I plan on replacing my spare tire with a new one, and placing it on the right rear of my Class C, then using the old tire as the spare. The new tire will be going on the rear, and will be the outside tire. My question is: does the valve stem have to face inward? If there is no getting around that, would this be a good time to replace the rubber stem with a metal one that is curbed and faces out, thereby making airing the tire easier? Would running only one tire with a metal stem pose a problem with balancing?

The valve stem of the outer tire on a dually does need to face inward because that's the side the hole on the wheel for the valve stem is on. The wheel won't fit on the hub the other way around.You should, whenever possible, keep the two twinned tires of a dually setup together. If one is newer than the other, it will be slightly larger diameter (due to having less wear), and that means that there will inherently be a little bit of slippage and wearing when driving straight. The two tires with different circumferences must roll the same distance in the same number of revolutions.Having only one metal valve stem should not cause any troubles at all with balancing. The wheel would be balanced with the stem installed.

I use the high pressure rubber stems myself.

As stated above. Duels should be kept together in pairs.

The front tires are a little less critical than the rears, largely for the reasons already stated above. I've decided to keep the twinned rear duals together, and I have BORG custom valves on those. Then, the other three wheels have everyday METAL valves. I rotate Spare to Left Front, Left Front to Right Front, Right Front to Spare. I could "rotate" the rears by swapping the Left and the Right PAIRS but I don't think I will. An M&S or All Season tread pattern might develop a sawtooth wear pattern, but I don't think ours (Bridgestone Duravis R250), with Highway/Rib tread pattern, will.

If I understand what you all are saying regarding "keeping twinned duals together"... do you mean always replace both duals with new ones at the same time?

Metal stem | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

Dusty_R
Explorer
Feb 04, 2017
As stated above. Duels should be kept together in pairs.
Strabo
Explorer
Feb 04, 2017
I use the high pressure rubber stems myself.
DrewE
Explorer II
Feb 04, 2017
The valve stem of the outer tire on a dually does need to face inward because that's the side the hole on the wheel for the valve stem is on. The wheel won't fit on the hub the other way around.

You should, whenever possible, keep the two twinned tires of a dually setup together. If one is newer than the other, it will be slightly larger diameter (due to having less wear), and that means that there will inherently be a little bit of slippage and wearing when driving straight. The two tires with different circumferences must roll the same distance in the same number of revolutions.

Having only one metal valve stem should not cause any troubles at all with balancing. The wheel would be balanced with the stem installed.

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Metal stem

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