Tire pressure

prkaye · #1 08-06-2010, 04:37 PM

Is it common for new RV tires to not hold pressure (maybe the rubber is still stretchy)?
Mine never went flat, even sitting for a year never being toppped up. But the last few weeks, I would top them up (40psi mains, 35psi nose) and they would lose 5-10psi over the course of a couple of weeks. I've had to top up the tire pressure before my first and second flights (less than 2 weeks apart).
Normal?

burgundyja · #2 08-06-2010, 06:15 PM

I have not had to put any air in. My mains from new about 1 year. The nose I filled twice.

Steve · #3 08-06-2010, 06:51 PM

I lose about 3-5 psi per week from my 9A mains and about 5 psi per month from the nose tube. Vans stock tubes all around. Yes, the Schraders are tight and I have the good caps with the o-ring inside.
Perhaps I'll get the high dollar Michelin tubes next tire change.

terrykohler · #4 08-06-2010, 06:59 PM

Phil:
Approaching nearly 600 hours, and I've had very few issues with my RV. That said, I'm just on my third alternator and the original Vans tubes were problematic as well. Pressure issues and then flats all around, and coming at the seams - so it was not an issue with pinching or improper installation. Mains are now Michelin AirStops. So far, so good.
Terry, CFI
RV-9A N323TP

prkaye · #5 08-06-2010, 07:20 PM

Quote:

I have the good caps with the o-ring inside

Do the caps actually do anything other than protect the tip of the valve? I actually lost one of my plastic caps and haven't bothered replacing it...

Are these the "good caps" you're referring to?
ACS 2525 VALVE CAP MS20813-1B
http://www.aircraftspruce.ca/catalog...s/valvecap.php

apkp777 · #6 08-06-2010, 08:21 PM

Mine haven't lost any pressure in 2 months.

chrispratt · #7 08-06-2010, 08:42 PM

I started with Van's standard issue tubes (back in early 2000's) when I was building and they were constantly losing air even sitting in the shop. I'd add air almost every week. Before I flew the first flight, I switched to Michelin Air Stops (50 psi). I now add air about every three months. In my opinion, they're worth the extra cost.

Chris

Greg Arehart · #8 08-06-2010, 10:13 PM

Guess I got lucky. I put in the original Vans-supplied tubes (after pinching a hole in the first nose tube) and they have never required additional air. I changed the tires (mains) before leaving for a recent trip, reinstalled the tubes, and they have held up fine for the past month.

Given the diversity of things that are reported here, it seems that some are leakers to various degrees and some are not.

greg

prkaye · #9 08-07-2010, 05:36 AM

about those caps, do they actually do anything other than protect the tip of the valve? I actually lost one of my plastic caps and haven't bothered replacing it...

Are these the good metal caps a few have mentioned in other threads?
ACS 2525 VALVE CAP MS20813-1B
http://www.aircraftspruce.ca/catalog...s/valvecap.php

David-aviator · #10 08-07-2010, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrispratt

I started with Van's standard issue tubes (back in early 2000's) when I was building and they were constantly losing air even sitting in the shop. I'd add air almost every week. Before I flew the first flight, I switched to Michelin Air Stops (50 psi). I now add air about every three months. In my opinion, they're worth the extra cost.

Chris

Same here. The Michelin Air Stops are the cat's meow, especially for an old geezer getting tired of crawling around the floor pumping up tires. I service mine front and rear to 45 psi no more than twice a year.