This morning was cold, crisp, but dry fine weather and I thought ideal to take the Mog for a spin. Into the garage and ... one flat tyre.
Jacked the car up – no sign of a puncture so out with the washing up liquid solution. After painting it all over the place (rims etc) eventually got bubbles around the base of the threaded tyre valve, just above the locking/tightening nut. Quite a lot on what was the flat tyre (after pumping it up) - big bubbles (in photo 1) and, checking the other four wheels, a little bubbling on two of the others (as in photo 2).
As I’ve only had to top up the tyres a little (twice) since I had the car (Jan 15) - last time just before Christmas - this has not been a long-term issue. So I am not sure what has caused this (on more than 1 wheel) – perhaps the cold weather causing sufficient contraction to give a slight leak around the internal sealing washer? Not having had wire wheels or bolt-on valves before, I have no experience and not 100% sure why its happened, what this could be or what to do.
Anyway, thanks to advice from MWS (who were really helpful), just tightened up the locking nuts (taking care not to over-tighten or thread damage may occur)and leaks all stopped.
I seems this nut pulls the threaded valve stem up through the wheel against a rubber sealing washer inside. Anyone else had this issue ?
