Tire Valve Stems

[Harlan Chinn]

Ok, I now have new fuch rims and tires. What kind of valve stems should I have installed? Inexpensive rubber stems? Metal valves stems? What about the metal valve stem supports? Are they absolutely necessary? Advice Opinions?

[MIK911]

I've heard the metal stems have a tendency to leak. I didn't care for the look of long rubber stems on my polished lips on my Fuchs, so i got the SHORT stubby rubber stems with chrome housing. With it's shorter length, i don't feel a stem support is necessary.
How are your fuchs finished? Lets see some pics.
Can't see the stems on this pic, but chrome valve stem sleeves blends in with polished lips.
Mike
'86 coupe

[Bill Douglas]

Mine are just the super short stubby ones for motor bikes. they definetly don't need ant support as theey are so short.


Harlan, whats all this "Location: 47.36 N 122.20 W" Have you just got yourself a GPS and having fun playing with it

[GeorgeK]

Get motorcycle stems. They are less than 1" long, rubber. You don't want to screw metal stem into that nice aluminum rim, and leave marks.
GeorgeK

[Wavey]

I don't know, you guys might be surprised how much centrifugal force can bend even short stems on the wider wheels where they mount more horizontally. My '88 Carrera had some short stems on it, 1" to the base of the cap, with no stem supports, when I bought it - one of them had a split that only leaked at higher speeds. You could drive forever at 50 or so, but it would leak down at anything faster.

That being said, brand new, REALLY short stems would probably be OK without the supports.

[jpachard]

To add another point to the topic, PCA requires metal stems for Club Racing and Michelin strongly recomends them with a proper metal cap for track use. Have you ever touched your rim after spirited or track driving? It's pretty darn hot. In fact, I've seen the plastic valve caps melt onto the stem...yikes. Many tire deflation problems stem from...well, you guessed it...

Cheers, James

[cstreit]

I use metal stems in the racecar and have not had an obvious leaking problem, then again, I adjust constantly.

IF you use the rubber ones, try and use the short stems. If you use rubber, try and use the supports. THe force on them at higher speeds can bend and split them...

[Randy W]

I agree with Chris, for wheels that are used tracking or autocrossing, I use metal valve stems.

[Harlan Chinn]

Here is a photograph of one of the front wheels. I am doing 7 and 9's. You can see rest of the project car if you search "Pacific Blue".

[Bill Verburg]

I agree w/ all those that recommend metal stems. But I would also add that you should also use the metal caps with seals. The Forces on the stem can actually compress that little spring inside the stem releasing air to atmosphere.

[Wavey]

MIK911:

I'll give you $500 for that old VW in the background.

Your friend, Wavey