Tyre valve covers

[tan55555]

Currently have the standard black plastic tyre valve covers and fancy replacing them. Not sure if they risk looking a bit 'max power', what have others used? My wheels are silver and the 4200 is red.

 

[RobinL]

Black plastic every time. Why? Because the fancy looking ones are alloy and set up preferential corrosion with the valve stem. If you have later model cars with TPMS you really need to use OEM metal caps or plastic as with TPMS you can get accelerated preferential corrosion.

If you really have an issue with black plastic then the easy solution is spray paint to match wheels. Or chrome paint. 4 new caps ( no grease or contaminants) tin of paint.
If you want to bling them up then paint top of cap in car matched paint.
Spot of laquer - job done.

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[tan55555]

Black plastic every time. Why? Because the fancy looking ones are alloy and set up preferential corrosion with the valve stem. If you have later model cars with TPMS you really need to use OEM metal caps or plastic as with TPMS you can get accelerated preferential corrosion.

If you really have an issue with black plastic then the easy solution is spray paint to match wheels. Or chrome paint. 4 new caps ( no grease or contaminants) tin of paint.
If you want to bling them up then paint top of cap in car matched paint.
Spot of laquer - job done.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

Thanks, hadn't thought about the corrosion aspect, think I might just stick to the black plastic ones!

 

[RobinL]

And in case anyone wants to get technical and mention you need an electrolyte then look no further than rainwater and in winter a bit of salt water.
Once you have initial dis-similar metal corrosion then the next step is crevice corrosion once the water gets 'up' the thread.
As the thread on most valves extends further than the top of the valve core then you run the risk of losing tyre pressure or just twisting the top off the valve stem when you come to check pressure one day.

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[beau]

Personally I’d leave them black plastic, such a small detail I wouldn’t even notice haha

But My old Porsche had these fitted though, I mean they look tidy enough and didn’t cause any problems

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/282927089999

 

[Mike X]

My Spyder has some BBS full shroud caps on , they cover the whole rubber part of the valve and look great .
A few years ago I had a set of alloy caps weld themselves onto my valves , luckily I had a mate who worked with tyres at the time , we change all 4 valves , I now use a smear of copper grease and check them regularly , in winter I pop the black plastic ones back on .

 

[Vampyrebat]

My Spyder has some BBS full shroud caps on , they cover the whole rubber part of the valve and look great .
A few years ago I had a set of alloy caps weld themselves onto my valves , luckily I had a mate who worked with tyres at the time , we change all 4 valves , I now use a smear of copper grease and check them regularly , in winter I pop the black plastic ones back on .

Mine had those BBS full covers on when I got mine, maybe they came like that. They are in the spares cupboard now as when I first had the alloys refurbed I went with the full chrome valves and caps option. I think it looks classy not Boy Racey!

 

[Corranga]

Years ago I bought new wheels for my classic Mini, which came with chrome plastic sleeves on the valve stems.

A quick eBay search...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4PCS-set...alve-Dust-Caps-Stem-Covers-TR413/173199298433

Might look ok as a compromise. Though it's not immediately obvious if the caps are plastic or metal I guess.

Personally, I'm happy with black having had an alloy once stuck in the past, despite plenty of copper grease being used.

 

[allandwf]

I've had stainless full shrouds on mine in the past, kept going missing, only to appear on the oiks cycles! Black plastic now

 

[lifes2short]

Always fitted aluminium and Stainless valves to my cars, look great (not blingy) and never had any problems if fitted correctly, apply some light grease to threads, the aluminium ones are available in Black as well as silver to suit the darker coloured wheels like Anthracite etc

 

[CLRut]

Thread resurrection time - a quick query, but one of my tyre valve plastic caps has unfortunately spun off from one wheel. They are badged as Alligator EHA, in a light grey, and I think the OEM for Maserati. I do not believe getting a precise match for the plastic cap is necessary (confirmed with main dealer) but appreciate any experienced views. I am clear that plastic is the way to go given the TPMS system within the valve doesn't necessarily like a metal cap.

 

[Corranga]

Just get another plastic cap, or 4 if you want them to match. The caps on the car will be from whatever valves that last tyre fired who changed the tyres or fixed a puncture use.

 

[midlifecrisis]

Whenver you change tyres the nice Kwik fit fitter will change the valve and the cap as well. So OEM for these is a bit anal.
Anyway as for metal ones , don't bother as like the above say they'll corrode and fuse due to diffenrent metals being used. Stay with the plastic.

 

[Oneball]

I’d just go with another plastic cap. They’re all a Schrader type valve and have the same thread. If you want to get something that matches I think VW use the same system.