Valve stem (tire) failures

I had a high-speed blow-out on my 525i about a month back. Tires were almost new - installed in September 2011, taken off for the winter, reinstalled in March 2012. Maybe 5,000 miles on them. Turns out the valve stem failed. Tire replaced, new valve stem, all good (except the cost of replacing it).

Fast forward to last Friday. I came out of a store to find another one of my tires flat. Change the tire, inspect for damage or puncture: nothing. Get it home and put some air in and it's coming out of the valve stem, specifically at the base. I can see the rubber is torn at that point; moving the stem makes it leak more or less depending on position.

I inspect the remaining two valve stems that haven't failed. One of them shows the same signs of tearing at the base, but isn't leaking yet. There's obviously a pattern here. I found reports on the web of a bad batch of valve stems from China back in 2006/7, but nothing more recent. These are also marked "Made in China" on the top of the caps.

So, first off, if you had tires mounted in the last year or so, check those valve stems. Second, anyone got suggestions for higher-quality valve stems that I can get to replace these?

Get some nice steel ones from a heavy diuty truck tire guy.

I had a lot of valve stems fail about 4 years ago, I just kept having to replace them. I'd usually notice a slow leak or hear the air escaping when I moved the valve stem.

I had a rash of this too a while back. Tossed out my box of stems after the 4th one let go. I use the metal ones on street stuff now. There not allowed on my race car per rules...

Metal valve stems are the only way to go. Look for the low-profile one that most auto parts places and tire shops sell.

Do not bother with the chrome sleeved rubber valve stems. Your problems show that the failure point isn't the sleeve, it's the base and that's what needs to be metal.

There were some really E36 M3ty Chinese valve stems floating around a few years ago. I think I saw it in Consumer Reports or something. I had to replace all four on a set of brand new trailer tires. They dry rot immediately.

Don't discount the ability of the shop to install them incorrectly, it can be done. They tear off the base when you rip them out on a tire change. Install them ham fistedly, and you half tear them apart because they are pulled too far on installation.

Thanks for the feedback - sounds like metal is the way to go. Problem is, I can't find a local source. I'm still looking, but anyone got a good online source in case I need it? The wheels are stock sport package (style 5). Thanks again.

FYI, I finally found a set of the steel nutted ones at the local Carquest. Seems to be a standard stock item there, blister packs of one valve stem each hanging on the rack. Fits both .453 and .675 holes.

I had one fail a month ago. First time I'd ever heard of it happening. Just as you say, a tear at the base. I installed it myself and wrote it off to me doing something wrong, but who knows?

I had a valve stem go two weeks ago, but it was actually a TPMS sensor, as well. I got quoted around $200 (including tax) for the new TPMS valve stem + programming. Instead, I walked out for $21 for a new valve stem and will save the remainder for when I need new tires in 10k miles.

The annoying thing is that this is the 2nd valve stem that's failed on this vehicle (2006 RAV4). The first one that failed was on the spare. I was inflating it because the TPMS light came on a year ago during the winter and the stem snapped in half. I replaced that one with a regular stem and lived with the TPMS light for a year. Now with the second one going I'm giving up on TPMS, as I'm usually a little OCD with tire pressures, as it is.

As I see it, the problem is that to get the TPMS system fully functioning for a 6 year old vehicle, I'd have to shell out almost $400, and I'd still be running three 6 year old TPMS valve stems that could go at any time. That same $400 will go a long way towards the new tires I'm going to purchase in the near future, so that's what I'm doing with it.

I can understand the value of the TPMS systems for the average driver, but until they get the replacement costs down to something reasonable I can't imagine many people maintaining these systems once they do break. In effect, this will defeat the whole purpose of the federal mandate, but that's government for you /rant_off ...

TPMS Sensors are poorly made and love to corrode. Let me guess, you live in the salt belt?

93gsxturbo wrote: TPMS Sensors are poorly made and love to corrode. Let me guess, you live in the salt belt?

Spot on, I'm in CT, which is Salt Belt Central. Actually, they now put down liquid magnesium chloride spray in addition to the salt. I'd much rather have the salt. Once they started putting down the new stuff, my old K1500 pickup had major problems with every metal brake and fuel line on the truck. Many of the local shops have observed the same issues.