AN AIRBUS A319 PILOT REPORTS ABOUT CONFIRMING A #3 MAIN LNDG GEAR TIRE WAS LEAKING BY USING SOAPY WATER. CARRIER MAINT CONTROL SAYS ACFT OK TO FLY FOR 3 CYCLES AS LONG AS YOU CANNOT 'HEAR' THE LEAK.

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FO DISCOVERED GOUGE IN #3 TIRE AND CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS LEAKING. CONTRACT MAINT WAS CALLED; INSPECTED ISSUE; AND SAID THE TIRE WAS OK. I WENT TO LOOK; THEN TESTED THE HOLE WITH SOAPY WATER; CONFIRMED IT WAS LEAKING AND TALKED TO MAINT CONTROL. THEY AGREED THE TIRE WOULD BE CHANGED BUT THEN CALLED BACK AND TOLD ME THAT ACCORDING TO THEIR MANUAL -- THAT AIRCRAFT COULD BE FLOWN 3 CYCLES AS LONG AS YOU CANNOT HEAR THE LEAK. I REFUSED THE AIRCRAFT OVER THE CONCERN THAT THE LEAK WILL INCREASE AFTER IT COOLS DOWN AT ALTITUDE ON OUR FLIGHT AND THEN WE ARE LANDING AT A HIGH ALTITUDE AIRPORT WITH HIGH GROUNDSPEED RISKING THE TIRE COMING APART OR BLOWING THE REMAINING GOOD TIRE ON THE RIGHT SIDE MAIN.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: REPORTER STATED THE MAINT CONTROLLER WAS UPSET THAT HE (THE PILOT) WOULD NOT TAKE THE ACFT WITH A MAIN GEAR TIRE HAVING AN ACTIVE AIR LEAK. ALTHOUGH MAINT CONTROL SAID THE MM ALLOWED FOR CONTINUED TIRE OPERATION WITH A KNOWN AIR LEAK; AS LONG AS YOU COULD NOT 'HEAR' THE AIR LEAK; NO ONE HAS ACTUALLY REFERENCED ANY PARTICULAR LANGUAGE TO SUPPORT THAT MAINT POSITION. REPORTER STATED THIS IS A SAFETY OF FLIGHT ISSUE. LANDING OR TAKING OFF WITH A KNOWN LEAKING AND POSSIBLY UNDER INFLATED TIRE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.