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      04-09-2020, 03:12 PM   #1
Rhidium
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Learned something new about flat tires..

Probably most of you guys may know already.. but I learned that the weight of the car on a completely flat tire can stop the tire from reinflating with a tire pump.

After finding my tire flat, I found and removed a screw that was jammed into my tire thread. Small hole.. so I figured I could pump it and drive to a tire store. My pump was trying to pump it up but nothing was happening.. so I was thinking my pump was busted even though it was new. Tried another one and it too didn't work.

So.. I decided to jack the car to put on a spare. (My X3 was equiped with a optional spare since I don't have the run on flat option for my X3) After jacking it up, I thought to try it one more time.. and it inflated my tire!

Things learned.. I have to lift the car up a bit to allow the tire to create a seal so my tire pump would pump it up.
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      04-09-2020, 05:22 PM   #2
freshxdough
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rhidium View Post
Probably most of you guys may know already.. but I learned that the weight of the car on a completely flat tire can stop the tire from reinflating with a tire pump.

After finding my tire flat, I found and removed a screw that was jammed into my tire thread. Small hole.. so I figured I could pump it and drive to a tire store. My pump was trying to pump it up but nothing was happening.. so I was thinking my pump was busted even though it was new. Tried another one and it too didn't work.

So.. I decided to jack the car to put on a spare. (My X3 was equiped with a optional spare since I don't have the run on flat option for my X3) After jacking it up, I thought to try it one more time.. and it inflated my tire!

Things learned.. I have to lift the car up a bit to allow the tire to create a seal so my tire pump would pump it up.
Never really thought of it but it makes sense. I can imagine the pressure differential pushing outward as opposed to inward with only the tiny 12v powered pump. Will keep this in mind for the future.
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      04-18-2020, 05:39 PM   #3
spta97
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I wonder if the hole was expanded more with the weight of the vehicle which was allowing more air out than was coming in?
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      04-18-2020, 11:33 PM   #4
JA17
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Glad you got it worked out in the end but next time if it happens you should leave the screw/nail in the tire. That would have made pumping it back up much easier for you as it would have helped slow the air from coming out the tire. Without the nail or screw the air your pumping in just flows back right out
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      04-19-2020, 05:28 PM   #5
Rhidium
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No the screw hole was not the problem. The weight of the car pushes down on the tire, deformity it and breaking the seal between the tire inner edge and the wheel.

The first time I got the tire to inflate was only after I man handled the X3, lifting the body which allowed it to get a good enough seal. 2nd time trying to reinflate (2 days later due to store closed on first day), my trick didn't work by me lifting the car a little until I lifted the car with a jack. Note that I used different inflators which failed until jacking up the X3.
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