When it comes to your car’s protection and durability, your tires are basically where the rubber meets the asphalt. That means that if your tire is leaking, you can be jeopardizing your protection.

A leaking tire results in low tire pressure, which reduces fuel economy and puts you at risk of a blowout. It also reduces the car’s ability to manage properly, making it much more difficult to react to emergency situations or drive in bad weather.

In this post, we’ll go over how to detect and repair sluggish tire leaks. Don’t just disregard the low-pressure sensor – read this guide!

The Leading Causes of Subtle Tire Leaks

There are 3 common causes of slow tire leaks. Let us now go over each of them.

Damage to The Valve Stem

Since old valve stems fade out, new tires usually come with new ones. Older valve stems can deteriorate over time due to usage, disruption, and sensitivity to road contaminants such as road salt. They will erode and deteriorate.

If your valve stem is weakened, a slow and steady leak may occur. This leak may be coming from the valve’s body or the valve’s foundation, where it meets the tire. You might have to get a tyre valve extension.

Damage to the tyre’s mounting surface

Corrosion can weaken the mounting surface of the tyre, where the tire bead lies, over time, causing a leak as the tire moves back from the mounting surface.

Driving your car into a sidewalk, step hump, or over a pothole may also cause serious damage to the mounting surface. A slow leak is probable if the metal surface is distorted.

Puncture damage

This is most likely the most common reason for slow tire leaks. When you drive over a nail, pin, sharp piece of glass, or other piece of scrap, it also becomes lodged in your tyre.

Contrary to common opinion, puncture injury does not always result in an immediate flat tire or blowout. This is due to the fact that the item generally stays embedded in the rubber, preventing air from leaking rapidly.

Identifying a Slow Tyre Leak

There are many methods for detecting a sluggish tire leak.

Tire pressure monitoring sensor (TPMS)

If your TPMS light is illuminated, one of your tyres is slightly deflated. If you pump up them all and the TPMS goes off after just a few days, you most likely have a slow leak.

Manual pressure readings

Even if you’ve a TPMS, you can manually test your tire pressure each week or so. If one of your tyres seems to be underinflated all the time, you might have a leak.

The “spray method”

You can use a spray bottle filled with soap and water to prove that you have a leaking tyre. Shake it up and apply it liberally to the tire. You’ve found the root of your leak if you see fizzing on any surface of the tyre.

If you have a sluggish tire leak, you can have it professionally fixed as soon as possible. You may want to keep a tyre plug or repair kit in your car in some situations. These kits are simple to use and will keep your tire inflated before you can take it to a reputable tire repair shop.