Advice needed: Repeated punctures on my Mercedes C-class

Why do you think my brand new tyre valves keep giving up every now and then? What could be the cause?

BHPian Sanidhya mukund recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello all!

I am in urgent need of some help. I have a 2013 manufactured, 2014 registered Mercedes C200 CGI. It is the facelifted W204 model.

My car had 2012 made Michelin tyres from the factory. The car has run just 28k, but since the Michelins were 10 years old, I decided to get them changed last month. I got it done at the authorised Mercedes Benz dealership. They have fitted new Continental tyres. Post the tyre change, the car came to my home, a distance of nearly 30 KM from the service centre just fine. The next day, I used it for my 100 KM commute and reached my home just fine. However, when I wanted to go somewhere at night, I noticed that the rear RHS tyre has gone flat. I took the car to a tyre wala about 100 Metres from my place who said that the valve is damaged. I simply asked him to replace the tyre with the Stepney and kept the new continental in the boot.

The next day, I took it to the Merc service centre and they replaced the damaged valve free of cost. The car ran alright for another day, doing 100 KM with no issues. However, the day after that, after travelling about 50 KM, there was again a flat tyre, but this time the front left. Once again, I got the Stepney fitted and took the car to the Mercedes Service centre. My SA, very cooperatively said that this may be a batch issue with the valves and replaced all of them free of charge. The car ran fine for the next couple of days. However, on the third day, there was an air loss from the tyre again, this time the rear right!

I got the valve changed at a local tyre shop. I told my Merc SA that one of the tyres has again started to loose air, and he asked me to bring the car again, so that he can diagnose why this is happening. I haven’t yet gotten the time to take it there, but the car has now also started to pull towards the left.

So dear BHPians, please help me. Why do you think my brand new tyre valves keep giving up every now and then? What could be the cause?

What surprises me the most is that the tyres run fine for a few days, but give up randomly every few days.

This has totally destroyed my peace of mind; I simply cannot risk long distance driving in a car that keeps having random tyre valve failures.

Anxiously awaiting your responses,

Sanidhya

Here’s what BHPian ajayc123 had to say on the matter:

I would try to isolate the problem.

The simplest first step could be to try valves from some other brand.

If this doesn’t work, then inspect the tyres, and lastly the rims.

Here’s what BHPian R2D2 had to say on the matter:

I can understand your predicament when you have a car you can’t trust.

Faulty valves is my first guess. Did they immerse the wheels in water to do a leak test? If Can you try after market valves? Also, please check for bent rims and any impact damage. New tyres should not fail.

Here’s what BHPian SS-Traveller had to say on the matter:

If you can definitely isolate that the valve area is where the leak is happening every time, it could be either of 3 things:

  • faulty valve / valve stem;
  • corrosion of rim around the valve neck area; or
  • improper fitment of valve, with dust, lint etc. between the valve collar and rim.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

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