What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
Audi Q7 - Recurring flat tire (3) in the same wheel from sto - SSO

I have driven my car on the same roads for 1 year with no flat tires. I got my first flat tire 3 months ago , and have had two further ones since. In the same wheel. All 3 times the AA and tire place (I've used the same place each time) have pointed to a small but deep cut in the tire and said it's from something on the road. After the second one, which was within a week of the first puncture (after which I replaced all 4 tires with £160 Pirellis), the tire place said they couldn't see anything wrong with the rim or tyre structure after I asked. All 3 were in different places on country roads.

So I am.now on my third puncture from a basic gravel driveway. On the same front left tire.

Two were bad luck, but I'm now suspcious. Friends who drive the same roads in the same car have never had a puncture. I check the tire pressure and it seems fine.

Could my tire replacer be doing something dodgy? What should I be asking them to look for? Should I take it into an Audi centre? I am not car savvy, and worried I'm being taken for a ride.

Audi Q7 - Recurring flat tire (3) in the same wheel from sto - Brit_in_Germany

Maybe a neighbour with a grudge against you or an eco-warrior at work?

Audi Q7 - Recurring flat tire (3) in the same wheel from sto - madf

If it's the same wheel, the wheel is either corroded or porous...

If it's a new car or under warranty, get the vendor to sort it..

The proper test for a pororus wheel is to immerse wheel plus tyre in water , pump to 40psi and check for leaks of air.

Viusual inspections will not detect it...

Audi Q7 - Recurring flat tire (3) in the same wheel from sto - Slowe

Hi

Unfortunately I can't explain why the damage keeps occurring- lots of possibilities

A pragmatic approach might be to have the tyre replaced by a company that can provide a damage warranty eg National Tyres

Good luck with finding the cause

Audi Q7 - Recurring flat tire (3) in the same wheel from sto - edlithgow

If it's the same wheel, the wheel is either corroded or porous...

If it's a new car or under warranty, get the vendor to sort it..

The proper test for a pororus wheel is to immerse wheel plus tyre in water , pump to 40psi and check for leaks of air.

Viusual inspections will not detect it...

I can't see an obviouis way that a porous wheel is going to cause a "small but deep cut in the tire" (tyre).

I suppose if it was run flat it could pick up some secondary damage. but this would more typically be delamination due to internal friction.

OTOH I cant see how a "small but deep cut in the tire"(tyre) is compatible with the description "couldn't see anything wrong with the rim or tyre structure", small but deep cuts being fairly structural.

OP, did your tyre task force confirm the "small but deep cut in the tire"(tyre) was actually leaking, perhaps deploying soapy water assets? If it was, that would tend to undermine the wheel porosity explanation, though not conclusive.

My best guess is bad luck with the gravel.

I'd try moving that wheel (to the rear, or the otherside front) spin it some more, and let the chips fall where they may.

I'd guessed that punctures might be commoner on front than on rear tyres. Here (see links below) its alleged to be the other way around, at least for bikes, with some fairly convincing explanations for why this might be the case, IF it is.

www.team-bhp.com/forum/tyre-alloy-wheel-section/20...l

bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/14517/why-do-...l