Ding...Ding...Low Tire Pressure!!
 

DIC warning went off yesterday. So I thought as I'm driving home, another false alarm. Tires looked OK. I checked the pressures and the right front was down 5 psi from the other three. I filled it and sure enough over 24 hrs it was back down 5 psi. A very slow leak.
The DIC was right :!:

Just removed it and low and behold there's a screw dead center in the tread buried up to the head. DAMN. :x My first in many years in any of my vehicles. A definite first for the Bonne...and only 5000 mi on this tire.
Never had one flat or puncture with the OEM RSA's. They just magically wore out.

Maybe these tires are toooo sticky!! :lol:

So do you think a simple plug will suffice or should I have it patched on the inside :?:

From what i know paul, a plug is your best bet. Your RSAs wore down because they begged for it..The Alero always throws false low tire warnings.

your tire was screwing around on you.

I'd have it patched on the inside....

Think about it, The plug goes in from the outside and you jam it in there... Whereas a patch goes on from the inside, You ever put a 2" round peice of rubber through a 1/4" hole?

Have it plugged AND patched from the inside. It is one process. I guarantee you most outside plugs will not last near as long as an inside heat-applied (vulcanized?) plug/patch. Outside plugs are from the bias-ply stone ages.

X2

Definitely get it plug/patched from the inside. You might want them to rebalance the tire (road-force if you have that option) because a patch could throw it off.

I have had numerous occasions where my tire pressures were well within spec, but one was as little as 3psi off of the rest and I got a Low Tire Pressure DIC warning message. Run around the car with my little digital pressure gauge and sure enough, everytime I get the message, one tire will be 3psi off the rest. I only get the message about every 3-5 months and I'm sure there isn't any problem aside from maybe a very very slow rim leak somewhere, but I'm not going to worry about that. About a minute with my 12v air pump and it's all good. When I get the message while cruising down the road I usually will do the nascar wiggle to see if I can tell which one is the problem. If I can't tell, and there is no difference in sound front to back when going over expansion joints or bumps in the road, I don't worry about it until I get to my destination.

ever considered getting a road hazard warranty? its like an extra $10 a tire, but they fix any flats or leaks for free for the life of the tire.

Actually most are prorated. Therefore if the tire is 50% worn.. you pay 50% cost of a new tire.

Got it fixed today.
Plugged and patched on the inside, then rebalanced.
Back on the road again.
Still dry roads. No rain since early July. Another sunny week and weekend in the forecast. :D

Only cost $15 for the whole job. As often as I get punctures, insurance would not be worth it.

Do you have a discount tire near you? Discount tire will fix a leak for free. They figure this way if your tire is ruined they will sell you a tire and make money, and if the tire isn't ruined they fix it and next time you have a problem you come back to get it fixed free again and it might have to be replaced so they might sell you one then. When I don't feel like fixing my own tires I bring it to them...why not if its free.

Shawn

No Discount Tire where I live......only "Rip-off brake and tire". :lol:

No real competition in a small town. :x