The original Eagle F1's on my 2002 SS Camaro with 25,000 miles are not significantly worn but I have noticed that they lose air pressure very quickly and require almost daily maintenance checks to assure pressure is up. One tire was down to 20 pounds this morning, the others were down to around 25 psi after checking and airing up only a few days ago. My tire dealer attributes it to the low profile design and the wide, stock, aluminum rims. I swear, I am thinking of getting radial tubes for my next set of tires, whenever that is.
I noticed some outter wear and negligible inner wear from running them at 30 psi and the constant leaking effect so I am currently running them around 35 to 36 psi to equalize the wear in the middle of the tread.
I've ended up purchasing a nice compressor and good guages to avoid looking for those cheap, 50 cents air pumps at gas stations.
Has anyone else noticed this fast leak phenomena?
Everyone be sure to check your tires daily or weekly.
Posted by DanPazich (Member # 1352) on :
Change in temperature alone can change the pressure significantly, but probably not that much if you keep your pressure between 30-35.
My stock F1's lasted for about 12-15k and that's it, and to me I wasn't too hard on them. Mine also wore a lot on the outer edges. Could be numerous reasons. I have the Firestone Firehawk SZ50 EP's and it's like night and day!
EDIT: I check my tire pressure everytime I fill up the gas tank. No change in pressure whatsoever.
[ 27. September 2003, 01:02 PM: Message edited by: DanPazich ]
Posted by 35th6spd (Member # 1243) on :
quote: My tire dealer attributes it to the low profile design and the wide, stock, aluminum rims
Uh, no...you're tire guy is wrong; the profile of the tire/rim are irrellevant; the composition of the wheel is irrellevant due to age (old aluminum or composite wheels sometimes leak due to corrosion). I would check for a bead leak, a leak at the valve stem seat or schrader valve, or small punctures resulting in slow leaks.
I also would not recommend using a tube in any radial tire, particularly performance tires. Tubeless radials are manufactured with tubeless liners, and when driven with tubes, the tubes and liners rub and can burst - not fun at highway speed !!!
Good luck and be safe! Respectfully, 35th6spd Currently underworked, overpaid Govt employee; Formerly overworked, underpaid tire and alignment tech
Posted by JeffY (Member # 120) on :
What 35th6spd said.
Posted by Mike2001SS (Member # 2088) on :
I can't beleave so many people not getting no better mileage out of F-1s I have ran many sets of the on 4 different 4th gen SS's and always get at least 45,000 miles a set and one set on my 98 SS went 57,000 miles and no I do not drive slow or easy on the car. I did have a set on my 2001 that all 4 tires would need air about once a week and when checked at the tire store they found as many as 9 pin hole leaks per tire and they said I must have run through some pipe tread shavings or something. To many holes to patch so had to have new set of tires
Posted by SS_CarGuy (Member # 2065) on :
That fast a drop in tire pressure should be checked out. If you can't do it your self, take your car to another tire store and have them stick each wheel in a dunk tank to check for leaks. There are four likely culprits....a bad bead seal around the edge of the rim, faulty tire valves, a tire leak caused by a puncture, or porous wheels allowing air to leak thru the aluminum casting itself. Except for the leaky casting, any GOOD tire store should be able to fix the other problems. If the wheels are bad, they should be replaced under warranty by Chevrolet.
[ 27. September 2003, 06:31 PM: Message edited by: SS_CarGuy ]
Posted by Hawkeye (Member # 88) on :
Had my Eagles on for 5 years - never dropped a pound. Now I have the KD's at 30 PSI cold, and they hold just fine.
I made sure when they were installed the rim edges were cleaned and bead sealer was used.
All four losing air sounds real strange. You gotta neighbour thats fooling with you?
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