Valve stem failure

[dyeager535]

I'll preface this by saying I took a pic, but maybe due to the fact I was changing a tire in the snow, I must not have saved it.

Went to take the valve stem cap off the wheel (new tires and valve stems 2yrs back from Discount Tire) and the brass portion broke off. Of course, it broke off below the seat for the valve, so it was done. Basically the portion of the valve stem that the cap threads onto, remained in the cap when I unscrewed it. Standard plastic caps.

Now, I do use CO2 to air the tires up, and had done so about 10 freeway miles before the failure. But given I've been using CO2 for years now, with many fills (on the last set of tires/valve stems) and never had a problem before, I'm leaning towards a garbage valve stem vs. a temperature issue.

Luckily it broke off at the gas station when I was checking air pressure, and not the highway, so it was as convenient as it gets changing a tire in inclement weather.

 

[Wes Harden]

Yeah I agree that it was probably a defective stem. Is all metal or rubber with brass threads ?

 

[Fastereddie]

You need some Colby valves in the glovebox

 

[sweetk30]

Years ago there was a MASSIVE recall on rubber pull in that the rubber used did not last and would pop off .

 

[dyeager535]

You need some Colby valves in the glovebox

I think you are right. Although I guess my spare served the same purpose, just a lot more hassle and time to repair with a spare vs. a valve stem. Had considered going to all metal valve stems (rubber with factory trim rings is a real bear at times) but not sure about their durability, comparatively. Guess I never spent the time to dig into that realm. These are just standard rubber/brass.

Being two years old these should be well outside of that recall. I want to say that was ~2010, and as mentioned, that was a rubber problem.

 

[ktmoutfront]

I had new tires put on my boat trailer in Lake Havasu. Picked it up 6 months later. Checked the air pressure and everything was good. 20 miles to the freeway, I get out to check every like I always do. Trailer tire is low. Put some air in. Get on the freeway and watch it like a hawk. Get just pas Kingman and I notice it is low again. fill it and head back to Kingman. Pull into a Goodyear store. They tank it. No air bubbles.

I buy a new tire anyways as I did not have a spare. Bought a spare wheel and tire also. As he was letting the air out, he noticed the valve stem hiss. It was cracked just below the brass tube on the inner side. We figure it leaked as the wheel rpm went up and the centrifugal force pulled it outward.