I'm getting some Michelin Pilot Roads mounted and balanced. When I went in to get them installed the guy asked me if I wanted rubber or metal valve stems. Is there an advantage/disadvantage to rubber vs. metal valve stems?
The guy told me that metal valve stems are better. He told me also that if I wanted to do a tack day that I would need metal valve stems (at least at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma CA).
I want to do a riders instructional course at a track this year, to learn how to ride better and get to know my bike better at speed. So I told them to go a head and put the metal ones on in preparation to eventually do a track day.
The only draw back I know to the metal ones is that they wont match my "black" rims as well as the rubber valves would.
What are your opinion on Metal vs. Rubber valve stems? And have any of you heard that metal valve stems are required at some tracks?
The Phantom, Feb 12 2006, 09:47 PMOne last thing - hopefully your shop has the sense to put the right length stems in, too long and the rear one will hit the brake caliper.
+1.gif
That one has caught out more than a few riders. Me, I heard of it happening to someone else so I didn't get bit.
wera803, Feb 13 2006, 08:17 AMNever heard of having to have metal valve stems. I think WERA requires metal valve stem caps, but the valve stem itself can be rubber.
What a joke. Went to go get my wheels today with the newley installed tires. After some guy at the shop was preaching to me about "that I have to definitely replace my existing rubber valve stems, and that I should get the metal ones" I go down to today and this other guy tells me that he left the old ones on. I'm like "what" the guy yesterday was telling me I definitely have to have them replaced. So I told him to go and swap the old ones out and put the metal ones on "like I told the guy yesterday". So I'm standing there watching him take the tire of and all of the suddent "bang". The guy slips and drops the wheel onto the machine scratching my rim about 2 incheds. I'm a nice guy and hate getting confrontational but what am I to do...just sit there and say nothing. The guy kinda tried to play it off to like it did not happen. So I walk over and take a look at the rim an I'm like guy you scratched me rim, I saw you do it. I could see the young guy was stressed and I know it was an accident but as a consumer I had to see what they would do about it. Already long story but I'll sum it up, I don't have to pay for the tire install, and they are going to have some professional guy take out the scratch. I like the shop and I know shit happens and they treated me right after the mistake. Still it was a sour experience and now I will have to go back again later and have them take the scratch out (which I don't think they will get perfect anyway) or deal with the scratch.
Oh and from reading the responses above I did tell them that the stem had to be the same size as the existing stock on or otherwise it would hit the brake caliper. So thanks for the heads up. It is a close fit.
I have the metal valves on now and it looks great and they do seem to be a lot better quality and I will be able to retain them the next time a do a tire change. Anyway enough about "Valve Stems". Jeeze I did not want to make a big deal about something simple like "Valve Stems"!!!!
Well maybe you could use this as an excuse to do something to the rims. Strip and polish? Maybe just strip the lips of the rims? Powdercoat a different colour altogether?
veefer800canuck, Feb 14 2006, 01:54 AMACK! He dropped the rim? Bummer.
Well maybe you could use this as an excuse to do something to the rims. Strip and polish? Maybe just strip the lips of the rims? Powdercoat a different colour altogether?
"Polishing" I was thinking the same thing idea3.gif
End of thread · 9 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 14 May 2006