Tire Safety check

[barryn]

I would like to take this time to share with everyone what happened to me so you too can be as safe as one can with some added safety checks. I was putting 80 psi in my 5th wheel tires and my valve stems would leak only if I moved them side to side. The tire was fine, within 5 years of age and no dry rot. The Valve stems have No date on them, so the manufacture could buy 10 year in bulk and there you are, so I’m changing mine every three years. All 5 of my valve stems leaked so I took them to a tire shop and they only had to break the valve stem side and put a New one in “TO EASY”. When a good tire blows out, there is a reason why. Happy and Safe Traveling Barry

[sapest]

Have you considered metal valve stems?
-Steve

[WaltBennett]

This is something I've personal experience with. Our previous TT all of a sudden had four flat tires a few years back in the spring when I started un-winterizing it. All four had rotted valve stems while the tires were still fine. I found out that some time ago when tire places started just ripping off the old ones to make it easier to deflate old tires when installing new, someone got the bright idea to make the minimum valve stem needed for about five years of life. They don't use real rubber or even something that would last anymore. Even a lot of metal-looking valve stems are really fake rubber with a metal band around them.

I'm STILL upset at the Firestone dealership that trashed my metal stems when installing new tires two years ago. It's not that easy to install metal as is rubber, so I'm giving the little wobbly suckers a year or two before replacing them with ones I'm getting straight from Tredit.

[WeBeFulltime]

Nothing but metal stems for me.

[1retired06]

Agree, we use the heavy duty metal stems as well.

[Tom S.]

Guys, metal stems are OK, but they still use rubber where they fit in to the wheel, and that rubber is subject to rotting too.

[DarMar]

quote:Originally posted by Tom S.

Guys, metal stems are OK, but they still use rubber where they fit in to the wheel, and that rubber is subject to rotting too.

Yes I suppose that is very true but it may take several years compared to that of the old rubber. Mine have a nut on the outside that could be tightened on the roadside if there was a slight leak. Perhaps enough to get by till the rubber is renewed.

[DQDick]

quote:Originally posted by Tom S.

Guys, metal stems are OK, but they still use rubber where they fit in to the wheel, and that rubber is subject to rotting too.

Excellent point.

[Art-n-Marge]

Just change out the stems when changing out the tires. Since I change my tires out with some frequency, I always change the stems too (usual standard protocol with the tire dealers I have used.

The bad news is that I can't change to metal yet, because I have to remember to special order them for my wheels. The typical metal stems I've seen at the tire shops have too large of a diameter to seat into the wheel. So for convenience sake I'm using mostly rubber. If I ever get a TPMS with stem mounted sensors, then I'll go through the exercise.

[barryn]

Have I considered metal valve stems? Yes, but they are not required at 80psi. Only 120 psi 12 ply

[Chipf2]

After having to much experience with blown tires, and following the advice of many from this forum, upgrade to metal valve stems and buy (and use) a TMPS system (TST507). The investment is like buying an additional spare tire when your finished, but gives you so much additional safety room and peace of mind, and if a tire blows (and they will), you can reduce the amount of damage to your Monty which you have invested a lot of money in.

[richfaa]

The stems on our 06 3400 leaked and had to be replaced. Three of the OEM stems on our 13 3402 leaked and had t o be replaced.