Tire bead sealant?

A

Atrus

Forum Member
Hey MM -

I have an old Yukon that has slow leaks in 2 of the wheels. It's bugging me having to inflate them every few days. I'll probably upgrade wheels (these are crusty stockers) and tires at some point, but for the time being...anyone ever use bead sealant like below? Any real negative consequences in doing so? I am doubtful I'll put new tires on these wheels, I'll probably keep the set as a "just in case" when I do a replacement. That being said, I didn't want to make a mess out of them if I can help it.

My hope was that I could pull the valve stems, use a screw jack under the hitch to break the bead, and seal with this goop. I'd do the entire bead, front and back side, and hope that cures the leak.

https://www.amazon.com/Xtra-14-101-...ywords=Tire+Bead+Sealer&qid=1651693276&sr=8-3
 
Atrus said:
Hey MM -

I have an old Yukon that has slow leaks in 2 of the wheels. It's bugging me having to inflate them every few days. I'll probably upgrade wheels (these are crusty stockers) and tires at some point, but for the time being...anyone ever use bead sealant like below? Any real negative consequences in doing so? I am doubtful I'll put new tires on these wheels, I'll probably keep the set as a "just in case" when I do a replacement. That being said, I didn't want to make a mess out of them if I can help it.

My hope was that I could pull the valve stems, use a screw jack under the hitch to break the bead, and seal with this goop. I'd do the entire bead, front and back side, and hope that cures the leak.

https://www.amazon.com/Xtra-14-101-...ywords=Tire+Bead+Sealer&qid=1651693276&sr=8-3
Click to expand...

Do you know where they are leaking? Is it the bead seals for sure? Also, I am not a tire guy, but I think this is something you use when installing a tire, not something you add after.

-Geoff
 
WhiteHawk said:
Do you know where they are leaking? Is it the bead seals for sure? Also, I am not a tire guy, but I think this is something you use when installing a tire, not something you add after.

-Geoff
Click to expand...

Definitely leaking around the bead. Long story, but the truck was totalled 4 years ago, a bunch of gravel and crap got wedged into the bead on two wheels. Last fall, I cleaned them up and plasti-dipped them to make them less gross...pulled the stems and while I didn't break the bead, I tried to get in there with a brush and clean the bead up...I actually seemed to have made the leaks slightly worse in doing so. Thought this goop could help seal it up for now as long as it doesn't make a massive mess or issue.
 
You are a lot braver than I am! I would just take them to Belle Tire and have them do it for $50 or so. When I lived in Pontiac there was a tire place on Dixie highway just south of the flea market that would do about anything to a tire that the major chains wouldn't. They have patched a couple sidewalls for me too. Hint. Hint.

-Geoff
 
Funny you bring this up. I just had a set of new tires mounted at Discount Tire.
One of the wheels had a rim leak. DT said all they could / would do is clean it &
remount it.

I asked why they wouldn't use the tire sealer they had always used before & they
said they simply don't use it now.

I called corporate and asked about it, next thing I know the manager is ordering me
a new rim - at his cost. Seems wasteful to me.

I've had very good success with bead sealer over the years with problem tires.
 
Atrus said:
Hey MM -

I have an old Yukon that has slow leaks in 2 of the wheels. It's bugging me having to inflate them every few days. I'll probably upgrade wheels (these are crusty stockers) and tires at some point, but for the time being...anyone ever use bead sealant like below? Any real negative consequences in doing so? I am doubtful I'll put new tires on these wheels, I'll probably keep the set as a "just in case" when I do a replacement. That being said, I didn't want to make a mess out of them if I can help it.

My hope was that I could pull the valve stems, use a screw jack under the hitch to break the bead, and seal with this goop. I'd do the entire bead, front and back side, and hope that cures the leak.

https://www.amazon.com/Xtra-14-101-...ywords=Tire+Bead+Sealer&qid=1651693276&sr=8-3
Click to expand...

No TPMS I assume? If not, just throw some slime/fix a flat in them and I'd think they'd be good to go with a lot less work lol.
 
If it's from crap getting in the bead area the tire is likely damaged on the sealing surface by now. But I'd still break the bead down and clean any debris out of the sealing surfaces then apply a small amount of grease then air it up and check for leaks. I highly doubt you'll get any sealant to work with debris in the sealing areas.
 
