
If you have ever gone to pump up your tires and found that your tire is not taking air, you know how frustrating it can be. You may not know what is wrong, but you know that something is definitely wrong!
The most common reasons as to why is my tire is not taking air includes punctures, damage to the rim, faulty valve stems or even faulty tire inflators.
In this article, we will discuss some of the most common reasons why a tire may not be taking air. We will also provide some tips on how to fix the problem.
Why Is My Tire Not Taking Air?
There are a number of reasons for why your tire may not be taking air. The most common reasons are:
Puncture or tear in the tire
If your tire has a puncture or a tear in it, then it is not going to take air. This is because the hole in the tire will allow all of the air to escape as you are trying to pump it up. In order to fix this, you will need to patch or replace the tire.
If you are attempting to inflate a completely flat tire, for a tire to not hold any air would require a very large puncture that would almost certainly be visible. However it may be difficult to find if you are unable to jack your car up into the air and rotate the tire to inspect its entire surface.
Items that puncture tires (such as nails or screws) usually result in slow leaks that will deflate the tire slowly over a number of hours. This allows you to fill the tire with air and give you enough time to drive to the nearest shop to have the tire fixed or replaced.
Damaged valve stem
If the valve stem on your tire is damaged, then it will not be able to hold air.
The valve stem is the part of the tire that you screw the air pump onto in order to fill up the tire. Air enters the tire through the core of the valve. If this is damaged and does not seat properly, it will not hold air properly and it will need to be replaced.
To replace a damaged valve stem, the tire will need to be completely deflated before being removed from the rim and a new valve stem installed.
This is usually a job that we recommend a shop do for you as it normally requires specialist tools. However if you are a keen mechanic, this may be something you are able to do yourself at home.
Too much air in the tire
If there is already too much air in the tire, then it will not take any more air. This is because the tire is already at its maximum capacity. In order to fix this, you will need to let some of the air out of the tire until it is at the proper level.
We never recommend over inflating a tire as it can put stress on the sidewall of the tire and cause premature wear. It may also cause the tire to blowout and decrease its performance. You should always check your car’s manual to see what the recommended tire pressure is for your specific vehicle.
Damaged Rim
If the rim of your tire is damaged, it can cause the tire to leak air. This is because the rim is designed to have an air tight seal against the tires bead. If it is damaged, the bead may not form a secure air tight seal and may allow air to escape.
In order to fix this, you will need to replace or repair the rim. Sometimes a damaged rim may be able to be repaired depending on the damage.
However it is worth noting that a repaired rim will never be as strong again. For this reason, you may be better off replacing the rim which will ensure that your tire will take air as intended.
Faulty tire inflator
Finally, if you are struggling to get your tire to take air, it could be because the tire inflator itself is faulty. This is not a common problem, but it can happen. If you suspect that this is the case, you should take your tire and inflator to a professional to have them check it out.
All gas stations should have a tire inflator available for customers to use. However, if you do not have a gas station nearby, you can always buy your own portable one to carry around instead. We recommend getting your own tire inflator as they are not too expensive, can be portable and carried around in your vehicle, and can be a lifesaver if you ever have a flat tire.
Conclusion
Now that you know some of the most common answer to why is my tire not taking air.
As you can see, there are a number of reasons why your tire may not be taking air. If you are having this problem, we hope that this article has helped you to troubleshoot the issue. If you are still having trouble, we recommend taking your car to a professional mechanic to have them take a look.
We hope this article was helpful in your search for your next tire purchase. If you have any questions then please leave a comment below or get in touch via email or through social media and we will read and respond to every comment, email or question. Thanks for reading!
How long should it take to inflate my tire?
If you are inflating a completely flat tire, it should take 2-3 minutes. If you are just topping up the air in your tire, this should take around 20-30 seconds.
What to do if I have a flat tire that I cant inflate?
If you have a flat tire and you cannot inflate it, the first thing you should do is try and change it for your spare tire.
If this isn’t possible for whatever reason, then your only option is to call a tow truck to come and pick up your vehicle and take you to the nearest shop.