Losing tyre pressure...

[Leodis]

I am not sure if this is normal as I cant remember having the problem before BUT... I am running on some very cheap Wiggle tubes and I am losing about 10-15 PSI over 3 days 30-40 odd miles, is this right or should I replace them with some decent ones?

Ta

 

[Roadrider48]

Maybe a slightly faulty valve.

 

[TissoT]

replace your tubes (good brand) ... also check the inside of your tyre/s for anything lurking around !

 

[Kies]

probably a slightly faulty valve, i have that on my road bike as well. havn't got round to swapping the tube out yet

 

[Leodis]

Thanks, its both of them so I was thinking they are crap tubes. Will replace in due course as I was thinking of ordering some more, anyone else used them Lifeline tubes from Wiggle? Got them on the Ribble and they see ok, though it hasnt been used for a month but seem to be holding air.

 

[Kies]

buy cheap buy twice. stick to branded tubes and you should be fine.

 

[Roadrider48]

Sometimes Halfords and Evans do 3 for 2. So for roughly a tenner you get 3 tubes.

 

[Chris1983]

My conti tubes lose around 10 to 15PSI a month, if that...

Presta Valves are a pain, a couple of things to check,
Make sure the center pin isn't bent, they can bend easy when removing a pump...if its bent replace the tubes as it might not be seating correctly at the valve seal.
make sure the valve is screwed in tight...not the locking nut the centre of the valve...if this is finger tight try tightening ever so slightly more with a pair of pliers...but i mean i slight nip, nothing more or you risk damaging the valve.
final thing to check is that the locking nut is tight....finger tight it fine...don't use pliers on this one...

Wiggle/CRC normally do a bulk buy of 5 conti tubes for a good price...last time i got some i split the costs with a friend, he had 2 tubes and i had 3...worked out at about £3 a tube

Cheers

Chris

 

[Leodis]

Thanks guys, will pick some better ones up this weekend and faze these ones out.

Schwalbe or conti's?

 

[TissoT]

Contis

 

[Old Plodder]

I use Contis also.

 

[Dangermouse]

It is more than likely the valves, I bought some Halfords own brand tubes which are not cheap, but all 3 lost pressure down to 30psi over 5 days so I bought Contis and the problem was solved, never bothered taking the tubes back to Halfords as they are my spares and are only used as get me home tubes in emergencies

 

[Smurfy]

My commuter has presta valves that have to be screwed up really tight or they lose air. They're the ones that came with the bike and I've never bothered replacing them with something better.

 

[Leodis]

Thanks for all the advice, I double checked last night and the rear was not tight, will keep an eye on them over the next couple of weeks but will phase in decent ones.