I've got a Lreg V6 Calibra which I've had for over 10 years now. It's a great car, but the one recurring problem has been the stoke alloy wheels deflating. Sometimes slowly, and other times really rapidly. I've had new tyres and valves fitted, but the problem persisted. I'd have the sealing surfaces wire brushed to remove the flaky lacquer and paint. Which would fix the problem for a while, but then within a few months it would start happening again.

I took my wheels to a local tyre shop last year, and they finally fixed the problem. The mechanic used an angle grinder instead of a wire brush, and sanded down the sealing surface on each alloy. He removed all the old lacquer and paint, and just left a lovely smooth clean metal sealing surface. Since then I've had no problems.
He only charged me £5 per wheel.

I wish I'd known about this simple solution years ago. It would have saved me so much hassle. Hence this post.

I like the story that you bring to talk very much. Because it made me find more information to talk to you.

I've got a Lreg V6 Calibra which I've had for over 10 years now. It's a great car, but the one recurring problem has been the stoke alloy wheels deflating. Sometimes slowly, and other times really rapidly. I've had new tyres and valves fitted, but the problem persisted. I'd have the sealing surfaces wire brushed to remove the flaky lacquer and paint. Which would fix the problem for a while, but then within a few months it would start happening again.

I took my wheels to a local tyre shop last year, and they finally fixed the problem. The mechanic used an angle grinder instead of a wire brush, and sanded down the sealing surface on each alloy. He removed all the old lacquer and paint, and just left a lovely smooth clean metal sealing surface. Since then I've had no problems.
He only charged me £5 per wheel.

I wish I'd known about this simple solution years ago. It would have saved me so much hassle. Hence this post.

Hi I had this done recently

I had purchased 4 new Tyres and needed them fitted...so I called a tyre company that fits tyres at your home.   To my suprise I heard the sound of an angle grinder and saw sparks flying  out of his van door........Wtf....I thought ...whats going on....he then explained that it was the same method that you had done on your wheels.

He said the tyre shop where he used to work before going on his own always did this before fitting the tyre........wire brushing will remove flaky paint.....etc but for a good seal grinding the inside of the flange makes a perfect seal.......he said no one comes back to complains about Slow leakes etc which were happening in the past.
An air tight seal is only possible with good contact with the tyre lip...and the wheel flange....I personly think that all tyre fitters could learn from this method.
The best news was this service was free....and he only charged for fitting the tyres.