How Often Should Tire Valve Stems Be Replaced?
1 Answers
The lifespan of rubber valve stems is approximately 3-4 years, which is similar to that of tires. Therefore, it is recommended to replace rubber valve stems when changing tires. There are several types of tire valve stems: 1. Rubber valve stems. As the most common material for valve stems, their low cost makes rubber valve stems widely installed on original wheel rims, and the replacement cost is also very low. However, due to the unavoidable aging issue of rubber materials, the valve stem body will gradually crack, deform, and lose elasticity. When the vehicle is in motion, rubber valve stems will also swing back and forth with centrifugal force, causing deformation, which further accelerates the aging of the rubber. 2. Steel valve stems. To avoid the aging problem of rubber valve stems, metal valve stems have gradually appeared on the market, and steel valve stems are one of them. The service life of steel valve stems is two to three times that of rubber valve stems, mainly due to the metal material's resistance to oxidation. Additionally, metal valve stems offer superior airtightness. 3. Aluminum alloy valve stems. Aluminum alloy valve stems also belong to the category of metal valve stems. Their service life and airtightness are comparable to those of steel valve stems, but the price is even higher. This is mainly because aluminum alloy is lighter than steel, which undoubtedly benefits the dynamic balance of the wheels.
