Refurbing alloys
 

Need some advice, my xc90 is a late 2006 140k and doing well.
Only issue is very slow punctures on two wheels, but slow as in it goes softvover three weeks. I've been told that it's most likely the tyre or valve not seating properly due to poor seal and that a refurb would sort it.

Does that sound likely?

My plan is to wait a month or so untill I've the full use out if the tyres and get them refurbed maybe painted a darker colour.

It'd lift the cars looks a bit, or woukd it be more sensible to think about new alloys and maybe go from 18s to 19 or 20s?

I can’t see how a refurb will solve the leak.

You need to go to a puncture repair place, get them to fix the punctures in your tyres & reseal them onto the alloy (its like an adhesive they use). Or, buy new tyres.

There’s no point buying new alloys for the sake of it. Fix the punctures (if possible), or replace the two leaky tyres.

It is possible and it's not unheard of, even on Volvos. The only way to be sure is to remove your tyres and inspect the part of the rim where the tyre seats for any corrosion. If that should be the case then no sealant additive will do more than provide a temporary fix, if even that.

A proper full refurb would cure it, but the partial refurb of the type SMART repairers do won't help at all.

Let us know how you get on.

In this scenario the leak occurs when corrosion forms and compromises the seal between the tyre and the rim. A proper refurb restores the smooth surface for the tyre to seal upon.

If you go to a place that actually does a proper job, you won’t need a wheel refurb.

My dad’s V70 suffered from leaky tyres. The chap cleaned the alloy fully after removing the tyre with what looked like wire wool, added sealant & they haven’t leaked since. I suppose it depends how bad the leak is.

Thats a bodge, not a proper job.

The tyre should fit and seal on a clean rim with no need for sealers. This is how they come from the factory. This is how 99.99% of cars on the road have their tyres fitted.

And the sealant won't be a long term cure. If it is the case that the OP is losing air due to alloy corrosion the sealant will only provide a temporary cure, if it works at all, The area will continue to corrode and worsen and will eventually leak again. Cleaning the area with wire will provides a clean surface, but it remains exposed and will continue to corrode. That defers the problem for another day, it does not cure it.

Its little different to corrosion anywhere else on the car. Rub it down, buff it with wire wool...but leave it like that and it won't be very long before you are back where you began.

Its been two years since this was done… I wouldn’t call it a “bodge”. :regular_smile:

Bring it to a place that knows what they’re doing & aren’t trying to do 100 cars at once & it could be a much cheaper option than buying new alloys or a refurb.

Spend time = better results.