Can Vaseline Really Stop Your Tires From Losing Air Pressure?

With almost 60 years of experience in the automobile repair world, including 46 as an ASE Master Technician and 25 years in vocational education, and a vehicle owner since before I had an official driver’s license, I have seen a lot of so-called car “hacks.” While some actually work, many are not worth the time or effort. Time-tested hacks that work include polishing your dashboard with olive oil or a sock filled with kitty litter to help keep your car windows from fogging up. But does the Vaseline tire hack — which says putting Vaseline on your tire valve will prevent loss of air pressure — actually work? Here’s what you need to know to help you decide.

Why Do Tires Lose Air Pressure In the Winter?

Winter’s cold temperatures cause air molecules inside a tire to shrink, become denser, and move slower, reducing air volume and air pressure. According to Consumer Reports, colder temperatures can cause a tire to lose one pound per square inch of air pressure for every 10° F drop in air temperature. Over time, tires gradually lose air pressure. Underinflated tires generate heat, a tire’s worst enemy, so maintaining the proper amount of air pressure keeps tires at optimum operating temperatures.

What Is the Vaseline Tire Hack?

The Vaseline tire hack involves taking a fingertip full of Vaseline, filling the tire valve core cavity, and coating the valve stem threads with it before reinstalling the valve cap. The idea behind the hack is that Vaseline will create a seal between the valve stem and valve cap threads, keeping air from leaking out through the valve core.

Does Vaseline on Tires Really Keep Tires From Losing Air Pressure?

Ethan O'Donnell for Family Handyman

In theory, yes, Vaseline can work to limit air pressure loss. Anything that can form a seal or bond between two parts (a gasket, O-ring, or chemical sealant) can keep something from leaking out from between the parts. Also, in this case, keeping water, mud, road slats and debris from entering and corroding the valve stem and valve core is just as critical.

However, this hack may only work for a while. Vaseline is a semi-solid petroleum-based product that begins to melt and become watery when it becomes warm or hot. Tires and wheels, even in winter, do warm up. This will cause the Vaseline to become more fluid and eventually drip out from between the valve stem and valve cap threads, undoing any seal that may have been formed.

Are There Any Drawbacks to the Vaseline Tire Hack?

There are possible drawbacks. The centrifugal force of a spinning wheel can coat your wheels with the Vaseline once it becomes fluid. Since Vaseline doesn’t contain any dye, it won’t stain or discolor painted surfaces. However, Vaseline is a dirt magnet. Chemicals and microplastics found in road dirt and debris, when trapped in Vaseline, can damage or stain finished or painted surfaces if not removed.

Is the Vaseline Tire Hack Safe for You and Your Car?

The safety of this hack depends. Over time, Vaseline can cause rubber (tire valve stems, valve cap O-rings and even the valve core seal can be made from rubber) to swell and degrade, causing a tire to lose air pressure. Even though you’re supposed to use less than a fingertip full of Vaseline to coat the valve core, once the Vaseline becomes watery, it could make its way to the brake rotors. Any petroleum-based products that make their way onto the brakes’ rotors will reduce braking effectiveness. Although the chances of that are small, why tempt fate?

Alternatives to the Vaseline Tire Hack

If your valve stems are dry rotted, leaking or corroded, replace them. Ensure replacement valve stems do not come out past the edge of the wheel. It may be easier to add air to your tires with longer valve stems, but it makes it easier to rip them off if you brush up against a curb. If you are determined to try this Vaseline tire hack, use silicone gel or dielectric grease instead. Silicon will not cause the rubber to decay and helps prevent the rubber from drying out.

Replacing valve cores is an easy DIY project. Just make sure you have access to an air compressor to refill the tires. Be aware, I found it is very easy to ruin a tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) valve stem by overtightening the valve core. Dorman Products makes an inexpensive valve stem torque wrench that prevents damaging a TPMS valve stem.

Replace valve caps with ones with O-rings. Check your owner’s manual to verify whether the valve cap should be made of metal or plastic. To prevent corrosion, place a light coat of dielectric grease on the threads of metal valve caps before installing them, and don’t use metal caps on aluminum valve stems. Of course, during the cold winter months, it’s wise to check tire pressure often.

Resources

• Consumer Reports, “Why Tires Go Flat in Cold Temperature” (Nov 18, 2023)
• The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, “Tire Dry Rot” (Nov 15, 2024)
• Dave Hogg, Service Manager, O’Neil Buick GMC, Warminster, PA (Nov 11, 2024)