Wheels/Tires Questions and discussion about wheels and tires should be posted here.

Strange leak in tire

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 30, 2020 | 08:56 AM
  #1  
rauchman's Avatar
rauchman
Thread Starter
|
Grand HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,684
Likes: 4,294
From: Northeast, NJ
Default Strange leak in tire

Greetings,

I have a 2013 Dyna Switchback which has polished aluminum rims on the inside of where the tire goes. I change out the tire last summer, have since put about 5k miles on it, and all was good until a few weeks ago. Went to go for a ride and noticed the pressure was down about 5psi after about 5 days. Filled it, went for a ride and all was fine. Didn't ride for a couple of weeks and noticed the psi was down from 36 to about 15psi.

My buddy came over and we did a test. We filled up the tire and wet the tire and rim. Noticed bubbles coming between the tire and the rim. Last night, the same buddy brought over his tools for tire changing. Broke the bead and noticed a white'ish, chalky'ish , gritty substance all around the bead of the tire and also the inside of the rim.

Does anyone know what this is from? When I had installed the tire, I used a soapy water mixture to lube the tire for installation. My buddy is theorizing that the soapy mixture made the aluminum rim oxidize on the inside. The current tire is the 2nd one installed, and I had also used the soapy mixture for lube on the previous install and had no issue.

Also, would you buy a new tire? I'm wondering if the strength of the tire has been compromised in some way.
 
Reply
Old Jul 30, 2020 | 09:33 AM
  #2  
MyFavRk's Avatar
MyFavRk
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 10,833
Likes: 6,485
From: Canada Flats
Default

Depending on what type of soap you used , could very well be oxidized from that . I would use a mixture of liquid dish soap to clean it up and reinstall . make sure you clean up the rim very well where the tire seats the rim , using some fine steel wool or fine emery cloth .

I don't think you have anything to worry about when it comes to the tire , just clean up the edge .
 
Reply
Old Jul 30, 2020 | 09:51 AM
  #3  
rauchman's Avatar
rauchman
Thread Starter
|
Grand HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,684
Likes: 4,294
From: Northeast, NJ
Default

Originally Posted by MyFavRk
Depending on what type of soap you used , could very well be oxidized from that . I would use a mixture of liquid dish soap to clean it up and reinstall . make sure you clean up the rim very well where the tire seats the rim , using some fine steel wool or fine emery cloth .

I don't think you have anything to worry about when it comes to the tire , just clean up the edge .
Phew....thanks!
 
Reply
Old Jul 30, 2020 | 10:30 AM
  #4  
CoolBreeze3646's Avatar
CoolBreeze3646
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,470
Likes: 30,728
From: Pennsylvania
Default

If you used water from a municipal source, it had chlorine in it and will oxidise aluminum. Use Ru-Glyde.

Ru-Glyde Tire Mounting and Rubber Lubricant


Amazon Amazon


 
Reply
Old Jul 30, 2020 | 10:35 AM
  #5  
todd-67's Avatar
todd-67
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,899
Likes: 3,412
From: OH
Default

Like others stated that white crap is the aluminum oxidizing. This is common with aluminum wheels when they aren't cleaned up and mounted properly. Happens in car/trucks all the time. Clean it up and remount it and you should be fine.
 
Reply
Old Jul 30, 2020 | 10:37 AM
  #6  
rauchman's Avatar
rauchman
Thread Starter
|
Grand HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,684
Likes: 4,294
From: Northeast, NJ
Default

Originally Posted by coolbreeze3646
If you used water from a municipal source, it had chlorine in it and will oxidise aluminum. Use Ru-Glyde.

Ru-Glyde Tire Mounting and Rubber Lubricant


https://www.amazon.com/AGS-RG18-Gal-.../dp/B000CIJUGK
Excellent....thank you!
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
galtjunk
Wheels/Tires
7
Jun 2, 2021 05:26 AM
brudford
General Harley Davidson Chat
12
Jul 24, 2018 09:47 AM
NascarGuy
The Dark Side
1
Apr 11, 2015 04:34 AM
Wind
Wheels/Tires
5
Aug 18, 2010 01:07 PM
Crazy Canuck
Frame/Suspension/Front End/Brakes
5
Apr 5, 2006 01:58 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:20 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE