Is it necessary to replace the valve stem when changing tires for a vehicle?
1 Answers
It is necessary to replace the valve stem when changing tires for a vehicle. This is because the valve stem is a rubber product and is subject to aging over time. Therefore, it is advisable to replace the valve stem when changing tires. Introduction to valve stems: A valve stem is an independent valve device that opens to allow air to enter the space of a tubeless tire or inner tube, then automatically closes and seals to maintain air pressure, preventing air from escaping the tire or inner tube. Except for solid tires, all other tires or inner tubes that require inflation must use this device. Types of valve stems: Based on material, valve stems can be categorized into rubber valve stems and metal valve stems. The former is used for passenger car tire inner tubes, while the latter is mainly used for heavy-duty tire inner tubes. Rubber valve stems inevitably suffer from aging issues, where the valve body gradually cracks, deforms, and loses elasticity. When the vehicle is in motion, the rubber valve stem also swings back and forth due to centrifugal force, accelerating the aging process. To mitigate the aging problem of valve stems, metal valve stems have been introduced in the market, with steel valve stems being one of them. Although they are significantly more expensive than rubber valve stems, their service life is two to three times longer.
