be gentle, new user
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
be gentle, new user
Have an '89 (C4) but the rims are from a C5. Back tires 1" larger. I've just gotten new tires that work great. Notice one tire (back right) slowly getting low. I've got 2 SMALL leaks coming form the inside of the rim. Any other options other than replacements/if not a good avenue to pursue?
Last edited by davidbcrow; Mar 30, 2015 at 07:49 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,756
Likes: 1,210
From: Aiken, SC
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '26
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 371
Likes: 20
From: Ft. Collins Colorado
I've experienced a slow leak from the C5 "Wagon Wheels". As it turns out, the chrome on the inside of the rim which contacts the bead of the tire breaks down and causes a slow leak. The fix seems to be a polishing the areas on the inside of the rim. It might take a couple of try's for a total fix. Good luck.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,390
Likes: 24,790
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
but before you go out and try and get the rims repaired, you should find out exactly what the cause of the leak is. Could be from the valve stem, from a cracked rim, from a bad bead seal, etc. A good and trusted tire shop should be able to pinpoint the source of the leak and then you can go from there.
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 371
Likes: 20
From: Ft. Collins Colorado
but before you go out and try and get the rims repaired, you should find out exactly what the cause of the leak is. Could be from the valve stem, from a cracked rim, from a bad bead seal, etc. A good and trusted tire shop should be able to pinpoint the source of the leak and then you can go from there.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
I've experienced a slow leak from the C5 "Wagon Wheels". As it turns out, the chrome on the inside of the rim which contacts the bead of the tire breaks down and causes a slow leak. The fix seems to be a polishing the areas on the inside of the rim. It might take a couple of try's for a total fix. Good luck.
mike v
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 465
Likes: 92
From: Riner Va
HRE wheels,,,(2-piece rims) when I had new tires put on in the fall,, num-nts dug into the sealing bead on the inside of the wheel... had the tire removed,, cleaned and resealed the area with high temp silicone...worked great,, no leaks...
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Chrome wheels were not offered by GM on ANY C5 during it's entire production run.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 456
From: USA
chrome wheels
i just went thru this with a set of chromed c5 thin spoke wheels. the dealership has rode this horse before on other chrome wheels and the knew exactly how to fix them. three of the had chrome peeling around the bead seat, one had a corroded and flaking chrome around the valve stem. It took them some time and they got them all sealed up just fine. I bought new tires from them and they gave me a good price. Also as stated above we took mounted tires to my swimming pool to check out the leaks to make sure where they were leaking. They used 3 M roto lock discs to grind and remove flaking chrome and corrosion from the wheels. Good luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 363
From: Midland TX
but before you go out and try and get the rims repaired, you should find out exactly what the cause of the leak is. Could be from the valve stem, from a cracked rim, from a bad bead seal, etc. A good and trusted tire shop should be able to pinpoint the source of the leak and then you can go from there. Most tire shops will have a water tank they can submerge your wheel/tire assy into and air it up to see where the bubbles are coming from.Also as mentioned by others - if these are after-market chrome plated (even if they are genuine stock wheels like my chromed GM Speedlines), a corroded bead can leak (one of my first set did that after a few years and tire changes). Submerging in a water tank will reveal the source.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 15,056
Likes: 1,613
From: Holly Springs NC
St. Jude Donor '16-'17,'22,'24
Really? I thought chromed wagon wheels were offered in 98 & 99. Did someone offer those as aftermarket? I've seen them with the chrome peeling off so I'm pretty sure they are chrome not polished.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 15,056
Likes: 1,613
From: Holly Springs NC
St. Jude Donor '16-'17,'22,'24
David,
As was requested, you should post pics of the wheel. If it's a thin spoke, they have been known to crack and leak air, especially the polished version (not chrome, polished alloy that looks just like chrome). If it's a thin spoke and OEM, it will say "GM" on the back inside one of the spokes.
As was requested, you should post pics of the wheel. If it's a thin spoke, they have been known to crack and leak air, especially the polished version (not chrome, polished alloy that looks just like chrome). If it's a thin spoke and OEM, it will say "GM" on the back inside one of the spokes.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
The painted and high polished versions of the thin spoke wheels arrived in MY2000.
Last edited by MAC5; Aug 4, 2015 at 09:08 AM.
