Originally posted by PA 3L SVT:
I assume they checked to make sure the valve stem wasn't leaking. I had the same problem with my snow tires and the stem was the prob.
Never heard of a rim leaking, but that doesn't mean it isn't possible.
At the shop where I work, there have been a few instances where the air actually has been escaping from around the lug hole areas, as well as different places inside the rim, and has only been seen by me on aluminum rims thus far. While VERY rare, I have seen it so I know it is a possibility. However, the dirt and gunk that this person is talking about causes a problem when the bead of the tire does not seat all the way onto the rim due to the dirt interfering with the seal, and while it is not a big leak, it is a leak nonetheless and poses a problem. Fixing it usually just consists of breaking the tire down and removing it from the rim, washing the rim down with soap and water, and going around the bead surface with the same and then of course airing it back up, etc. Since the tire place repaired it for free, I doubt that this person was blowing smoke up your butt, because it didnt benefit him to make something up. Hope this solved your problem... flat tires suck... especially because 98% of the time they catch you when you least need them to..... peace
