Buddy Tott
Well-known member
I researched the archives but didn't find anything specifically related to this, so if this issue has been posted before, I apologise. It is new to me, anyway...
Last year my Toad sufferred a flat tire on its maiden towing voyage. No big deal, fortunately, and I took it to a tire place (Big Brand) in Goleta, Ca. They did a good job. I was in and out in about 30 minutes with all four tires replaced for around $200. I have had no trouble with the tires nor any inflation woes since then.
This past week, while out on a short camping trip, with the toad, I discovered a flat tire, which (fortunately) occurred overnight. On checking the tire I discovered the valve had almost completey rotted through. I have never experienced that with numerous other cars and over many decades of driving. I took the tire and the toad in for repair. The service tech told me there had been a recall in Sept. or so 2008 of 30 million valve stems, made in China and distributed by Dill Valve Stems' throughout North America. The suspect stems had been manufactured without UV protection between August and November 2006.
The problem is that the stems have to be examined on the inside, which means taking the tire(s) into a shop for examination. The model numbers are on the bowl of the stem which is inside the wheel rim. I had all four valves replaced for $40 and considered it money well spent.
My tire went flat at a convenient time and without hardship. I can only imaging what might have occurred while under tow. An even greater consideration is if you have TPMS devices attached to the stem, which might even exacerbate the problem. I just Googled Tire Valve Recall and came up with more information.
BT
Last year my Toad sufferred a flat tire on its maiden towing voyage. No big deal, fortunately, and I took it to a tire place (Big Brand) in Goleta, Ca. They did a good job. I was in and out in about 30 minutes with all four tires replaced for around $200. I have had no trouble with the tires nor any inflation woes since then.
This past week, while out on a short camping trip, with the toad, I discovered a flat tire, which (fortunately) occurred overnight. On checking the tire I discovered the valve had almost completey rotted through. I have never experienced that with numerous other cars and over many decades of driving. I took the tire and the toad in for repair. The service tech told me there had been a recall in Sept. or so 2008 of 30 million valve stems, made in China and distributed by Dill Valve Stems' throughout North America. The suspect stems had been manufactured without UV protection between August and November 2006.
The problem is that the stems have to be examined on the inside, which means taking the tire(s) into a shop for examination. The model numbers are on the bowl of the stem which is inside the wheel rim. I had all four valves replaced for $40 and considered it money well spent.
My tire went flat at a convenient time and without hardship. I can only imaging what might have occurred while under tow. An even greater consideration is if you have TPMS devices attached to the stem, which might even exacerbate the problem. I just Googled Tire Valve Recall and came up with more information.
BT