Leaky alloys. Fix or scrap?

I've just picked up some spare tyres that are fitted on scruffy alloys with leaky rims.

Is it worth trying to refurb the alloys or are they best left as they are and weighed in?

what do you mean leaky rims?

refurb would depend on the alloys you get, old disco/rrc alloys like the blade style are prob better off weighed in.

boost style, freestyle etc can sell for decent money but it would depend how much you need to put into them to clean them up.

for a set of 4 alloys the scrap dealer around here will give £40-£50ish and I have seen freestyles go for close to £100 on ebay but have also seen them struggle to get scrap value too.

personally I would have a look at completed listings on ebay for similar wheels and make the decision from there.

bobbler said:

what do you mean leaky rims?

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If I inflate the tyre and then put soapy water around the tyre/wheel rim I see many bubbles.

bobbler said:

refurb would depend on the alloys you get, old disco/rrc alloys like the blade style are prob better off weighed in.

boost style, freestyle etc can sell for decent money but it would depend how much you need to put into them to clean them up.

for a set of 4 alloys the scrap dealer around here will give £40-£50ish and I have seen freestyles go for close to £100 on ebay but have also seen them struggle to get scrap value too.

personally I would have a look at completed listings on ebay for similar wheels and make the decision from there.

Click to expand...

They're this style www.slunnie.com :: View topic - 33x10.5-16 JT2 pressure testing

I'm not looking to tart them up and sell them. Just wondering if it's worth the effort of cleaning them up and respraying to keep as a spare set.

I had a problem like that on my spare, popped the tire off and it had bits of crap on the rim, ie little stones, cleaned it all out and blew it up, no more leak might be worth a try.

Galen said:

If I inflate the tyre and then put soapy water around the tyre/wheel rim I see many bubbles.



They're this style www.slunnie.com :: View topic - 33x10.5-16 JT2 pressure testing

I'm not looking to tart them up and sell them. Just wondering if it's worth the effort of cleaning them up and respraying to keep as a spare set.

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dont know what style they are but have seen them before.

Your leak is probably just dirt and can be cleaned with a wire brush to help make a good seal and could be cleaned up pretty easily and reprayed to keep as spares.

bobbler said:

dont know what style they are but have seen them before.

Your leak is probably just dirt and can be cleaned with a wire brush to help make a good seal and could be cleaned up pretty easily and reprayed to keep as spares.

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I'll give one a clean up and see how it goes.

This is a trick I picked up from a tyre fitter in the days when I was running about on ultra low profiles and always knocking the alloy rims. Before you refit the tyre run a brush of rubber adhesive ( black stuff like Evo Sick ) around the rim where it meets the tyre. Seals up any imperfections and it stays airtight.

spanishlair said:

Before you refit the tyre run a brush of rubber adhesive ( black stuff like Evo Sick ) around the rim where it meets the tyre. Seals up any imperfections and it stays airtight.

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Do you allow the rubber adhesive to cure before fitting the tyre or do you allow it to glue the tyre to the rim?

He just painted it on as he was fitting the tyre. Matter of seconds before he inflated it. So I guess it cured after it had sealed any gaps. Looked OK.. and worked.

Got the tyres off the rims today and they're going to need some serious wire brush attention. Lots of oxidation bubbling up the paint on the bead seats.

It looks like the previous owner has tried to cure the leaking by filling two tyres up with some kind of goo and another two of them had the beads glued with what I assume is the rubber adhesive mentioned above.

Breaking the beads in the glued rims was rather difficult.

Can't see any damage as such, just oxidisation under the paint.
Going to spend some time with a wire wheel. Then prime and paint them to see if they can be sorted.