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Alcoa wheel question

November 19, 2013, 03:39:41 pm

We've been gone from home since mid-September and the coach was left here. When we returned I found that one of the tires was completely flat. This is one of four new Michelins we got in June. I called the company that installed them and told them what was wrong. They suggested that I call Coach-Net and have them send someone out to take care of it, so I tried that. They said they would pay for the service call, but that I would have to pay for the new tire. Since I didn't think I needed a new tire I tried to find someone else to come out. I did.

The tire had come completely loose from the wheel, so I couldn't just use the onboard air to air it up. The man who came out was able to get the tire partially inflated so he could check for leaks. He found that the leak was at the valve stem. He said that the aluminum wheels, especially Alcoa ones, for some reason don't seal as well. His suggestion was that if it happens again we should spend the $8.00 per tire to have nitrogen put in them. Since air is mostly nitrogen anyway (78%) I can't really see that.

Are there any issues with Alcoa wheels? Or is this just a story? I suspect that the valve stem simply wasn't seated tightly when it was first installed, and has been leaking slowly since June. With us away from the coach for two months it had plenty of time to go flat. What think you experts?

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Re: Alcoa wheel question

Reply #1 – November 19, 2013, 04:08:04 pm

David,

Not an issue with Alcoa wheels particularly, but if the valve stem seals need to be replaced (they can go bad) replace them. I know some tire companies do this as part of new tire installation.

No, while there advantages to N2, that certainly will not "cure" a bad seal.

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Reply #2 – November 19, 2013, 04:44:41 pm

When it comes to coach tires, safety is the number one issue. Only have the most competent shop work your tires.

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Reply #3 – November 19, 2013, 07:24:28 pm

Just a story about the Alcoa wheels. Tire was loose as it had run for a while without air in it. Got hot and came off the bead. Probably does need to be replaced.

Pierce

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Reply #4 – November 19, 2013, 08:41:19 pm

Pierce, did that happen to you? Mine simply went flat while sitting here in the yard because I wasn't home to check on it.

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Reply #5 – November 19, 2013, 09:24:31 pm

                       Hi David ; I am not a tire pro or anything else , but I had a talk with a very large Michelin dealer about your issue . He said that is a common problem when the tech that did your changing didn't check  the stems . He said if any doubt , new stems period . Some tire places just don't give a hoot , and the attitude that goes with it . Brad Metzger

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Reply #6 – November 19, 2013, 09:45:39 pm

When I last put new tires on my coach, I left home a couple weeks later.  At the first rest area (20 miles), I decided to check and found one inner dual (the steel wheel) had no air.  Carefully drove slowly back home to the very reputable tire store and they found a loose valve stem.  They didn't try to charge me anything.  So stuff can happen.  Just taught me to pay more closer attention when new tires are put on.

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Reply #7 – November 19, 2013, 09:52:34 pm

Yes, I bought a bus in Fall River, Mass and was heading west when I felt a slight vibration. Inside right rear had gradually gone down, gotten hot and come off the bead. Was pretty hot to the touch. A tire dealer in Columbus, OH. Had a near new Michelin for $60. After I got home, I found the front bumper rotated down and there was a new Michelin spare behind it.

A dual can loose pressure on one tire and not be noticed for a while. Good reason to check tires in the morning or with an IR gun during the day. Can be VERY hard to visually tell if low or even flat.

New tires always should get new stems.

Quickly scanned your post and didn't realize the tires had been recently installed

Pierce

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Reply #8 – November 19, 2013, 09:57:58 pm

So far the others seem to be fine, so maybe it was just that one stem that wasn't seated properly. At any rate I'll keep a good eye on all the pressures.

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Reply #9 – November 19, 2013, 10:16:50 pm

                       My years in business taught me several things and one was , on all my trucks , big and small always have new stems with new tires . I do this on all the coaches I've had in the past . This East Coast Michelin dealer (Donald Rice) is a small chain . They do new stems without asking . I always watch tire people do their thing .Don't think it does anything but makes me see what is going on .I ride on those tires , so it matters very much to me .  I've been in tire stores and they tell me I can't be in the shop . I say fine , back out and leave . They say but---our insurance ---- I say fine and leave anyway . Brad Metzger

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Reply #10 – November 20, 2013, 02:20:10 pm

Alcoa did have a recall on 16x6 dually wheels a while ago but there has been nothing since.  If the tire kept it's air then suddenly went flat it's almost certainly not a porous wheel.  Never heard of them not sealing well.  So long as the tech cleans the rim and uses plenty of lube it should seal.  Concur with new stems every time, also watch the tech when he works.  Most hate it but it seems that pride in workmanship is hard to find nowadays

Keith

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Reply #11 – November 20, 2013, 03:29:26 pm

I always put new stems on my cars, but they are rubber.  Is it best to put new metal stems on the coach or just new seals on the old metal stems?

Thanks,

Roy

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Reply #12 – November 20, 2013, 07:43:53 pm

Mine had new seals put on when tyres were changed 12 months ago. Tightened good too.
John H

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Reply #13 – November 20, 2013, 08:03:18 pm

RE to check and found one inner dual (the steel wheel) had no air

I think that a tire pressure monitor like Pressure Pro is an important accessory and would have caught the above problem.

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Reply #14 – November 20, 2013, 08:44:32 pm

When had the new Michelin tires installed, all aluminum rims got new stems, the two inner steel rims also got the 8" stems, these new 8" stems are a big improvement over the ones I got from Herman Power, the new ones were installed from inside the tire with the nut on the outside of the rim, so as time goes on, if they start leaking , they can be snugged up, the earlier ones had the nut on the inside of rim, not very accessable. Also the rubber snubbers were correctly installed with the Prsssure Pro's.  SO far, all is good, of course, time will tell the rest of the story.
Point is: installing new tires and using the old stems is beggin for an issue, same as using the extensions on the innder dual wheels.  Of course just my opnion.

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Reply #15 – November 21, 2013, 12:20:21 pm

One thing I've been told by some tire folks is that the old style Alcoa Budd type wheels use a different model valve stem.  Have found that not all tire dealers know this and will try to put on the new style.  The old style is TR545D (2.50" - Suitable For D.C.N Budd Mount Alcoa Wheels) with a length of 2.50" and 60° bend angle, and TR509 (4.00" - Suitable For Old Style Budd Mount Wheels Valve in Well Base) with a length of 5" and 90° bend angle.  These part numbers were found on Alcoa's Australian site and are not on the US site.  Was told the new style will not properly seat on the wheel and be susceptible  to possible possible leaks.  Now I don't know if that is a line of #@*& or not, but have been told that it is.  I have not confirmed any of this at Alcoa, but when I last talked to them about my old style wheels, about all they could tell me, is that they don't make them anymore.

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