tire bead sealing

[scotts90ranger]

The tires on my truck aren't what you would call new, they're BFG MT's and not KM... got them used about a year ago. They're 35x12.5-15 if it changes any thoughts you have.

They hold air for the most part, well 3 of them do but I finally found the leak on the 4th and will deal with that here soon. The issue is the beads don't seal well, namely when aired down under 10-15 psi. The tiers are weather checked but only leak at the beads. I've had a couple thoughts on working on this:

-dismount the tires and take a wire wheel mounted in a drill to the bead and get through the hard rubber crust to pliable rubber
-do the above and use some type of adhesive

If you suggest adhesive, what type? I have aluminum wheels and don't want to do something that's impossible to get off but don't want them to leak like this either. The adhesives I've thought of are shoe goo, rubber cement, and maybe weather strip adhesive.

I know I should really get new tires and forget about these, but they are ~50% tread and want to get my moneys worth out of them if I can...

Thanks for any ideas.

[Buzzer]

what kinda of rims are they? Steel/Alloy?

[scotts90ranger]

they're alloy

[Buzzer]

from my experance @ a tire shop some alloy rims Just plan suck...lol I've seen many do as you say, the alloy can be very porous and @ low PSI..... Leak very easy...

We had this liquid rubber we'd put on the rim, and some times it'd help.... best bet, (to me) is to get some steel rims

[scotts90ranger]

dang, they're Alcoa and I like em

the beads leak at the little molding lines on the tires not just in general, so they're not sealing on the ID of the bead, the bead sealing surface is powder coated or something if I remember right.

[cousinmike]

I had problems with the paddles on my jeep. I got a quart of bead sealer from Schucks for about $11. Just pop the beads off, coat both the bead and rim surface then air them back up t ore-seat the bead before the sealer dries. I haven't had a problem since.

[junkyard dog]

good advice...... I also have had a tire that had gone low the whole time Ive had the blazer... the wheels came on the blazer, they are ultra alloys... the left front has always gone low, like it has a slow leak....... 2 sets of tires, 3 different valve stems and even dismounted the tire looking for the leak... still goes low..... need to get some different wheels at some point.....

[junkyard dog]

we both have the same style wheels...... they are both the alcoa look alikes......maybe there a pattern here......

[scotts90ranger]

ok, will get some bead sealer then... sounds like the key, I'm guessing it could be found next to the green goop and tire patches and stuff?

Another tire related question, I found a leak in one of the tires (the one that goes flat) and need to plug the leak, I'm sure the rope type push in plugs are a bad idea, but what about an inner tube type patch from the inside? do they hold up to wheeling with low tire pressures flexing the tire?

[F250Diesel4x4]

If you dismount the tire, I bet your local tire shop would throw a patch on it for $10 or less. If its a larger hole you can put a rope plug in it and then a patch on the inside. I had a tire repaired like that with 15k miles afterwards and never any leaks.

[scotts90ranger]

picked up some patches and bead sealer tonight, will work on the tire tomorrow. I have a plan, will see how it works...

Thanks for the help everyone...