I'm getting ready to have some new Hoosiers mounted on Borbets that have rubber valve stems and wasn't sure if I should consider replacing them with metal valve stems. What are the pros and cons of each?

I did a search and found this...
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=195639
... but was looking for some more comments.

Danke'

 

most people will tell you rubber. Metal ones can leak, seize, become loose, etc...

 

the aluminum valve stems that came with my SSR's also have a problem with too small of an orifice. all that means is that it takes longer to bleed out air or add air. no problems with them leaking or getting loose yet, they are much lighter then rubber valve stems so you don't add as much weight to balance the tire, and they look bling-tastic!

nate

 

I've got metal ones that came with the set of wheels I bought. Haven't experienced any leaking and they make getting the tire gauge on it easily. Sometimes the rubber ones bend out of the way.

I could change my mind eventually if I start to have problems with them though. I haven't had them that long.

 

I used to bust tires in my younger days, another thing to consider with rubber vs. metal...

1st - I've seen a lot of flat tires due to rubber stems tearing at the base.(probably from being reused and abused too much???)

2nd - rubber stems should be replaced every time you change your tires. Metal ones can be reused many times to a certain extent.

3rd - rubber ones bend a lot when your adding removing air which can lead to tear out. Metal ones since they are metal and bolt to the wheel do not flex at all.

I'm not proposing one or the other just offering up my experience with the two.

 

I have used both as well.

The metal stems can withstand a much higher pressure than the rubber stems. If you buy new metal stems, they wont leak. I usually use a really thin bead of silicon when seating the metal stems. Depending on what style metal stems you go with, they can be tightened from the outside, without removing the tire, etc.

That is aside from all of the plusses mentioned above. I wouldnt use rubber stems again, personally.

 

Rubber.....

 

I used to run metal, its what came on my Formula Ford.

I then had a wheel touching experiance, and the metal one broke. Air out, flat tire, race done. Rubber ones, though they may not be able to hold the high pressures, or may leak more over time, etc I can bend every which way and they dont break.

So, for me its rubber stems, and replace them every time.

Jon K
http://www.seat-time.com

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Maxx44 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Rubber.....</TD></TR></TABLE>

End of "debate".

The Jedi Master of tires has spoken!

John- who thinks Phil has forgotten more about tires than I'll ever know.

 

Funny, I think this is the Tirerack technical question in the back of GRM this month.

When I was reading it in the home library, seemed like the guy recommended metal for race/track applications. I'll try to double-check when I get home tonite.

- Mark

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by racerjon1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I used to run metal, its what came on my Formula Ford.

I then had a wheel touching experiance,... So, for me its rubber stems, and replace them every time.

Jon K
http://www.seat-time.com</TD></TR></TABLE>

Jon and eveyone, thanks for all the input, I really appreciate it.

At the moment I have a set of each. Rubber on the Borbets I've owned for a while now (it shows) and metal on the Panasports that came with the car I just bought earlier this year. Now at least I know I'm adding new valve stems and not just reusing what's already there.

I'm guessing you'd/we'd want to replace the rubber jobbers everytime because they become brittle?

 

I've seen the metal ones snap off at speed. Scary stuff. (completely) Flat tire in less than a second.

 

Rubber stems are good up to 65 psi......

 

It might depend on where the stem is located in the wheel. If it is tucked in out of harm's way, metal might be safer. If they are out in the wind, I have changed my mind over the years and now agree wiht Jon's point, and think that rubber is a better answer.

K

 

ive seen aluminum stems snap right off , and loose all pressure, on a H1 HC car
luckily he was able to get to walmart and change the stem, before his next on track session

Rubber

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Markus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Funny, I think this is the Tirerack technical question in the back of GRM this month.

When I was reading it in the home library, seemed like the guy recommended metal for race/track applications. I'll try to double-check when I get home tonite.

- Mark</TD></TR></TABLE>

I went home last night to look it up... took me a while but I found it, yep just after the tech section... I think it's a Dear John article or something. John is a Tirerack guy me thinkst. Yeah funny... still have to read it though.

-dave, who likes looking at the pictures first before diving into an article that has none, and will be retiring to his own porcelin library this evening.
8)

 

That's exactly how I go through GRM too, look at all the pretty race cars then read the technical stuff. I was going to go back through the tire stem article last nite but I was kind of drunk beyond comprehension....

- Markus

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Markus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... I was kind of drunk beyond comprehension...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not a good time for the GRM mag to be in and around the porcelin throne.

Cheers... where did that beer sign go?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Markus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Funny, I think this is the Tirerack technical question in the back of GRM this month. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I was thinking the same thing. One thing I'd add is that the quality of the valve is also partly related to the installer. Having someone butcher a metal valve stem install probably isn't the hot ticket. (Although I admit I have rubber stems on my car.)

 

Oh yeah, and when you say "meeeettttttaaallll," you have to add the \m/

 

\m/ (banging head)

I wound up going somewhere local and had both the Suburban aligned and the tires mounted and balanced with rubber valve stems. When I mentioned \m/ valve stems at the counter, it sent the dude searching through a small box up front for some. Upon searching he said something like, "yeah uhm I think I have four left... somewhere" showing me three, then diving back into the small box ruffling papers and other miscellaneous pieces parts. This made me a little uneasy so I opted for rubber.

After reading the article in GRM, man I feel like a tool for not noticing the article, it looks like valve stem length might be just as much a consideration as type. Having a shorter valve stem would probably solve the issue of wheel to wheel contact sheering off a metal or even a rubber valve stem.

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

weird that right after this discussion some of my competition at an autocross this weekend would have a rubber valve stem fail, as in .. pull all the way out of the wheel. his theory was that the installer pulled it too hard and tore it, and it enabled the valve stem to be pulled out the rest of the way.

Oh well, i am still going with rubber. I will just try to install them gently.

Jon K
http://www.seat-time.com

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by h22avid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
2nd - rubber stems should be replaced every time you change your tires.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ultimately it is up to you but from what my friend and big time tire store manager told me "if you are purely "racing" then go with rubber and replaced them everytime".

 

Whatever Paul's tire mounting guys decide to put in . . .