Dual Tires Safety Alert 06+

[Big MAK]

IMO



I have 2 flats on the SAME DAY -- inside dual tires. At first I thought vandalism. I go to fill them -- realize there's a LONG cap (over an inch long) attached to a RUBBER stem.



Both outside dual tires are also loosing pressure. The outside duals also have long caps but not as long.



Do the math -- laws of physics etc.



Over an inch long cap + copper sleeve doesn't extend into wheel = all that mass spinning on a rubber ring.



Guess what? THEY BREAK OFF.



They WILL break off.



Mileage + flex = break

Snow/Ice = break

Mud = break



If you have duals replace those long, idiotic caps (the ones that make it "easier" to check or fill air pressure) with a small cap so your stems won't break.



I learned many many years ago to have a long cap you MUST have a metal stem into the wheel to support the mass or they will flex and break.



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Lithia Dodge in Omaha -- closest dealer when I realize my tires are flat and going flat; refused to repair under warranty because "I put those caps on they don't come that way from the factory". I told them bull**** (at first nicely and then as written) and they called me a liar and that I must have put them on when I put on my mudflaps since the mudflaps weren't dealer installed. :-{}



After paying to get all my stems replaced at a local tire shop I go back to Lithia Dodge in Omaha to investigate...



EVERY DUAL TIRED TRUCK HAS THESE CAPS AND STEMS



So I remove some to demonstrate to them what's on their trucks and proceed to the service bay..... lotsa me cussing out people etc etc etc same ol' story about a dealer doing everything they can to avoid helping a customer. Lithia = crooks.



I took the obviously inappropriate stems to Woodhouse in Blair where I bought the truck (cost me more in fuel to drive it there then I paid for the repair) because when I called Woodhouse they didn't call me a liar and actually looked at some trucks on their lot to confirm they were equipped as I was claiming. They are doing everything they can to help ... kudos to Woodhouse. When I called them their first concern was if I was OK and was the truck getting fixed etc, way different treatment then Lithia. I guess that's why I drive clear to Blair from Omaha to buy trucks... . !



Replace your long caps ASAP. If you have run them a while get your stems replaced ASAP. They will leak if they aren't already. They will break off if they haven't already.

 

[RJOL]

Had Les Schwab rotate my tires and put metal stems on at the same time. I also put these on which makes it a lot easier to air up:



http://www.tiresupplyguide.com/alligator/alligator.html



Works like a charm...



NOTE: After I bought these caps, from an internet source, it turned out that Les Schwab carried them in stock and they were cheaper then ordering them. Oh well... still well worth the effort...

 

[abrankod]

Actually, your issue may not be with the valve stem extension, but with the stems themselves.



I've had major issues with stems installed by Costco and several other large tire sales companies. They are car stems, and while the same size as the truck stem, they are not designed for the pressure ranges that truck tires see.



When I got a set of tires at costco, within 2 months, I had the stems literally snap off. I went to my local michelin truck tire place and they immediately showed me the difference between the car stems which are black vulcanized rubber and the light truck high pressure stems which are EPDM rubber.



Better yet, you could have your tire shop install the double threaded style metal valve stems which are much easier to use with a double-foot tire chuck.





-Dan

 

[Big MAK]

Yep; definitely could be the stems themselves. Chicken or egg? Either way defective as delivered from the factory.



edit: in-line pics posted on top message

 

[CDonaldson]

It looks like the same 'CAR' type stems are used on the SRW's as well. Of course they are shorter, but still, under the pressure rating of the tire itself, they ARE very much under-rated for the application. I think I am going to put in the metal ones when I rotate the tires. By the way, don't forget your spare, it's stem is just as lousy.



CD

 

[MasterChief]

Has anyone else had a problem like this, with the factor tires? I don't want to have my stems replaced if this appears to be a isolated problem.



Thanks

 

[MAshley]

06 dully owner here 21210 miles, look to have the same stems, and definitely have the same cap-inflator devices, some have been taken off because they are cheap and started leaking... ... BIG ? that no one has mentioned is what PSI do you run your tires at... . up until a week ago I have been at 55PSI all around, until Les Shwab rotated them and put them at 60PSI I believe. I do tow routinely about a 15K trailer but tonge weight is only about 1500 LBS so not a lot on the truck.

 

[BDeMartile]

Had Les Schwab rotate my tires and put metal stems on at the same time. I also put these on which makes it a lot easier to air up:



http://www.tiresupplyguide.com/alligator/alligator.html



Works like a charm...



NOTE: After I bought these caps, from an internet source, it turned out that Les Schwab carried them in stock and they were cheaper then ordering them. Oh well... still well worth the effort...

I work in the trucking industry and our fleets use the alligator valve stem extenders they appear, and are, a real quality product unfortunately they will in time let dirt in past the outer valve metal seal and you will have random flat tires. This is fact I'm quoting from experience If you use these do yourself a favor and put metal sealed stem caps over he ends for best luck and NEVER fill the tires if there is even the slighest bit of dust present.

 

[Big MAK]

I think these will all fail for everyone eventually. I don't think they've been putting them on very long? I've only had the truck a little over 2 months but already have 14,000 on it -- 12,000 of it towing a heavy (but within rating) gooseneck. The 103 degree day on Sunday coming back across MO towing was apparently the last straw for these stems. Heavy duty tire + heat + load = rubber base split on the inside 2 with the long stems and started splitting on the other 2. They are just way too long -- all that mass waving thru the air at tire rotation speeds. Inertial force. I'm sure they'd be fine if on a metal stem. I don't think there's a thing wrong with the cap style it's the application that's wrong. They shouldn't be on a rubber stem on a truck tire.

 

[AWay]

When I tried to add air, you couldn't hardly get them to take air for the extension bending every way. Took it to my tire dealer, he said they were the wrong stems for the truck. Too soft. He is installing metal stems this morning.

 

[robmints]

Has anyone else had a problem like this, with the factor tires? I don't want to have my stems replaced if this appears to be a isolated problem.



Thanks

Yes I have a 2006 srw and the LF stem failed. It leaked slowly because it split, but did not totally separate like the ones in the picture, and I had it replaced with a car style stem I'm sure because I did not know there was a difference and the guy that did it did not mention it. Mine failed with 2500 miles on the truck. Mine is not the only new 06 that I have heard of failing. I'm going to get them all replaced at the dealer with the correct stems at the next oil change (coming up next week or so).

 

[Bill Stockard]

I think these will all fail for everyone eventually. I don't think they've been putting them on very long?...

Yes, Dodge has been installing rubber valve stems for several years. I had a rubber valve stem fail on a previously owned '00 3500 DRW.



As soon as I took delivery of our presently owned '03 3500 DRW, I took it to the local truck tire shop and had the valve stems replaced with short steel stems and re-used the OEM valve extensions.



I wrote in the TDR magazine with photos about replacing the rubber valve stems on DRW trucks in late '03 or early '04. Also included in the article was photos of an air chuck and tire gauge that made it easier to air up and check the rear dual wheel tire pressure.



Bill

 

[RBollengier]

I had this same problem on my motorhome. But it was the outside duel. The metal stems fixed the problem. The inside duel has an extension on them and it has never been a problem, and it's had a metal stem as well.