Slow tire leak after drive

[Jason M]

Hello all! After last weekend, I have a very slow leak in my tire that was not there prior to the drive. I thought it was the valve core so I replaced it and the leak is still there. I am wondering if I had a non pop out pop out that possibly is causing the leak, and looking for some advice on how I might fix it.

[Frederic]

1 hour ago, Jason M said:

Hello all! After last weekend, I have a very slow leak in my tire that was not there prior to the drive. I thought it was the valve core so I replaced it and the leak is still there. I am wondering if I had a non pop out pop out that possibly is causing the leak, and looking for some advice on how I might fix it.

Most likely some sand got inbetween the rim and the tire. Bring it to a tire shop and let them remove the tire and clean tire and rim properly. That should do it 😄

[Jason M]

8 hours ago, Frederic said:

Most likely some sand got inbetween the rim and the tire. Bring it to a tire shop and let them remove the tire and clean tire and rim properly. That should do it 😄

Thanks @Frederic!

[Zubail]

@Jason M or might be some little puncture, some pin maybe, anyway worth checking in tire shop

[Myrko]

I had the same issue a quite a few times myself. Mostly after a pop-out, where sand was stuck between the rim and the tire. It also seems to happen after very sharp turns in soft sand, when the tire pressure is low.
The main culprit is the size of the tire wall: too small due to the size of rims needed to wrap around the large brake calipers. Apparently very easy to collect sand and not easy to just flush it out. This has given me quite some unwanted work in the desert. On top of it, annoying costs and time wasted at a tire shop afterwards to clean everything out again.
It's one of the reasons I want ( read "need") to change the "soccer mom" 20 inch rims on my car. Unfortunately not an easy project with my Defender. Till then, I choose to run on slightly higher pressure, no guarantee but reduces the problem.

[Andrew John Melvill]

At low pressures there can be some movement between the bead and the rim. Even without a full pop out. I have seen blades of grass, twigs etc sticking out between the bead and rim before. So very easy for some sand to work it's way into this space and cause a slow leak. 

As said above as well can get small holes from debris and especially barbed wire. Running at low pressure these can sometimes occur in the sidewall. I have had this issue before. 

Bottom line is that you need to get the tire checked out at a tire shop whenever this happens. 

If you are lucky the tire will be damaged and you can make the man maths work to get a tire upgrade!

[Looper]

I had once tried to get into a camping spot on a yellow truck drive. Invariably the vehicle got stuck and had to deflate half the tire dug inside sand. It caused sand to seep in while getting deflated. And after a while I did my regular tire change, the wheel did not balance with a lot of sand in it. That wheel is now permanent spare now out of regular rotation. 

Sand does seep in even if there are no pop outs and it is a good practice to get tires cleaned inside every 10k km while rotating. 

[Cha]

If ckeaning and re fitting the tire back to rim dont help and it happens to be HT tire, likely there are invisible damages/cracks done to sidewall and you need to change the tires. 

[Jason M]

Thank you everyone! Turns out there was a screw on the tire, hah! Can't believe I missed that.