Valve stem

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an RV or an interest in RVing!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
See posts with no answers
H

HRDWRK

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 27, 2015
Posts
155
Hi:

Everywhere I look, everybody talks about having a metal valve stem in motorhome tires since the rubber ones leak. Does anybody know why they leak or having a metal valve stem is something like juts be too careful? We know the RV tire pressure is over 75-80 PSI but there are high pressure rubber valve stem as well. Almost any car that I see on the road has rubber valve stems and even after 50,000-60,000 miles and 5-6 years of life I have not seen any valve stem stem failures. Yes, car tire pressure is lower (less than 50%) of RV tires but again, there are high pressure rubber valve stems.
Of course, I am not a tire specialist and I don't work at tire shop. I need a set of tires and the shop that installing them for me has only high pressure rubber stems, I want to know if I should buy my own metal ones. Speaking of that, does anybody know the size (diameter) of the hole for the stem for 2016 ford E series wheels?
Thanks
 
You do not need metal ones.
Metal are more durable and are attached with a nut on the other side so will make a tighter seal, but the rubber ones will hold the pressure in the tire just fine.
The rubber ones can be removed and replaced without removing the tire, but the metal ones require a tire removal to get to the interior nut.
I have never had any issues with valves.
I wold not stress over this either way. Whatever they have will suffice.
 
Typically rubber stems are pulled thru the hole from outside. Metal stems are multi part with a metal body and nut and two rubber washers. You put one washer on the body, push the body though the hole, add a second washer and nut to secure it in place. Metal stems will withstand way more pressure before failing.
 
HRDWRK said:
Does anybody know why they leak or having a metal valve stem is something like juts be too careful?
Click to expand...
I have had several rubber ones leak. I have NEVER even heard of a metal one leaking.

Also, if you use an external TPMS. Every one I have read said do NOT use the sensors on rubber valves stems.

I always have my rubber valves changed to metal when I have tire work done. I even purchased a pack of them because one time a motorcycle shop ran out of the metal ones from replacing so many from rubber to metal.

Small stuff like that can influence me on buying very expensive stuff. This RV cost me more than 160K$ and the tire valves were one thing I checked. These were all metal.

I wish more would refuse to not buy an expensive item over such small items. Then it will start to change.

-Don- ABQ, NM
 
I always saw them install rubber stems from the inside. They stick it through the hole, and they screw on a tool and using it like a fulcrum, you pull it through the hole till the rim material seats into a groove of the valve stem
 
Thanks for the replies. It is such a small item but there so many options!
Does anyone know about the Ford E series wheels (16") valve stem hole size? It is a 2016 model. Does anybody has any specific brand? I see Amazon has pack of the for $13 and then I see some over $100!
 
if you call rubber stem on cars the same go to part store turn package it tell you they are only rated for 40 to fifty psi rv's are much or then that.
 
The metal stems rock in dually tire sets.
You can set them up so you can easily access both inner and outer tires and maintain tire pressure.
I prefer them, and when I put tires on our RV after purchase, I had the tire shop mount new metal stems.
It's mostly a matter of preference, really.
 
Might read some here, the $100 stems are likely pressure monitors. High pressure is 80 PSI, the rubber are for car tires normally 35-40. I have G rated tires on my 5W rated to 110PSI, I run 90. For the few dollars more stay safe.

Metal stem info.
 
DonTom said:
No, it's a matter of safety. Do you remember the big Chinese rubber tire valve recall? Ever hear of a metal valve recall? How many people have to be killed by rubber valves before they are made illegal?

-Don- ABQ, NM
Click to expand...
No I don't recall that but you want to put 80-100 PSI in a rubber stem? Yes it's about safety.


High-Pressure Valve Stem



High-Pressure Valve Stem

These valve stems are used
on light trucks and trailers when
the air pressure requirements
exceed 65psi.
 
Edd505 said:
Might read some here, the $100 stems are likely pressure monitors.
Click to expand...
The external type have replaceable batteries (except Pressure Pro, a very old design) which is a nice advantage over them being in the valves. But I feel the internal type are safer, with the weight more inside the tire instead of the very end of the stem.

-Don- ABQ, NM
 
Thanks for comments, even unfriendly ones!
The recommended tire pressure for my front tires are 75 PSI and 80 PSI for the rear ones. I have researched but since there was some confusing information online, I thought I ask members' opinion on this forum. There are high pressure rubber valve stem (80-90 PSI rated) which truck shop install on trucks and motorhomes. Do you think manufactures or installers want to be involved in lawsuits by installing a product which is not designed for the purpose it was installed?
I didn't also say using cars rubber valve stem on trucks or RVs. What I was trying to say is that I have never heard of valve stem failure on cars (unless they are very old tires). So my question was (and is) why a rubber valve stem rated at 30-40 PSI doesn't fail on a car which has 30-35 PSI air pressure rating but a high pressure valve stem fails on a RV which has 80 PSI air pressure requirement? How many of you have metal valve stem on your cars? How old your cars' tires are and how much mileage do you have on them? So far one explanation has made some sense: if you install an outside wheel TPMS on rubber valve stem, the rotational mass of the sensor may stress out the rubber stem by vibrating it. I am just trying to understand.
 
HRDWRK said:
Do you think manufactures or installers want to be involved in lawsuits
Click to expand...
They avoid that by the fine print that tells you to change them every couple of years or whatever.

I would rather have a ten year old metal valve in any of my vehicles tires than a new rubber valve.

I just don't trust rubber and plastic parts in vehicles where not necessary.

-Don- ABQ, NM
 
Safety for some is a concern. lol

I had rubber ones in that the tire place put in, Im sure they were for cars, these guys were not the the brightest.

At 80psi cold the tire was 130psi when driving and loaded heavy - tires get hot and psi goes up. I never had any issues with valve stems over 100,000 on the last truck, or the class-c before that. I had tires blow out, but never any issues with valve stems except the metal ones original to the class-c dually. They had issues.
 
I have had the high pressure ones like pictured above, on both my RAM truck and my former Sprinter chassis motorhome. These stems work fine. I installed metal stems on my trailer tires in anticpation of installing a TPMS in the future. I will probably change over the RAM truck at some point to install TPMS also.

Dill does market an aftermarket TPMS system that uses internal pressure/temp sensors.

I have had only one stem fail in my lifetime and it was a LOOOONG stem the stupid tire shop installed on my '67 Falcon (with hubcaps) and it flopped around till it started leaking.

Yes, I do remember the China valve stem debacle. I did have some rather cracked and terrible stems that were part of this batch but they didn't break or leak before they got replaced.

This is the Dill stem I installed on my trailer's Sendel T03 alloy "Bullet" wheels. The rather odd looking cap is a "service thru" or "fill thru" cap that provides protection but does not need to be removed to check or service the tire.
1637550686764.png

Dill Trailer TPMS system

Charles
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Members online

Total: 1,455 (members: 25, guests: 1,430)

Forum statistics

Threads
131,974
Posts
1,388,534
Members
137,723
Latest member
CarlSpackler
Back
Top Bottom