on and when i checked I was in the 28-29 psi area for that one back left tire.
__________________
2019 m2c 6MT C33/29U/MDOE/4MC/ZEC/Z4G/Z09/AA mid/Remus Axle-back Race/Carbahn Stage 1
2014 B8.5 s4 6MT Monsoon Gray Metallic/Black Optics/RS Grille/GIAC Stage 1/AWE Touring Exhaust & S-Flo Intake/H&R Sway Bars/Bilstein PSS10
Appreciate 0
      04-17-2009, 10:26 AM   #6
demosthenes
Major
demosthenes's Avatar
United_States
50
Rep
1,162
Posts

Drives: E90 328i 6MT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SF Bay Area

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2008 328i sedan  [0.00]
I had a slow leak in a RFT that lost about 3 psi every week. It turned out to be a screw and a nail without a head.

After the problem above, a total loss due to a nail in the edge and another problem, I replaced the RFT's with PS2's. I can't explain why RFT's seem to have more problems than other tires, but I had 3 problems in less than a year.
Appreciate 0
      04-17-2009, 10:33 AM   #7
Aurora Bearialis
¡Barça!
Aurora Bearialis's Avatar
Spain
168
Rep
12,042
Posts

Drives: Rainbow Sandals
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Ohio

iTrader: (5)

Garage List
2008 E92 335i  [0.00]
I've had the exact same problem on my rear driver's side tire. My conclusion though it may sound dumb I think is what is happening. When it gets cold here (yeah I know So Cal lol) but in the morning when it was chilly I wold get in my car and would receive a TPM warning saying low pressure. I went to the gas station to fill up on air and they also have a gauge there too. So I check all the tires and they are all at the PSI they are supposed to be at. The tire I had problems with seemed to lose PSI when the weather was cold out and I would have to fill up the tire every week almost. Now, since it had warmed up I haven't done it since early February or even January. I know it sounds weird but due to the cold weather it may let out PSI. ALSO, I had to fill up all the tires once also during that DSR tire dilemma so it proves that with the cold air ALL tires may be losing a little bit of pressure but for some reason the driver's side rear tire lost more pressure faster.
__________________
Tate's chicken sucks!
Appreciate 0
      04-17-2009, 10:39 AM   #8
Kleinacus
Captain
United_States
672
Rep
871
Posts

Drives: M2C 6MT Build Week 33
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Philly Suburbs

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I should be on 189's with dunlop direzza SS's soon so I won't be on RFT for long. However, I'll still probably use the 17" run flats for my winter f around set so I'd like to remedy it if possible.
__________________
2019 m2c 6MT C33/29U/MDOE/4MC/ZEC/Z4G/Z09/AA mid/Remus Axle-back Race/Carbahn Stage 1
2014 B8.5 s4 6MT Monsoon Gray Metallic/Black Optics/RS Grille/GIAC Stage 1/AWE Touring Exhaust & S-Flo Intake/H&R Sway Bars/Bilstein PSS10
Appreciate 0
      04-17-2009, 10:41 AM   #9
demosthenes
Major
demosthenes's Avatar
United_States
50
Rep
1,162
Posts

Drives: E90 328i 6MT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SF Bay Area

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2008 328i sedan  [0.00]
Good. If you don't fix it and the tire goes a while with little or no air, most shops won't repair it because the tire will be shot. Big bucks to buy a new one.

Last edited by demosthenes; 04-17-2009 at 11:58 AM..
Appreciate 0
      04-17-2009, 11:56 AM   #10
kefler
Lieutenant
123
Rep
420
Posts

Drives: 2018 X5m / Alpine White
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Arizona

iTrader: (0)

I had the exact problem with the rear-left tire, I tried looking at it from every angle but never found anything. Since I had the wheel/tire insurance I took it to the dealer, and they found a nail.

They don't patch RFT's so they replaced the tire, but it was all free along with the first oil change. I paid 399 for the wheel/tire insurance and their price for the tire install would have been $422 (still woulda been like 360 at another local shop). So the wheel/tire insurance was worth it.
Appreciate 0
      04-17-2009, 03:07 PM   #11
Oulixes
Lieutenant Colonel
Oulixes's Avatar
22
Rep
1,938
Posts

Drives: 330xi, 335i
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Terra Borealis

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by jklein5525 View Post
So I've had my 335 since the end of Feb and I'm pretty sure one of my run flats has had a slow leak since delivery. I've looked a few times and do not see any bubbles or a nail/screw in the tire. I'm going to try and figure out where the leak is this weekend with some soapy water.

However, I've read a few posts of people that had success inflating problem RFT's to 45 psi and having it 'set' itself. If anyone has had any luck with this, can they please chime in and let me know how long it took to notice no psi loss? I'd like to avoid riding around in Phila with a tire at 45 psi as it is already a war between me, the run flats, and the potholes.

BTW, I'm trying to avoid taking it to a dealership around here as I've heard some horror stories of wheel/tire insurance coverage when taking your car to a dealership outside of where you purchased the car (Flemington, NJ).

Thanks guys.
On a similar problem, my dealer found a leak in the rim. To be more specific, the air leaked directly throw a flow in the alloy body of the rim.
Appreciate 0
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:38 PM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST