Chrysler T&C tires go flat every night (Updated)

[LwnmwnMan2]

3 of the 4 tires on the wife's minivan, and one on my parent's minivan go flat every night when it gets about 5 degrees outside.

The last 3 mornings all but the rear driver's side have been flat, which is a pain pumping tires every morning.

Any tips other than getting new rims?

We've already been to the tire shop and had the tires removed, "sealed" and mounted again.

[luckycrank]

SALVAGE WHEELS ?? I GUESS I WOULD ASK MY SELF IF THE VAN IS WORTH PUTTING USED WHEELS ON

[elkrivermn]

Sounds like alluminum wheels ( alluminum wheels lose the bead in sub zero weather ) Try steel wheels in their place.

[Jeremy airjer W]

If they are leaking out the beads than a good cleaning with a rolock disk to remove all the corrosion and a thin layer of bearing grease on both bead mating surfaces will seal them up for the life of the tire.

If they are chrome plated aluminum wheels the same as above can be done but the pealing chrome in the bead area will have to be feathered really well for it to work. I will try to clean them once if they go flat again they get replaced.

If they have low tire sensors make sure there nopt leaking out of them. Chryslers for some reason seem to be pretty common for this both steel and aluminum, at least from what I have seen.

Steel wheels are always the better choice for vehicles in Minnesota. I would bet the ration of bead leaks is at least 100 aluminum wheels for every steel wheel.

The grease trick works! One of our service writers jokes that it is the "lifetime" bead repair because they rarely if ever come back leaking. There was one time that I can remember and the issue was the tires where so old, dry and weather checked that they where absorbing the grease leaving the beads vulnerable to more corrosion.

[LMITOUT]

I have a Honda Accord that has two rear wheels that do the same thing, and yes, it is a pain.

[Hafnutz]

I've had the same problem with aluminum wheels. Took the tires off and cleaned and polished the rims real good with a wire brush on a drill. Remounted the tires and the problem was solved. Tried the bead sealer gunk first and it didn't help that much. They need to have a good smooth and clean sealing surface. Don't doubt that the "grease trick" will help also as it will soften the rubber.

[LwnmwnMan2]

Both of the vans are 2008s, with tire pressure monitoring and we've had this problem both last winter and this.

Monday my parents are taking theirs into the dealership for other issues and we're going to be having a talk.

How would we know if the air is leaking out of the pressure sensors?

[Determan]

I have heard having your tires inflated with nitrogen can help.

I have not tried it, but it worked for a friend of mine.

Most tire shops can inflate your tires with nitrogen. It usually runs around $10 a tire.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Both of the vans are 2008s, with tire pressure monitoring and we've had this problem both last winter and this.

[Jeremy airjer W]

How would we know if the air is leaking out of the pressure sensors?

Spray them with soapy water or dunk the tire.

[LwnmwnMan2]

About 23k miles on them, new in July of '08.

They are literally flat...

Flat

Flat

Flat...

All 3 of them

[Jeremy airjer W]

So from what I can gather from your post they're literally flat?

Something is definitely wrong.

[Scott K]

I would think with 3 tires leaking that much, any tire place should be able to locate the leak. I would bring it back in to a shop and have them recheck them.

[1DIRTBALL]

I used to have the same problem on a car I once owned that had aluminum rim's. Only one of the tire's was affected. Here's how I fixed it: First I let out almost all the air from the tire.(While it was still on the car) Then I took a can of Fix a Flat sealer and inflator and installed it in the tire. After that I took the car out and drove it around very slowly for about a mile and a half. Be sure not to exceed 5 mph! I finished up by checking the tire pressure and infating it to the correcr air pressure. Never had any further problem's with the tire after that. Hope this help's! 1DIRTBALL

[Scott K]

Please dont use fix a flat, unless it is an emergency situation. That stuff is nasty for anyone that needs to work on tires. I have refused to change tires on a car because of that stuff.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Agreed, fix a flat it a useless product that rarely fixes any flat.

In the winter it will freeze in a big pool causing the tire to go out of balance really bad. They can also plug up the TPMS sensors on the newer vehicles rendering them useless and at a couple hundred bucks a pop to get them replaced that would be one expensive flat repair.

On a side not if there is fix a flat in a tire we are repairing the tab automatically goes up another $10 or so to dismount the tire and clean the stuff out. The smell is absolutely brutal!!!!

[LwnmwnMan2]

My contention is this. With rims leaking this bad, Chrysler should be on the hook.

However, unless I can find some more people with T&C's like mine and my parents that have the same leaky rims, with the state of the auto industry right now, I know what I'm going to hear when I go back to the dealer.....

"Hey, you have an air hose, it's an 'Act of God' because the temps are cold, pump them up yourself or go buy new rims".

[Jeremy airjer W]

"Hey, you have an air hose, it's an 'Act of God' because the temps are cold, pump them up yourself or go buy new rims".

I'd ask them if there tires where flat? Then proceed to every other employee there that you could track down and ask the same question. I would think that your point would be loud and clear after that!

[Macgyver55]

Before you go off on them I'd remove the tire and verify where the leak is. It would be a stretch, but running over something on the road and having 3 tires with slow leaks is not unheard of. Not saying its impossible but its very unlikely that 3 of 4 wheels on a vehicle that new are corroded bad enough to leak. You'd hate to be standing there all mad just to have them show you nails sticking out of 3 of your tires. Just sayin'......

[CaptainBly]

That fix a flat is nasty. Used to work at a service station and once in a while someone would come in with that in their tire. Nasty. I would have to agree with everybody else, leaking around the bead. I just had to get the front two on our 300 M fixed. Yes a chrysler They just cleaned up the rim and put some bead sealer in it. I'm sure that I'll have to do the same next winter.

[Scott K]

I would bring it in to a local tire shop, and have them check them over. Leave the dealer out of it until you can prove there is a default to one of their parts, then bring it to them and tell them you want the part replaced under warranty, if it is bad.

[Gus]

I've got an 08 Caravan SXT with about 45k on it now. I haven't had any tire pressure issues to date. Hated the OEM tires, but no issues keeping pressure. Had the tires replaced this winter along with a TPMS rebuild and knock on wood still no issues. I've had it warn me once or twice in the last two years when it was really cold but never had an issue that a couple PSI didn't fix. Definatley not a flat. Sorry to hear about your woes.

Now if I could only get that overhead console to quit rattling....

[Dave S]

I wouldn't rule it out, but I've seen tires go flat due to moisture building up in the valve stem and causing the core to open. Winter weather and the moisture to go with it is prime time for this to happen.

[Jeremy airjer W]

The TPMS caps have a seal in them. I f they are on tight than there shouldn't be an issue with moister freezing. I have had a couple of TPMS's that where missing caps and ice was causing the valves to stay open.

[Big Buck Buster]

I just had one today. While checking the tire pressure during a routine service, one of the tires wouldn't read anything on the gauge. Tried pushing in the core, nothing. Tire was inflated, and no, it wasn't a run-flat tire. Took the core completely out, and nothing. Stuck a small pic in through the hole, and low and behold, it was iced up. Put the core back in, adjusted the tire pressure, good to go.