I need to probably take it off the wheel for closer inspection but has a leak in the sidewall right by the wheel.

Repairable or do I just replace it?




Is right up against where the tire meets the wheel. Can't even see it without pulling the tire back

Assuming wheel is not rusted out, you could PROBABLY go up to Tractor Supply and get a one quart bottle of "Flat Out" (Multiseal). It's made in Texas, and WAY better than Slime. Guaranteed for 10 years. Run you $17-$18.

If it is leaking at the bead it may just need to be broke down and cleaned.

How do I apply it to the area where the leak is? Pretty deep in that side wall. Do I need to take it off the wheel?

rich1 said:

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If it is leaking at the bead it may just need to be broke down and cleaned.

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Likely this

If it were me, I would:

Let the air out of tire
Press bead of tire at wheel down to inspect leaking point
Clean tire bead (can use alcohol based cleaner or goo gone or simple green) and look for a sticker or debris and remove it
Inspect wheel and look for rust and/or chipping paint/debris
Remove rust/debris with a metal brush
Inflate tire again

If that doesn't work, I'd break tire all the way off rim and take an angle grinder with a wire wheel attachment or similar and hit the entire bead of the rim until clean.

If the above doesn't work put a tube in it.

GottaRide said:

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If the above doesn't work put a tube in it.

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This!!!

The FlatOut will repair 1/4-1/2" holes. All you gotta do is use the included valve-stem remover, take out the valve stem core, squeeze one-half to all the bottle in there, put the valve stem core back in, inflate the tire, and spin it or go drive the cart. It'll fix the leak.

You can push the tire in, and clean the wheel where it's leaking, before doing this, but I'd give this stuff a try before replacing the tire/replacing the wheel. (No, I don't work for or with them…)

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/flat-out-quickstrike-tire-sealant-off-road-formula

GottaRide said:

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If the above doesn't work put a tube in it.

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Tube? Sorry, I'm pretty ignorant on tire repairs

I can't actually see or feel where exactly the leak is. It's pretty far down in that crevice

The actual leak is likely where the bead of the tire meets the rim. It's probably not a hole or a puncture but a sealing issue and will not be fixed unless you clean the rim and/or tire.

I had a lawnmower tire with a cracked leaky sidewall. I fixed it by forcing shoe goo into the cracks from the outside. True story.

Like TTHA said, break your tire from the wheel, steel brush it, and then, my go to for bead leaks is smear an 1/8 inch layer of grease on the wheel. re-inflate and go. Grease seals any problems on the wheel, and prevents any rust.

swampstander said:

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I had a lawnmower tire with a cracked leaky sidewall. I fixed it by forcing shoe goo into the cracks from the outside. True story.

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Thanks for the tip, will give it a try on my little mower tire....

OP - take it to a Mexican tire shop, pay them $20 and they'll break it down, clean it, put it back on and you won't have a leak.

schmellba99 said:

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OP - take it to a Mexican tire shop, pay them $20 and they'll break it down, clean it, put it back on and you won't have a leak.

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That's actually a good idea. I might just do that. We've got plenty of em in San Antonio.

schmellba99 said:

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OP - take it to a Mexican tire shop, pay them $20 and they'll break it down, clean it, put it back on and you won't have a leak.

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Dammit, why you promoting more to come!

fburgtx said:

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The FlatOut will repair 1/4-1/2" holes. All you gotta do is use the included valve-stem remover, take out the valve stem core, squeeze one-half to all the bottle in there, put the valve stem core back in, inflate the tire, and spin it or go drive the cart. It'll fix the leak.

You can push the tire in, and clean the wheel where it's leaking, before doing this, but I'd give this stuff a try before replacing the tire/replacing the wheel. (No, I don't work for or with them…)

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/flat-out-quickstrike-tire-sealant-off-road-formula

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Tractor supply was out so I did pick up some on Amazon.

Applied it this afternoon and ran the golf cart for awhile. I cleaned as best as I could before applying.

Early returns are this stuff plugged up the hole like a champ. Did the soap test just now and nada. It was bubbling instantly before

If it leaks again, I'll do what schmellba991 said and run it up to a shop