Tyres Need Replacing, Steel or Rubber valves?

[zac]

so my tyres are 6 years old and there is a little tread left on the front but loads on the back 4, so time has come to replace all 7 (inc spare), my question is that currently all the tyres except 1 (had a puncture and they replaced it with rubber valve) have steel vales. I just called my local tyre company which is a big outfit ie Micheldever tyres and they say they dont fit steel valves to anything as they leak. I did ask the question why mine has been on for 6 years with no issues but he just said i was lucky. i have booked my motorhome for a mobile fitter to come next week to replace all 7 but he is not likely to have steel valves so do i let him fit the rubber ones or supply my own and if supplying my own which ones?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Steve N Tracy]

If you have steel and they are not leaking there should be no need to replace the valve stems, they can fit new cores as they are the same as rubber cores.

 

[MichaelT]

Because of the higher pressure I think they need/should be steel.

 

[zac]

If you have steel and they are not leaking there should be no need to replace the valve stems, they can fit new cores as they are the same as rubber cores.

interesting i did not know that, i will see what they say when they arrive.

 

[zac]

Because of the higher pressure I think they need/should be steel.

understand but i cannot understand why they are saying they never fit them, this is a commercial garage with loads of years in the trade and to fitting to hgv's etc, just seems very odd.

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[Spriddler]

Often asked.
Discussed in a post here yesterday evening on the same subject...........

Tyre Valves

Just over 3 years ago my alloys were replaced as a goodwill gesture by Hymer but cost of changing them was down to me. Local garage which also specialises in tyres for a wide rang of vehicles did the job for me. They fitted rubber stemmed valve which I queried on collection, the very experienced...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[zac]

Often asked.
Discussed in a post here yesterday evening on the same subject...........

Tyre Valves

Just over 3 years ago my alloys were replaced as a goodwill gesture by Hymer but cost of changing them was down to me. Local garage which also specialises in tyres for a wide rang of vehicles did the job for me. They fitted rubber stemmed valve which I queried on collection, the very experienced...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

sorry i should have used the search function.

 

[Spriddler]

sorry i should have used the search function.

Really, it wasn't a nag but when the same questions crop so soon after one another I (and maybe others) often cba'd to type out all the same stuff again so the replies may be less than before.

 

[grasscutter]

Just had 5 new tyres fitted and my local very experienced fitter left the existing metal valves in place.

 

[tribalbrit]

Which ever you use never use metal dust caps. They bond to the threads and are pain to remove. I bought a work truck recently and had to have all four wheels and tyres removed and new valves fitted

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[zac]

Which ever you use never use metal dust caps. They bond to the threads and are pain to remove. I bought a work truck recently and had to have all four wheels and tyres removed and new valves fitted

mine are fitted with tyrepal sensors so no dust cap as such, thanks for the info though

 

[Stag man]

I had exactly the same response from my local tyre garage. Very experienced across both cars and commercial vehicles, the response was the same as you got ‘sorry guv we only fit rubber ones’
I found someone else

 

[zac]

I had exactly the same response from my local tyre garage. Very experienced across both cars and commercial vehicles, the response was the same as you got ‘sorry guv we only fit rubber ones’
I found someone else

I have gone with a Blackcircles as they were by far the cheapest for what i needed as it was a lot of tyres (7) but it's now a mobile fitter and i will get them to either leave the metal ones and just replace the inner valves or i will give them metal ones to fit as i wont risk putting rubber ones on now.

 

[Stag man]

I agree
I think in the end I had new inners fitted and kept the original metal stems.
Somewhere (on here I think) the maximum pressure rating of rubber valve stems was discussed and it was surprisingly low. The thought of a valve blowing out of a rim was rather worrying.

 

[OldCodger]

When I changed tyres I fitted these

Pardon our interruption...

www.ebay.co.uk

the cost was tiny.

I only had to buy 8!

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[gus-lopez]

the maximum pressure rating of rubber valve stems was discussed and it was surprisingly low. The thought of a valve blowing out of a rim was rather worrying.

? really ? White van man runs at 80 psi on rubber valves+ there are 2 types .one up to max of 65psi & second for 65>100psi.
metal valves are for commercial vehicle & vehicles that regularly exceed 130mph & are rated for 200psi
https://www.rentawheel.com/blog/valve-stem

 

[camoyboy]

Our Carthago has rubber valves with brass inserts fitted as standard on the Merc alloys. I also have Tyrepal caps fitted,but I don't use the lock nuts.

