Forum Discussion

Vanhollymorgan's avatar
Aug 08, 2013

Dumb question- Metal Valve stem

On the road warrior i bought, the rims are 110psi, gonna buy a tire minder system, but how do i know for sure ive got metal valve stems. Mine have a little bit of rubber at the base, but about 1/2 inch of metal after that. Will a rubber one be rubber to the tip?
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    This one is simple, at 110 PSI you have metal valve stems.

    Rubber ones would be flying through the air with the greatest of ease having blown out of the rim driven by a breeze. You would not like it as the gals you'd not please, with a tire as flat as could be.

    (yes, you can sing that).

    The rubber you see is a washer.
  • It's my understanding that any tire over 80 PSI should have all-metal stems, as rubber stems have tendency to leak/blow out above the 80-85 mark.
  • Vanhollymorgan wrote:
    On the road warrior i bought, the rims are 110psi, gonna buy a tire minder system, but how do i know for sure ive got metal valve stems. Mine have a little bit of rubber at the base, but about 1/2 inch of metal after that. Will a rubber one be rubber to the tip?


    IIRC tireminder says you really don't need metal valve stems with their newer non flow thru sensors, but I agree they are probably the best. I have shorter "fat" rubber stems on my new AL rims with the SS valve stem cover on them and just got the TM system and will use it on these stems until my next tire change at which time I will change to metal. However, I don't expect problems with what I have now, but time will tell and at least I will know quickly if I do have problems and I will deal with them at that time.

    Larry
  • replaced with metal valve stems at discount tire, after they came off just to see, i cut one in 1/2 and it was a rubber valve stem, dissected both ways. 110 rims. now to get rid of the powerking towmax next pay check.In the mean time gonna mount a tpms just to help keep watch on the tow max until i do
  • Metal valve stems still require rubber washers to seal properly
  • lenr's avatar
    lenr
    Explorer III
    Metal stems have no rubber, bolt in to the rim ( not snap in), are much tougher, and only cost a few dollars more. I ran them on my trailers even before adding TPM for the added security.
  • Metal valve stems are not part rubber and metal, they are all metal, stiff, and secured tightly to the wheel. Our rig came stock with metal valve stems and have helped reduce tire issues due to valve failure.
  • Usually, metal is metal all the way.
    If you can move it at all, it's probably rubber, not metal. (Check your car wheels, and see if you can move the piece a bit?)

    When you put in the tire minder, you'll find out for sure, so just have some extra money, if you need to change to the metal.
    Also a good time to have extensions added, to make checking/adding air pressure a bit easier too:)