Tire problems? WTF ?!?

**BlueStreak R6** · 04-08-2008, 01:44 PM

Ok so I decided to tell my wife to just go to school this morning that I'll just take the bike in for my classes (we have one car and one bike, both students diff class times).

Well I am rolling it out of the shed and it feels "heavier" to roll than usual but I brushed it off as nothing. Then I get on the road and the handleing feels liek shit. Acceleration is shitty, headshake more than usual and a funny all around feeling. Stopped and checked suspension and brakes hoping to find the cause, kicked the front tire and its fine, kicked the back and guess what. Soft. so I get a guage to check it, It didnt even read. It had barly enough air to make it look ok.

So here's my thoughts on possible causes.

1) Nail or screw in the tire, checked it and its clean

2)leaky valve stem maybe? I've had the bike for 6 weeks roughly and its been fine till now.

3) Someone is fucking with me, It's usually locked up but the other day I let it sit out back. Now I do have a alarm on it so you would think it would go off. I tested the theroy, you can get at the valve stem and take the cap off without setting off the alarm. maybe someone let the air out in which case, If I ever catch em I will def fuck them up no questions asked and I do have a 2x4 handy.

Did I miss anything? So here's the status. I filled it with 42 lbs of air and I'm letting it sit in the shed (locked). I figure I'll check on it in a few hours and see. If its a vavle stem leak how long till it loses a measurable amount of pressure? Before today when I found out the low presure it was about 2 weeks since I had ridden it.

Anyone have any similar experiences?

**Pepe** · 04-08-2008, 02:13 PM

just got your pm, it could be a couple things. you could have a screw in it like you said, if this was the case you would most likely be able to find it by inspecting the tire. it could be the valve stem, and i have never encountered this so i'm not totally sure how you would go about fixing that. it could also be that the tire just lost the seal from the actual wheel. if the temp dropped where you are recently, then the air inside the tire shrinks, causing the rubber to shrink as well and bam you lose your seal and your air. i would watch the air pressure for a couple hours, and if it loses a lot of air, then fill up a squirt bottle with some water and dish washing soap and inspect the tire, the seal, and the valve stem. spray the soap mixture all around the seal and valve stem and if there is bubbles from air coming out you found your leak. i personally think 42 lbs is too much to be running in your tire, but not sure if you just filled it up that high to see if it would leak. if all else fails take it off and get it to a shop, maybe you have a bent wheel from a pot hole or something.

**nightrider05** · 04-08-2008, 03:26 PM

Pepe is right..could be a number of things. I have had valve stems stick before on my truck and cause a tire to keep going flat..had to take it to a shop and have them put a new one in. Temperature changes can cause pressure to drop, however its usually not that big of a difference. Have you inspected it for nails?

Edit: Just read that you checked it for nails..Reading owns me

**Pepe** · 04-08-2008, 05:13 PM

my guess is its either something in the tire, or the seal somehow was broken. any word bro is it holding air so far for the past couple hours?

**fish eye** · 04-08-2008, 06:23 PM

I highly doubt the bead is broken. (The bead is the seal of the tire to the rim.) If would take a ton of force to break the bead, but if you hit a pothole or a small curb, like at the entrance to some driveways, it is possible. Highly unlikely though from just sitting around though.

I would check the valve stem if you are certain that you did a thorough inspection of the tire. The skinniest of staples can puncture these tires, they are quite soft. The actual valve stem is not the only the big stem itself attached to the rim, but also the little stem inside the cap. Those little stems screw into the big stem, so it could very well be loose. Any auto parts store will sell a valve stem puller that looks like a notched screw driver of sorts. May be worth picking up to see it the little valve stem is fully screwed in.

Otherwise, unless there is a clear defect in the workmanship of the tire, you are not likely to get it fixed/replaced for free.

**Nas19320** · 04-08-2008, 06:28 PM

Bad schrader/valve stem or you have a puncture. Really the only two options for a tire to lose that much air that qucikly.

**BlueStreak R6** · 04-08-2008, 11:03 PM

Confirmed this much at least, I had it filled with 42 lbs at 1:15 today, as of 8:30 it was down to 18lbs and will probably be immesurable by tommorow. The tire really does look clean, usually when you get a nail it sticks in right?, I didnt find that or evidence of a puncture on the tire anywhere. I could still be the valve stem I suppose but it herd air fine for 5 weeks (plus time at the dealership) so I dont think it could be that, not does it appear to be leaking. Well if it is a puncture it looks like the pilot powers 2 ct's will be on the rims sooner than I thought. Sucks though, I planned on getting at least a year out of the stockers.

**serpentracer** · 04-08-2008, 11:20 PM

valve stems get stuck sometimes. go to a autoparts store and buy a valve stem tool they are just a few bucks. then you can take the internal stem out and put it back in etc.. they even sell new stem internals.

check your rim for cracks.. it happens.

**Pepe** · 04-08-2008, 11:26 PM

damn that blows, did you try the soap mixture in the water bottle to try and find the leak?

**BlueStreak R6** · 04-08-2008, 11:32 PM

Naa, I didnt try the soapwater yet. I dont have a center stand. I was planning on getting one next month when I actually have money. This never happened to me with my first cycle. It's really kinda freak. I rode that bike for years with no problems. I guess everyone is gonns have tire problems eventually, I'ts my turn. It just came a little sooner thanI expected.

As far as the valve stem tool goes, I didnt get that yet either, I dont have a compressor to fill it back up. I guess I'll be getting one of those in May too.

not even 800 miles on it, Dammit!