A flat tire is a common situation when you are not careful enough to let the bike hold a nail, glass, or small iron. When the bicycle wheel hits a sharp thing with enough force to cause the thing to stick to the wheel and puncture the tire. This is a common cause of flat tires due to sharp things. What about a self-flattening bike? They are not hit by sharp objects, nor are they affected by external forces. Yet they nonetheless have a flat tire even though you've got it checked.
To answer the question of why bicycle tires deflate, the next part of this article will give you eight reasons why tires deflate quickly and slowly.
Flat Tire After A Few Days
The bike deflates slowly without noticing. It took a few days to recognize them and re-inflate them. After inflating enough air, you find them still in normal use. It is due to one of the following four reasons:
The rims are rusty: The first reason why the tire slowly deflates is that the edge of the rim has been left to rust for a long time, making the tire and rim no longer fit together. There are many causes of rim rust, but most are due to riding through puddles, rough terrain, or not paying attention to cleaning the bike.
The tires are worn out and scratched: If you cycle for a long time, tire wear is evident. However, your bike is relatively new but the tire is still flat. This could be due to a scratch on the wheel and air in the tire escaping from there. Many bike mechanics are not skilled when removing the tire for repair and reinstallation is not technically correct. This not only causes the rim to open but also causes the edge of the wheel to be torn or scratched, making it easier for the wheel to deflate.
Tires are too inflated: If you inflate the bike too much, it will cause the bicycle wheels to become stiff. Hot weather makes the air expand more. In the evening the temperature drops, the air shrinks. Just like that, the wheel is very easy to deflate.
Tires have small holes: Ordinary bicycle tires are woven together with yarns. Therefore, there is a gap between the above molecules, the gas molecules from there can escape, making the wheel slowly deflate. However, this cause is usually very slow to happen, often happens to bicycles that have been used for many years.
Flat Tire After A Few Hours.
The bike you use is a tubeless tire, they deflate after only 1-2 hours even though you haven't used it for a long time. You check the bike but don't see any signs. They are not punctured and have not been worn. So with Asama check your bike again, maybe they have the following causes:
The rim is distorted: A bicycle with a flat tire after only a few hours can be caused by a dented rim. Some unskilled bikers accidentally dent the bike rim slightly when they pry the tire, causing the rim to be dented and difficult to detect. This flat tire is more common on cast rims than on regular bicycle rims.
The rim is not sealed: Same as the case above. However, this reason is due to not cleaning the bicycle rim carefully. Dirt can stick to the rim, causing the tire to make poor contact with the rim.
The valve is distorted and open: A distorted or open valve is likely due to a collision or failure to pump the bike in time. This is also the cause of the bicycle valve head being distorted and steam escaping from it.
There are old patches: Some people believe that pouring a self-healing solution on the leak can close the leak. However, according to people with experience in the profession, it is not recommended to use self-patching solutions. It can cause tire wear and oxidation. Then the tire will deflate more and faster.
If you do not have any of the above causes, inflate the wheel a little more and dip it in a basin of water. You may find small wormholes that are bubbling in the water.
Preventing Self-Flattening Bicycle Tires.
Clean the bike regularly to avoid dirt and dust in the slots between the rim and the tire.
Pump the bike to the correct pressure, not too tight and not under-inflated. It's best to have a bicycle pressure gauge to ensure the right amount of air for the wheels.
Inflate the wheels as soon as they become soft, don't try to ride with underinflated wheels. Because this will damage the valve, braces and you have to spend a lot of money on repairs.
Choose a reputable service center or auto repair shop that you can trust.
There are the reasons Asama offered as to why the tire deflates on its own and there are some preventive measures. Hope you can find the right disease for your bike.