 

[zac]

Our Carthago has rubber valves with brass inserts fitted as standard on the Merc alloys. I also have Tyrepal caps fitted,but I don't use the lock nuts.

interesting as that seems to suggest that the rubber valves are ok to use

 

[Lenny HB]

interesting as that seems to suggest that the rubber valves are ok to use

Only if they are high pressure ones which most tyre fitters don't carry, standard rubber valves are not suitable.
Any tyre fitter that says they only fit rubber valves is best avoided as they obviously don't have a clue.

 

[zac]

Only if they are high pressure ones which most tyre fitters don't carry, standard rubber valves are not suitable.
Any tyre fitter that says they only fit rubber valves is best avoided as they obviously don't have a clue.

I will ensure that when mine get fitted on Wednesday that they either fit the high pressure ones or leave the valves in place and replace the inserts, i also have a load of metal valves which i think will be best used as i know they are ok. I am not going with the original outfit that made that quote as it put me off but this is a mobile fitter with blackcircles so they are unlikely to know what they are doing either. Best to cover all bases i think just to be on the safe side

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[Lenny HB]

interesting as that seems to suggest that the rubber valves are ok to use

He said with bass inserts, if the valve has a large brass insert extending out of the rubber it is probably a high pressure valve.

 

[zac]

Anyone have any recommendations and preferably a link on which steel valves to purchase as tyre fitter came today and took one look and said he couldn't do it as no high pressure valves and didn't want to risk it. So currently i have 7 tyres in my garage with Blackcircles now trying to locate a mobile tyre fitter that will have what's needed. If i can order some myself then at least i can provide them if they don't have any but i have no idea which ones are recommended. I only have 3 myself and i am not sure where i got them from but need 7

Thanks in advance.

 

[elamessa]

Try these
for your metal vales.

 

[zac]

Try these
for your metal vales.

no idea which ones fit though to be honest as they all look different to whats on there currently.

 

[zac]

Are these suitable HERE for motorhomes as I am not sure if the size is correct. They look very similar though

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[Feltwell]

Tyre valves vary in price massively, and quality as well!

We all call them Schrader valves, but much like Hoover and vacuum cleaners, Schrader is a brand name. Genuine Schrader valves are regarded as the best quality but are more expensive.

Bog standard snap-in rubber valves that your local tyre place will use by the 1000 for cars are not suitable. Even the highest quality "Schrader Premium Certified" valves are only rated by them to 65 psi - as for cheapie Chinese ones, I dread to think.

I'm in the midst of taking over a small business ran by a member on here, distributing various motorhome accessories.

I can source genuine Schrader snap-in valves, special high pressure, nickel-plated brass core ones, that are rated to 14 bar - which is 167 PSI - cold pressure. These have the advantage that they are quick & easy for your local tyre place to fit, they are what they are used to. Snap-in valves are also reportedly much more tolerant of the inside of the hole in the rim not being perfect, compared to metal valves. Rims can corrode on the inside over time.

I'd suggest these are the most appropriate valves to use. Metal valves can indeed be used, again they vary in quality, but if we again look at Schrader brand, this is what their catalogue shows:-

As you can see they are quite specific on torque, and pressure is quoted as " Greater than 4.5 bar possible" - 4.5 bar is only 65psi. These are shown for "Campers and large vans". I believe the reason they quote as "Greater than 4.5 bar possible" is because these are more sensitive to both rim condition, corrosion in particular, and correct fitment and torque than snap in valves - and do you really think your tyre place will carefully torque them down? The big torque wrenches they use for the wheel bolts, I doubt they go that low!

So I'd suggest the special high pressure snap in valves I show above are the most suitable. If I were to stock these, would Funsters be interested? They are not the cheapest - I'd need to have a check around, but up to £25 for a set of 4 is quite likely, inc VAT & P&P.

Just for a bit of extra reassurance - a large distributor of tyre fitting consumables quotes those Schrader snap-in valves as:-

Schrader Nickel Coated High Pressure Tyre Valve

These valves are commonly used on tyres that require a higher pressure. They are often found on large vans, motorhomes and trailers.
Genuine Schrader high pressure valve, nickel coated for strength and a better finish. The perfect valve for motorhomes.

