What Causes Wheel Rim Oxidation and Air Leakage?
2 Answers
Wheel rim oxidation and air leakage can be attributed to the following reasons: 1. Surface scratches caused by hard objects: Oxidation of car wheel rims may occur when the surface is scratched by hard objects, allowing air to directly contact the aluminum. Oxidation initially occurs at the damaged area and gradually spreads to the surrounding areas during future use. 2. Chemical product erosion: Wheel rims can be corroded by chemical products with corrosive properties. Nowadays, most car wash shops offer free tire brushing after washing the car. However, once these chemicals are applied, they often corrode the tires and rims, even affecting tire performance and causing the rims to turn yellow and oxidize.
I've been driving for almost ten years and often run into the annoying issue of wheel oxidation and air leakage. The main reasons are prolonged exposure to damp, high-salt environments like coastal areas or salted roads, which cause aluminum alloy wheels to corrode and oxidize. Once oxidized, the sealing surface becomes uneven and pitted, leading to air leaks. One winter, after driving through snowy roads, my car's tires kept losing air. Upon inspection, I found severe rust spots along the wheel rim edges and had to replace them entirely to fix the issue. To prevent this, it's important to regularly clean your wheels—avoid using strong acidic cleaners and stick to rinsing with water. Always park in dry areas and wipe the wheels dry after summer rains to save yourself a lot of trouble.
