Check For Tire Leaks With Liquid Soap
One of the really irritating things about tires is their proclivity for developing tiny leaks. This leaves you feeling like a Russian Roulette player each time you step in your car, wondering if this time your tire will burst.
Fortunately, my experience with punctured tires hasn’t been all bad – it led me to find a mechanic a few years back who, while having far from the newest equipment in his garage, more than made up for it with the mental equipment he had acquired through experience.
The last time I thought a tire had a hidden leak, he whipped out a spray bottle with a 20/80 mix of liquid soap and water. I was about to tell him “thanks, but I just got a car wash done the other week” when he started spraying the tire. In a small area by the rim, I noticed a neat effect. Bubbles started growing and bursting at a fast rate – a leak!
So folks, next time you think your tire is losing air, use a spray bottle and some soap to check, and enjoy the confidence of driving safe.
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March 4th, 2009 at 10:20 am
how do you know which side the leak is on the tire ?. What if the leak is on the other side of the tire that is not visible from outside.?
Ram,
Great question. I would guess that you would need to remove the tire or get under the car to spray in those areas.
March 4th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Nice, Didn’t know that worked
.
March 5th, 2009 at 1:05 am
Here in Indonesia, it has become standard procedure. Here, even the lowly tire menders on the side of the street use that method. See for yourself:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2226/2103313773_fb3f1923be.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2196/2046833288_4a4b85ba83.jpg
http://ketapang.go.id/gallery/normal/817926-02381116022007@Tambal_ban_20.jpg
I wonder what did you do before you found out about the method?
November 15th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
uh, probably before that simple method, an even simpler method, stick the tire in a large bucket and viola
July 11th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
[...] do you think they are going to tell you? Save money by learning to inspect your tires yourself. Check for leaks by spraying slightly soapy water all around their inner and outer surfaces and watching for [...]