File in Section:

Service Bulletin

03 - Suspension

Bulletin No.:

08-03-10-006E

Date:

February, 2014

TECHNICAL
Subject:

Tire Slowly Goes Flat, Tire Air Loss, Low Tire Pressure Warning Light Illuminated,
Aluminum Wheel Bead Seat Corrosion (Clean and Resurface Wheel Bead Seat)

Models:

2005-2015 GM Passenger Cars and Light Duty Trucks

This bulletin has been revised to add the 2014-2015 model years and update the
Labor Operation to the Global Labor Code (GLC). Please discard Corporate Bulletin
Number 08-03-10-006D.

Do This

Don't Do This

Clean corrosion and
resurface the wheel bead
seat area.

Do not replace the wheel if it
can be repaired within the
guidelines below.

Condition
Some customers may comment on a tire that slowly
loses air pressure over a period of days or weeks.

Cause
Abrasive elements in the environment may intrude
between the tire and wheel at the bead seat. There is
always some relative motion between the tire and
wheel (when the vehicle is driven) and this motion may
cause the abrasive particles to wear the wheel and tire
materials. As the wear continues, there may also be
intrusion at the tire/wheel interface by corrosive media
from the environment. Eventually a path for air
develops and a 'slow' leak may ensue. This corrosion
may appear on the inboard or outboard bead seating
surface of the wheel. This corrosion will not be visible
until the tire is dismounted from the wheel.
Notice: This bulletin specifically addresses issues
related to wheel bead seat corrosion that may result in
an air leak. For issues related to porosity of the wheel
casting that may result in an air leak, please refer
to the latest version of Corporate Bulletin
Number 05-03-10-006 – Low Tire Pressure, Leaking
Cast Aluminum Wheels (Repair with Adhesive
Sealant).

Copyright 2014 General Motors LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Correction
In most cases, this type of air loss can be corrected by
following the procedure below.
Important: DO NOT replace a wheel for slow air loss
unless you have evaluated and/or tried to repair the
wheel with the procedure below.
Notice: The procedure below is not advised for
in-warranty repairs of chromed aluminum wheels.
Repair by this method may correct the condition but not
provide a lasting cosmetic repair for chromed aluminum
wheels. The procedure is acceptable for machined or
painted Aluminum and Chrome Clad Wheels with
adhered plastic facings. For customer pay repairs
completed out of warranty, this procedure may be
performed on chromed aluminum wheels as it will
functionally correct air seepage issues at the bead seat
and may be a viable alternative to replacing the wheel.
1. Remove the wheel and tire assembly for diagnosis.
Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation
in SI.
2. After a water dunk tank leak test, if you determine
the source of the air leak to be around the bead
seat of the wheel, dismount the tire to examine the
bead seat. Shown below is a typical area of bead
seat corrosion.

Page 2

February, 2014

Bulletin No.: 08-03-10-006E

Typical Location of Bead Seat Corrosion

2365347
2103715

Important: Other forms of slow air leaks are possible.
If the body of the tire, valve stem and wheel flange
show no signs of air seepage, refer to the latest version
of Corporate Bulletin Number 05-03-10-003 for
additional information on possible wheel porosity
issues.
3. Bead seat corrosion is identified by what appears
like blistering of the wheel finish, causing a rough
or uneven surface that is difficult for the tire to
maintain a proper seal on. Below is a close-up
photo of bead seat corrosion on an aluminum
wheel that was sufficient to cause slow air loss.

Close-Up of Bead Seat Corrosion

2103722

4. If corrosion is found on the wheel bead seat,
measure the affected area as shown below.

• For vehicles with 32,186 km (20,000 mi) or less,
the total allowable combined linear area of
repairable corrosion is 100 mm (4 in) or less. If
the total area(s) of corrosion exceed these
dimensions, the wheel should be replaced.
• For vehicles that have exceeded 32,186 km
(20,000 mi), the total allowable combined linear
area of repairable corrosion is 200 mm (8 in) or
less. If the total area(s) of corrosion exceed
these dimensions, the wheel should be
replaced.
5. In order to correct the wheel leak, use a clean-up
(fine cut) sanding disc or biscuit to remove the
corrosion and any flaking paint. You should remove
the corrosion back far enough until you reach
material that is stable and firmly bonded to the
wheel. Try to taper the edge of any flaking paint as
best you can in order to avoid sharp edges that
may increase the chance of a leak reoccurring.
The photo below shows an acceptable repaired
surface.
Notice: Corrosion that extends up the lip of the wheel,
where after the clean-up process it would be visible
with the tire mounted, is only acceptable on the inboard
flange. The inboard flange is not visible with the wheel
assembly in the mounted position. If any loose coatings
or corrosion extend to the visible surfaces on the FACE
of the wheel, that wheel must be replaced.
Important: Remove ONLY the material required to
eliminate the corrosion from the bead seating surface.
DO NOT remove excessive amounts of material.
ALWAYS keep the sealing surface as smooth and level
as possible.

Bulletin No.: 08-03-10-006E

February, 2014

Acceptably Prepared (Cleaned-Up) Wheel Surface

Page 3

Parts Information
Patch Brand Bead Sealer is available from Myers Tires
at 1-800-998-9897 or on the web at
www.myerstiresupply.com. The one-quart size can of
sealer will repair about 20 wheels.
Part Number

Description

16118

Patch Bead Sealer (1 Quart)

Warranty Information
For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:
Labor
Operation
8080068

Labor
Time

Description
Wheel, Bead Seat
Repair (One)

0.6 hr

*This is a unique Labor Operation for Bulletin use only. It will
not be published in the Labor Time Guide.
2103726

6. Once the corrosion has been eliminated, you
should coat the repaired area with a commercially
available tire sealant such as Patch Brand Bead
Sealant or equivalent. Commercially available
bead sealants are black rubber-like coatings that
will permanently fill and seal the resurfaced bead
seat. At 21°C (70°F) ambient temperature, this
sealant will set-up sufficiently for tire mounting in
about 10 minutes.

Coated and Sealed Bead Seat

2103731

7. Remount the tire and install the repaired wheel and
tire assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal
and Installation in SI.

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these
technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper
service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a
job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your
vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the
information.

WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY
TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION