When to use a rubber... valve stem! | Metal vs. Rubber Valve Stems 

This video is proof why the internet is amazing. I was wondering I wonder what's better rubber or metal valve stems and here I am.

I work as a car mechanic, and where I work the way we decide on what valve to use is like this: if the required tire pressure for the car is below 3 bar/45psi, regular rubber snap-in valve it is. If it's above, we'd use a high pressure snap-in valve. For ZR tires, it's metal valve stems.

The only time using rubber is actually preferable. 😆

Thanks for sharing, sir.

Thank you. I will keep it simple.

I have experienced a some issues with a metal valve stems. Mostly it was some sort of a corrosion where air would leak. Aftermarket sensors such as Autel seems to offer rubber and metal TPMS sensors. I am researching these at the moment as one of my vehicle's TPMS sensor batteries might be going out soon.

Thanks for the info.

Thank you - entertaining & enlightening 👍🏽

I watched this to learn about how metal stems look cooler but learned they suck 😂 I’m still getting metal lol

Many motorcycle wheels benefit greatly from metal stems that are angled 90 (or even 110 degrees) due to low clearance from brake discs or other parts. A straight stem on a motorcycle points at the center of the wheel like a bicycle tire but has maybe 5 inches of clearance rather than the 15 inches or more that a bicycle wheel gives you. Much easier to check pressure and add air with an angled stem.

This is actually useful and underrated. They both have pros and cons. But most of my headaches came from metal valves when the core is harder to inflate or don't get to inflate at all versus rubber valves which i rarely have issues with at all. But on one occasion my motorcycle's front wheel's valve cracked and air escaped out quickly while riding on the expressway. That was as scary as I was at the overtaking lane with wiggly and uncontrollable steering. I highly suggest replacing it every year or so even before the tires need replacing out of safety. Great video btw. Underrated.

I am painting up an old set of steel VW wheels. They had metal valve stems that I had to remove for paint work. I came here to research if I need to keep them, or just install new rubbers. The thing I noticed is that these metal stems appear to be brass, not aluminum. But since the rubber seals are so old, I probably won't reuse them. But a brass valve likely would not have the corrosion issues that aluminum might. As others have mentioned, metal stems are much better for ease of inflation. Also, twice in the last 25 years I have had rubber stems split apart and begin to leak within a year, probably due to crappy rubber compounds from the foreign supplier. Both times I had my tire guy swap out for metal stems and never had another issue. Those were both summertime vehicles only, kept out of the weather unless they were being driven.

Thank you sir I'll stay with the reliable way

thanks scott! you've helped this new rider figure out which material i should be buying! (rubber) - rex

Wants to remove TPMS sensors on 2011 Hyundai Tucson GLS & install normal Valve Stems. What is the Valve Stem's brand & part number do I look for on the internet to buy?

Metal valves for my track wheels, Rubber for my daily wheels. Pretty simple solution.

The biggest advantage of a metal valve stem is ergonomic: it doesn't move around when you connect something to it, be that a gauge or a fill hose, so it's easier to get a good seal on the first try. This can be an advantage in racing with pit stops. Still, I have to imagine that the aluminum stem is heavier than the rubber one, making it harder to balance a wheel and adding (however minimally) to rotational and unsprung mass. This is in addition to all the drawbacks stated in the video. As a non-competitive track day driver who tracks his street cars, I use rubber stems.

Rubber valve stems have been in service forever and will give more than acceptable service life in most conditions. BUT: There is a reason NHRA requires metal valve stems for anything running faster than a 11.99sec. 1/4mile as well as most all heavy and medium duty trucks, trailers, equipment, busses and transit vehicles are running brass, stainless steel or steel valve stems. Add in the effects if ozone and UV in the deterioration of rubber and the advantages of metal valve stems with an encapsulated EPDM seal substantiates thier use further. And unfortunately there are several valve stems on the market that are natural rubber and plastic composites that deteriorate rapidly. The natural rubber stems are exponentially susceptible to UV and Ozone damage compared to an EPDM valve stem. SAE 1205-1206 is the standard on ozone requirements. Also, several companies are marketing TPMS systems with external stem mounted sensors. There have been countless instances of rubber valve stems breaking off after the sensors have been installed. (There is a reason factory TPMS systems generally use inside the wheel sensors) Valve stems should be changed at every tire change. Several may disagree but why even consider taking the chance. Great video BTW, rubber (EPDM) valve stems will serve most of the masses well for sure but for us, it's brass, chrome plated brass, stainless steel or steel all the way (never aluminum) and especially in street motorcycle applications. And dry nitrogen in lieu of compressed air if available. Just my 2c your mileage may vary!

Good information. I never considered metal valve stems. I always used rubber valve stems

Great video 👍🏻

My 69 c10 still has the metal ones on it from 1983 when my great uncle bought a matching set of wheels for it, it held air in the tires for the 12 years since he parked it outside in 2009, still driving with them and they hold air better than any of my other vehicles.

Metal valve stems are commonly found on motorcycle, aluminum alloy rims due to thickness of rim where rubber valves will not fit properly also they have a cool factor about them , but most other rims standard rubber valves are common like on steel rims and are easy to use and moderately easy to replace

Rubber ones can be yanked out and shove a new one in without breaking the tire bead too. Pretty handy on the trail. All my rims on my kenworth have metal valve stems but pickup, car, jeep, hummer, motorhome all have rubber because I can change them on the fly if needed.

If you use steel, or nickel plated brass valve stems use nickel anti-seize. For brass, I am not sure if copper anti-seize is best or not.

Will be picking up our 2022 Airstream Interstate 24' GT in about 3 weeks, and are new to RV-ing and having a dually (been driving cars all our lives). We will be having a TPMS installed aftermarket (why it doesn't already come with it installed is beyond me). We don't plan on doing any heavy off road, just the occasional dirt road access to campgrounds/sites. Two questions: 1) What do you recommend in this scenario (considering we will adding a direct TPMS) - metal or rubber stems? 2) Do you have any recommendation on how to set up easy access to the inside dually tire (for checking pressure manually PRN and adjusting air pressure)? Thanks!

My car has built in tpms censors from the factory. So i wouldn't need to get new rubber/metal valves when i'm changing the tyres? Because i'm pretty sure the sales person will likely be trying to sell me those valves, and i wouldn't know how to decide 😅

thanks man, i was so blank

Have a 2018 Dodge charger with metal valve stems from factory. The metal cap is now fused onto the valve stem. Corrosion has fused them. Valve is toast new one is 45. Just for valve stem.. the TPSM sensor if its messed up is another 85.00. MOPAR chryslerDodge parys are extremly expensive.

My never go bad rubber valve stem on my R1150--GS just failed. Luckily I was at home checking tire pressure. I'm replacing it with a metal 90-degree.

If you use a valve stem extenions (dual wheels on RV and trucks), you will need a metal valve stem, because the rubber one will flex, break and leak, and you dont want that on an inside dual.

Aluminum corroded in salt on 2008 Honda.....reaparing 2nd one today.

I always thought the metal ones were used as they don't flex while the wheel+tire assembly is rotating and not mar the face of the wheel if the stem is near spokes or the face.

I have to air up my tires once a month with rubber valve stems. With the metal valve stems it's considerably less, maybe every six months if that.

Working PSI of rubber is 65psi ( according to google) so for truck and trailers rubber is unfortunately no go :(

I had new front tires and rubber stems installed on my truck 2 months ago. Woke up to a flat, air leaking out from between the brass insert and rubber. The mechanic at the tire store told me that he’s been seeing this a lot lately. Maybe the glue they are using now. No more rubber stems for me.

Got my combination tire valve (copper tubing with rubber grommet)leaked after after 20 years in service...live in the tropical country philippines...think rubber is fine...

Good info boss

Metal is a must in drag racing community

Great video. Thanks. Rubber it is.

Rubber valve 100% the aluminum metal ones corrode with road salt and leak more often. Happened to two family members. One converted all of his valve stems to rubber. His valve stem literally broke in half from the salt. Other is planning it after one began to leak after only two years. You can keep your tpms with the rubber as well.

My rims on my F350 aluminum wheels tend to corrode around the rubber valve stem creating a leak how do I fix that without using a metal valve stem?

the reason that brought me to this video is my rudder valves leak air

And here I am with a rubber valve with bout 10 cracks in it.. not adding a serviceble part?

4:11 👍

The rubber valve wears as well, it just becomes brittle and starts loosing pressure.

2:38 “These don’t really ever leak… but when they do they leak on the valve stem” Sorry, but there are still millions of those defective rubber valve stems from 2006-2007 in circulation today (2023). They appear perfectly fine until several months after you install/use them. They will degrade extremely fast and can literally fall off the wheel. Sixtyfiveford just described how his pack of 100 rubber tire valves from a few years ago have been failing in everything he uses them with… some in as little as 6 months. He made a short just the other day about using his manual tire changer and that’s where I noticed he had these defective rubber valves.

My rubber on my motorcycle broke and almost ended my life, fuck that. Going metal on my motorcycle from now on

lacelocks>

tl:dr : metal valve pros: looks nice, works with sensors cons: everything else

Mine broke on the metal one went to a tire shop and they put a rubber one and said my low tire pressure light will continue to stay on because the tpmi won't work on rubber is this true

when spending money on rims you want to make sure you have quality tires and valves, a leaking valve will have your rim spin on a flat tire

Already had problems with metal one all that left was the core the barrels sheerd off ugh annoying

Forgot to say that sun will erode the rubber valve in time :) so metal has longevity

My neighbor likes to slash my stems, so aluminum it is.

Rubber seals do leak.

i use only rubber, i delete the TPMS on every car i buy and go straight rubber, the day i am to damned lazy to check the air in my tires myself is the day i stop driving,

Am I the only person that has had SEVERAL rubber valve stems crack and fail? The literal reason I'm watching this video is because I missed bike week because my motorcycle's rear stem cracked from dryness and wouldn't hold any air. How was that not mentioned as a con??

The nuts on metal valves always come loose fom the inside.

My Supra has white wheels, went with metal cause rubber ones are black and ugly, simple.

Dom Dom 5:26

Broke one in half inflating tire

Brass metal valve stems , most so called rubber valve stems are not real rubber and break down when exposed to alot of direct sunlight. Aluminum ones are a joke .

I wish someone would make a rubber TR413 for my pickup. My tires have max pressure of 80 lbs. I'm sick of buying from China and killing all of our jobs. I know, its not us who pays but our kids. I just discussed replacing a relay on my well and found that there are no more relay manufacturers in America any more. Funny, the Chinese ones are precise replicas of the old American ones. You can guess what happened. I think those who make videos on youtube and have a greater voice than I should start mentioning this problem every once in awhile-its probably too late.

cyclist ✔️✅

don't use god damn metal in your wheels. After sometimes it gets corrosion and that damns never opened. My tire was flat today I tried to press air but I never opened it. then I called the road assistant to change my tire even he spent 30 mins and couldn't take the valve cap off. I just dropped my s3 to audi and ordered new tires and to replace the valves with rubbers.

Video is bullsh1t especially when you get into agricultural and construction equipment.

There are race organizations that require metal valves.

That's not true. Where is the chances I put in six tires on my band cuz it's a dually and out of those six tires within the last year I replaced four valves cuz they were leaking in different spots. One the seals around the rim. It was leaking right along the side where you screw on the cap. It was not leaking from the inside of it but it was leaking all the way around on all of them