Tire seals on the edge furthest from the rubber, not on the outside of the bead.

What usually happens is the aluminum oxidizes under the coating and lifts the coating (usually see "spiderwebs" first) and under the coating become air superhighways.

Whenever you see someone run a nyloc or wirewheel against your wheel you can guarantee you have leaks before the tires wear out. They are literally putting chips in the surface and begging oxidation to begin.

Bead sealers are a feeble attempt to combat this problem, which was probably created by the last technician that "cleaned the bead seating area" with a nyloc or wirewheel.

You can use Windex to find leaks. It bubbles and doesn't leave a mess like soapy water.

How did you remove the valvestems without breaking at least one bead?
 
I’ve had really good success breaking wheels down, cleaning the surface really well with a wire wheel and loading the surface up with that bead sealer, but you have to pull the tires off.
 
WhiteHawk said:
You are a lot braver than I am! I would just take them to Belle Tire and have them do it for $50 or so. When I lived in Pontiac there was a tire place on Dixie highway just south of the flea market that would do about anything to a tire that the major chains wouldn't. They have patched a couple sidewalls for me too. Hint. Hint.

-Geoff
Click to expand...

Hmmm - good to know. I'll call Belle or Discount too...if they'll do it for $50 or so, fine. I was assuming they'd be charging a lot more.

capone said:
Allstate tire in Warren will break down your wheels and clean the bead area.
Click to expand...

Sweet, good to know - good shops are hard to find.

4Gas$ said:
Funny you bring this up. I just had a set of new tires mounted at Discount Tire.
One of the wheels had a rim leak. DT said all they could / would do is clean it &
remount it.

I asked why they wouldn't use the tire sealer they had always used before & they
said they simply don't use it now.

I called corporate and asked about it, next thing I know the manager is ordering me
a new rim - at his cost. Seems wasteful to me.

I've had very good success with bead sealer over the years with problem tires.
Click to expand...

Good to know it worked for ya - that's what I was hoping to hear.

CMYZ28 said:
No TPMS I assume? If not, just throw some slime/fix a flat in them and I'd think they'd be good to go with a lot less work lol.
Click to expand...

Nope, no TPMS, but I didn't know if the goop would really make it's way to the bead. I read conflicting reviews in that it really just hangs out in the tread area.

1fstfox said:
If it's from crap getting in the bead area the tire is likely damaged on the sealing surface by now. But I'd still break the bead down and clean any debris out of the sealing surfaces then apply a small amount of grease then air it up and check for leaks. I highly doubt you'll get any sealant to work with debris in the sealing areas.
Click to expand...

That was my thought, to break the bead, clean it up, apply goop, reseat.

wrath said:
Tire seals on the edge furthest from the rubber, not on the outside of the bead.

What usually happens is the aluminum oxidizes under the coating and lifts the coating (usually see "spiderwebs" first) and under the coating become air superhighways.

Whenever you see someone run a nyloc or wirewheel against your wheel you can guarantee you have leaks before the tires wear out. They are literally putting chips in the surface and begging oxidation to begin.

Bead sealers are a feeble attempt to combat this problem, which was probably created by the last technician that "cleaned the bead seating area" with a nyloc or wirewheel.

You can use Windex to find leaks. It bubbles and doesn't leave a mess like soapy water.

How did you remove the valvestems without breaking at least one bead?
Click to expand...

Never knew about Windex, cool tip! These are definitely crusty - they are 19 year old stock MI wheels with 155k on them. I misspoke - I removed the valve core, not the whole stem.

ultradriver10000 said:
I’ve had really good success breaking wheels down, cleaning the surface really well with a wire wheel and loading the surface up with that bead sealer, but you have to pull the tires off.
Click to expand...

Damn, that's what I didn't want to do. Was hoping if to just break the bead, clean, apply goop, reseal.
 
Atrus said:
Damn, that's what I didn't want to do. Was hoping if to just break the bead, clean, apply goop, reseal.
Click to expand...

You might be able to break the beads yourself with a board or a bottle jack, but any local shop should be able to mark the tire to the valve stem (so you don't have to balance them) bread the bead, hit it with a grinder well and seal them up for you for $40-60?
 
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