 

[zac]

Tyre valves vary in price massively, and quality as well!

We all call them Schrader valves, but much like Hoover and vacuum cleaners, Schrader is a brand name. Genuine Schrader valves are regarded as the best quality but are more expensive.

Bog standard snap-in rubber valves that your local tyre place will use by the 1000 for cars are not suitable. Even the highest quality "Schrader Premium Certified" valves are only rated by them to 65 psi - as for cheapie Chinese ones, I dread to think.

I'm in the midst of taking over a small business ran by a member on here, distributing various motorhome accessories.

I can source genuine Schrader snap-in valves, special high pressure, nickel-plated brass core ones, that are rated to 14 bar - which is 167 PSI - cold pressure. These have the advantage that they are quick & easy for your local tyre place to fit, they are what they are used to. Snap-in valves are also reportedly much more tolerant of the inside of the hole in the rim not being perfect, compared to metal valves. Rims can corrode on the inside over time.

View attachment 707733

I'd suggest these are the most appropriate valves to use. Metal valves can indeed be used, again they vary in quality, but if we again look at Schrader brand, this is what their catalogue shows:-

View attachment 707744 View attachment 707750

As you can see they are quite specific on torque, and pressure is quoted as " Greater than 4.5 bar possible" - 4.5 bar is only 65psi. These are shown for "Campers and large vans". I believe the reason they quote as "Greater than 4.5 bar possible" is because these are more sensitive to both rim condition, corrosion in particular, and correct fitment and torque than snap in valves - and do you really think your tyre place will carefully torque them down? The big torque wrenches they use for the wheel bolts, I doubt they go that low!

So I'd suggest the special high pressure snap in valves I show above are the most suitable. If I were to stock these, would Funsters be interested? They are not the cheapest - I'd need to have a check around, but up to £25 for a set of 4 is quite likely, inc VAT & P&P.

Just for a bit of extra reassurance - a large distributor of tyre fitting consumables quotes those Schrader snap-in valves as:-

where can they be ordered for this as i would need 7?

 

[Feltwell]

where can they be ordered for this as i would need 7?

If folks indicate they’re happy to spend that kind of figure then I’ll buy a box of 100 in, and sell in whatever quantity folks want - so yes, 7 for presumably a tag + spare would be no problem.

As you can appreciate I don’t want to be stuck with very expensive tyre valves I can’t sell!

It makes perfect sense to me to get the best - after all, compared to the cost of the tyres, let alone the van itself, these valves are not expensive.

 

[Lenny HB]

Are these suitable HERE for motorhomes as I am not sure if the size is correct. They look very similar though

Look OK just check the length is OK.

 

[Feltwell]

where can they be ordered for this as i would need 7?

I've asked the question of the UK importer, will hopefully get an answer for you tomorrow.

Are these suitable HERE for motorhomes as I am not sure if the size is correct. They look very similar though

The hole size is right, but it's not just the overall length - it's also the collar length - if you've got alloys, the collar needs to be long enough to clear the depth of the hole in the alloy, else you can't tighten them up. Those ones look quite short, you can get longer. They're an unknown brand of unknown quality as well.

The snap-in ones I linked to don't have the collar length problem.

I just called my local tyre company which is a big outfit ie Micheldever tyres and they say they dont fit steel valves to anything as they leak. I did ask the question why mine has been on for 6 years with no issues but he just said i was lucky.

Interesting, as that's what I've heard as well, and Micheldever sell a huge quantity of tyres - they should know what they're doing!

The steel valves rely on an O ring in their base pressing against the inside of the wheel - yours have never been disturbed. Those O rings can perish over time, but take the valve out and put a new metal valve in and the new o ring won't sit in exactly the same spot as the old one. Rims can corrode on the inside - the air in the tyres isn't dry - and that little bit of corrosion can cause a tiny leak. My understanding is that snap-in valves have an inherently larger contact area in their rubber base against the inside of the rim, they rely on the tyre pressure to keep them sealed rather than the correct torque being applied to a metal valve, so they tend to be more reliable. That's my understanding, but I do not claim to be a tyre valve expert!

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