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Alloy wheels and rubber?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by prius_deep, Sep 3, 2019.

  1. prius_deep

    prius_deep Member

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    so my TPMS went off a while back checked my tires and two were low; filled them up TPMS turned off
    TPMS went off again last week checked tires; same two were low again; filled them up; TPMS turned off.

    went to discount tire where I got the tires from [before I took in the 08 I took off one of the tires and checked for nails, screws, etc.., nothing].
    DT 'fixed' them for free [because they had proration coverage].

    so I asked what was wrong with them.

    told that there was rust between the tires and rims and air was getting out through there, they unmounted the tires clean the rims and remounted them. that is common with Alloy wheels and rubber.???? and might happen every 6 month to a year.

    and that this does not happen with steel wheels/rims.

    I know about steel and Alloy.

    I have never heard of this - Alloy wheels and rubber thing, have you?
     
    #1 prius_deep, Sep 3, 2019
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I had not heard of that; but if the tires hold air now then it would seem the explanation is correct.
     
    #2 Patrick Wong, Sep 3, 2019
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  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I've seen this problem you described but it's usually not rust, it's dirt that's stuck in the bead. They would just clean it off with soapy water.
     
    #3 JC91006, Sep 3, 2019
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  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    One of my prior cars had this problem, where Costco just couldn't get one alloy wheel rim clean enough where the bead is supposed to seal. I even verified the leak at home, placing the assembly flat on the ground and filling the bead area with water to find the bubbles.

    I took it to an old fashioned independent tire shop, which was able to get it right. That was long before Discount Tire moved into the area.
     
    #4 fuzzy1, Sep 3, 2019
  5. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    They probably didn’t clean them when they changed the tires. That’s their excuse for doing a poor job the first time.
     
    #5 Skibob, Sep 4, 2019
  6. prius_deep

    prius_deep Member

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    thanks all.
     
    #6 prius_deep, Sep 4, 2019
  7. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    I know they did clean it the second time. Still didn't work. They showed me the residue or corrosion that was in the way.
     
    #7 fuzzy1, Sep 5, 2019
  8. prius_deep

    prius_deep Member

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    OCT 12 2019

    grab a bat and let's beat this horse


    so my TPMS light went on today again!

    went back to Discount Tires again, they again said that it was because of 'rust' from between the wheels[rims] and the tires. but that they would rebuff[the rims] and reinstall them again. which they did, no charge.
    as has been pointed out in this thread most people have never heard of such a thing.

    he said the best answer would be to get new rims. No did not try to sell me rims.

    side note went to dealer.. just to ask, are you ready... $400.00 each!!! asked about steel, they don't make steel wheels for my car!!!?

    anyway back to the dead horse, I can see area on the rims that do look like rust/corrosion trying to bobble up.

    prtr01r.jpg prtr02r.jpg prtr03r.jpg prtr04r.jpg

    the pics are scaled to keep file size down, hope detail is still good.

    so he said that even if they buff it with their wire wheel that would only be removing the surface corrosion and not the corrosion underneath, it can be done but they DT do can not do that kind of job.


    hello rubber tire, you know rubber gasket.


    these were the reading when I went to their free tire air check, front driver 29psi. front passenger 25psi. rear driver 24psi. rear passenger 26psi.

    so what now; have to check psi like motor oil; every fill up?

    midwest salt they told an older gentleman, a Vet who had same issue; light on, tires low. his car was a '13, don't recall make.


    so what do you think of that story? here's your bat!
     
    #8 prius_deep, Oct 12, 2019
  9. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I suggest you find a local shop that refurbishes wheels, and see if they can help by removing the wheels, sand blasting them to remove corrosion, then repainting the wheels to retard the development of further corrosion. That might cost $100 per wheel.
     
    #9 Patrick Wong, Oct 12, 2019
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