Tire Leaking From Corrosion
 

Car: 05 Matrix
Issue: Rear Passenger tire is leaking due to wheel corrosion diagnosed by Costco Tire Centre.

What is the most cost-effective way to repair it?

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kI...=w1306-h980-no

Remove the tire, take a wire brush and brush the inside part of the wheel where the tire meets the rim.
That's what I have done.

Is that really all it takes for a $200 job?

... Who said anything about a $200 job.

Costco would have removed the tire, cleaned the bead area of the rim with a wire brush, and applied a bead sealer (liquid rubber) also would have cleaned the bead on the tire with rubber prep and a brass wire brush. Assembled as usual. If it still leaks you have to either replace the wheel or have it refinished by a wheel shop.

- a Costco tire employee

That's exactly what I do, to a t. Sometimes I have to go as far as using sandpaper to get the bubbling/corrosion off, before applying bead sealer.

They said they've already tried doing that, but couldn't fix the issue, so they told me to get it refinished at a shop, but I was wondering if there are other options before I get an estimate.

Thanks for your input.

All the dealerships I've worked at and the one I work at currently does this exact procedure if it's leaking from the bead due to corrosion.

That is correct. We fix it the first time no problem under warranty. Second time if it comes in for the same issue we will usually try and fix it again, but tell you if it leaks again you either need a new rim or take it to a shop for repair.

No other option really. Call up a junk yard and see if they have a replacement rim for you. A lot cheaper than going to the dealer.

So it's a problem that's fixable at your shop or is it because I've brought it in too many times?

No. If it is light corrosion, or just a simple bead leak, most times doing the procedure of brushing and bead sealer will work. If the corrosion is bad enough, it needs to be refinished.

Applying a band aid on a scratch is just fine. But a bandaid on a bullet wound is useless.