How to Find a Leak in a Tire

Keeping your tires properly inflated is a must for safety.^{[1]
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
U.S. government agency responsible for writing and enforcing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

Go to source} A flat tire will certainly leave you stranded, but even losing a little tire pressure can have big consequences. Low tire pressure causes your vehicle to be harder to handle and even costs you more in gas.^{[2]
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Trustworthy Source

FuelEconomy.gov
Official source for the U.S. government for fuel economy information

Go to source} If you are struggling to keep air in your tires, you may have a leak.

Easy Way to Locate a Tire Leak

Spray the tire with a soap and water solution. If you don’t have a spray bottle, pour a soapy water mixture over the tire. Watch for soap bubbles that form in the areas where air is escaping the tire. These are the tire leaks.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Locating a Leak without Water

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In order to find a leak the tire must be properly pressurized.^{[3]
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Research source} You should inflate your tire with air until it reaches the appropriate pressure (measured in psi) specified in your vehicle’s service manual or on the vehicle's door placard on the driver-side door.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Howard Fleischmann
Automotive Tire & Repair Specialist

Expert Interview}
Before moving on to more time consuming techniques, you should take a moment to look at your tire. If you notice any holes, cuts, or objects protruding from tire then you have found your leak.^{[5]
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Even if you aren't able to see the problem right away you might be able to hear it. A hissing sound is a clear sign that air is leaking from your tire, and can help you locate the leak.
If you run your hands over the tire carefully you may feel the leak even if you can't hear or see it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Soap and Water

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If you followed the steps above and you were not able to easily find the leak don’t fear. Spraying the tire with a little soapy water or window cleaner may help. If you see bubbling at any place on the surface of the tire then you have found your leak.^{[6]
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Research source}^{[7]
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Expert Source

Howard Fleischmann
Automotive Tire & Repair Specialist

Expert Interview}
You can use a spray bottle to spray the tire, or if a spray bottle isn’t available you can just pour the mixture over the tire.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Howard Fleischmann
Automotive Tire & Repair Specialist

Expert Interview}
As air escapes the tire and encounters the soapy water mixture it will form soap bubbles. If you notice the soapy water bubbling at any particular place on the tire, you have found your leak.^{[9]
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Research source}^{[10]
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Expert Source

Howard Fleischmann
Automotive Tire & Repair Specialist

Expert Interview}

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Submerging the Tire

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You do not want the car to roll or sink once you have it jacked up.
It is important to remember to loosen, or break, the lug nuts before you jack up the vehicle. This way the weight of the vehicle is still on the wheels and it prevents them from spinning dangerously while you turn the lugs.^{[11]
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3
Jack up the car. Once the lugs have been loosened, it will be necessary to jack the car up so that the wheels can be removed. As mentioned above, this should be done on level concrete or some other hard, level surface. Some important things to remember when jacking up the care are:^{[12]
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- Your service manual will recommend jacking points
- The most common way to elevate the car is a floor jack, or trolley jack. If you are unsure how to use one visit Lift a Car Using a Trolley Jack.
- You should use jack stands to stabilize the car. A good tutorial on jack stands can be found at Use Jack Stands.
- If you have access to a hydraulic lift it will save you time.
At this point, the lugs may be loose enough to remove by hand. If not, finish removing the lugs with the lug wrench or impact wrench. Once the lugs are removed, pull the wheel off of the wheelbase. If you are uncomfortable removing a wheel, read about how to Remove Lug Nuts and Tires.
You can use a small kiddie pool, bathtub, or any other container large enough to hold the tire. You should add water until the tire is completely submerged and then allow the water to settle.^{[13]
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Research source}^{[14]
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Expert Source

Howard Fleischmann
Automotive Tire & Repair Specialist

Expert Interview}
Once the water has settled you might notice air bubbles escaping from the tire. If so, you have found your leak.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Howard Fleischmann
Automotive Tire & Repair Specialist

Expert Interview}

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Fixing the Leak

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Some leaks can be repaired, but leaks on the shoulder or sidewall of the tire should never be repaired. If you have a puncture in the tread area that is less than 1/4" in diameter then a repair may be your best option. If you are unsure of whether to replace or repair the tire consult a professional.
Some people prefer to fix leaks on their own. To do this you can patch your tire, or for smaller leaks you can use a tire sealant such as Fix-A-Flat^{[16]
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If you aren't able to fix the leak yourself you should take it to a professional tire shop. If it is a slow leak it may be safe for you to pump the tire up and drive to the shop. Otherwise, it may be necessary to have your car towed to the tire shop.

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Tips

Pay attention to the outside temperature. If it gets considerably colder outside this can lower the pressure in your tires even if you do not have a leak. In this case you only need to add more air to your tires.

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Be sure to pay close attention to the bead (where the tire meets the rim) and the valve stem when looking for a hard to find leak.

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Clean your tire with plain water to get the dirt out of the hole, if there is one.

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Warnings

Over-tightening of the lug nuts can cause the rotors to become warped. Use a torque wrench to prevent this from happening.^{[18]
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