Tyre pressures on 18" weekly topping up

The Zetec S 18" wheel is notorious for it.

I read on another forum a while back that they were porous and at some stage Ford offered a discounted rate on them because of it.

I had valves and tyres changed on my Zetec S a couple of times and it never changed, so i'm inclined to agree with the porous wheel theory.

Its just annoying as the low profile tyres are not as easy to see if there down on pressure so its forever checking them Ive already ruinedf a set of front from being under pressure

One of mine started losing pressure quickly in the cold winter we had - local tyre place whipped it off, reapplied the sealant stuff and refitted. It's been fine since.

Never had a problem with any of mine losing pressure overall.

If you have the original metsl valves fitted, then these are prone to leak, also as already mentioned, the Tyre bead seating do corrode and then they do leak on the wheel rims

i have the 18" spoked "split rims" on my ghia x and also on my wifes c max and all leaked, a couple quite badly-needing weekly checking...
got mine refurbished and new valves were fitted and have metal valve caps with rubber o ring and now they don't leak at all..? (strangely, when i checked em yesterday for 1st time in a month they seem to have increased by about 1psi..!!! :} )
obviously the wifes wheels are still corroded and are leaking badly still..! :eyesup:
they're next on list...
the guy at wheel refurb company said the corrosion that is prone on ford wheels allows the air to escape around rim and this is solved when they are refurbed and painted...
could've just been the new sealant used when refitting tires tho..!!! :eek13:
rgds stu

my Zs wheels leak constantly. Front tyres loose aboiut 10 psi in 3 days. Pain in the a## but they do loke swell. Rear one leaked but since I had a new tyre fitted it has been spot on. Guy in kwik fit cleaned uo the inside of the rim because it was full of black gunk around the edges.

Hopefully get the same treatment when I replace the fronts later this year

Well when I replace the fronts I will ask but as for a wheel refurb that's something on the to do list

I got my wheels refurbed but for the £50 per corner prices they only do the faces and not the entire wheel, which is really what would be needed to resolve the leaking.

Whole wheel refurb would be £££, could probably buy new wheels cheaper.

Where abouts you get yours done as your local to me

D_C said:

I got my wheels refurbed but for the £50 per corner prices they only do the faces and not the entire wheel, which is really what would be needed to resolve the leaking.

Whole wheel refurb would be £££, could probably buy new wheels cheaper.

Click to expand...

mine cost £170 to refurb all 4 (and they picked up/delivered wheels) plus they take off tyres and dip em and blast em before painting so seemed like a thorough job for a very good price..!
it was a firm that was recommended here on the forum but as they're daaan sarf near london prob no use to you..!

Used to have the same problem.

Had my Zetec S rims re-furbed and have been fine since, been a few weeks now.

When I bought the car I asked the dealer to have them refurbed for me. He did it free of charge so he probably only had the basics done to clean up the face.

May get a full refurb done in the summer.

Best thing you can do, as I have done is to buy a couple of cans of tyre weld, the emergency tyre sealer.
Deflate the air out of the tyres, connect the can & empty the contents into the tyre.
This will provide the seal you need for the life of the tyre, mine is ok now, after 15,000 miles.

PEte

I've been looking at automatic air compressors as i have this same problem. Right rear goes after 7 days. The other three not that far behind. Can't afford a refurb hence me looking to get my own compressor to inflate them at home.

Thinking of the getting this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000Q4UBMW

As its only £13

i have two 12v cheap compressors, at 31psi at the garage pump,
one says 52 psi
other says 45 psi
so check it out first as they can be a mile out.