aluminium tyre valves

[vilguy]

Those alloy tyre valves you see advertised for tyres so that they never need replacing... are they any good?

I had a valve fail again this morning on the rear tyre - twice in 6 months. Leaving me buggered at the side of the road. Not waiting for mr AA man for 2 hours so i rode to my dealer, 5 miles on a completely flat tyre isnt fun in rush hour.. and yeah i knew it would knacker the tyre but it was due to be changed anyways.

Just wondering on the quality of these alloy valves as regards to chemical attack.. i.e salt

I did like the look of them being angled outwards though making tyre pressure checks even more lazy

 

[ian6760]

I wouldn't use them without a bit of grease on the threads. I used them for security as some local kids were letting down tyres in our street. Give them a quick nip with a spanner and they couldn’t get them off by hand, but got I salt in them. Couldn’t get them off and ended up having one of the tyre removed to fit a new valve. The ones I had were fitted with a small o ring but I’m not sure if that would save you from the valve failing.

 

[vilguy]

Cheers ian, thats the sort of thing i was worried about haha. I think i will go for them and grease them up as you suggest.

Thanks

Paul

 

[t'other dave]

What exactly was the problem with the rubber valve? Was it the base that split? there have been a few naff ones about (made in china but very cheap) that have split within 6 months. Personally I'd stick with rubber. As said use a dab of grease on the threads if useing the snazzy metal ones.

 

[vilguy]

yeah it was the base mate. Bloody thing haha. Its amazing how such a simple thing can pretty much cripple you!

 

[(RIP) ugg]

used these on many a gixer, i had..no probs .

ugg

 

[motobiker]

never had a problem with the old style valves. Always have them replaced when new tyres are fitted.

Seems to me you have just had a run of extremely rare bad luck... or perhaps the place that fits your tyres had a bad batch - or just buy the cheapest rubbish they can find.

 

[digga]

Never had a valve fail on bike or car in 20 odd years... very odd!

 

[vilguy]

hmmm the first one that failed was in the wheel already, and the secondone was from my local dealer, both had failed in exactly the same place. Im getting some new tyres fitted this weekend so ill have a check to see if there is a sharp edge there or something else that could be cutting into them.

 

[Den]

Where did you buy aluminium tyres ??
Im wanting a set.
Are they silver and shiney ... do they wear well .... are they not a bit slippy .... are the valves any different to the valves in ordinary rubber tyres ??

 

[vilguy]

taiwan, - £30 off ebay... they are a bugger to fit though, and you have to use special "high tech" retention system (bolts) to hold the tyre in place. At first the bolts sit proud of the tyre making the ride a bit harsh but after a while they wear down to the profile of the rest of the tyre.... around 700 miles or so. After this the aluminium wears well, espicially over materials softer than ali, but ride over steel at your peril. They will wear out faster than the sex life of a married man.

 

[t'other dave]

hmmm the first one that failed was in the wheel already, and the secondone was from my local dealer, both had failed in exactly the same place. Im getting some new tyres fitted this weekend so ill have a check to see if there is a sharp edge there or something else that could be cutting into them.

It won't be a sharp edge just cheap valves, as I've said. I used to buy the stubby bike valves 412's in packs of 25 then my suppler offered me packs of 100 for a couple o quid more , great till they started splitting around the base and I'd then have to fail em on mot's and replace em f.o.c after 6 months. They were made in china, I threw em out and now buy the dearer ones made in germany and had no problems since.

 

[vilguy]

ahhh ok cool thanks mate, ill warn the dealer too, dont want them to have to start fixing valves all the time.

Higgsy out.