Quick Valve Change Tool, replacing tire valve stems without tire removal. Any experience?

[visionguru]

One of my tires has developed a leak (2 psi/day). I found that the leak seemed to be from the valve stem:

I went to Costco and was told they don't repair tires that is more than 4 years old. Then 2 other stores, each asked for about $50!! and needed to leave the car there for the whole day. Any experience/comment about this tool? It claims to be able to replace the valve stem without removing tires.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005K8E9FY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[rust in the eye]

Costco doesn't want to service tires, they want to sell them.
Breaking one bead and inserting a valve takes a couple of minutes. $50? The guy must suspect you are banging his wife.
The tool looks legit but don't expect it to be quite as easy to do "as seen on TV".
If you buy it please let us know how it worked, or didn't.

 

[vavet]

Interesting idea. Never heard of it before.
I would probably try it on a trailer wheel or steel wheel with hubcap where I didn’t really care about the wheel finish or scratches, but I would not do it on a nice aluminum wheel.

 

[Firstram]

Do you have a tire pressure monitoring system?

 

[rust in the eye]

Do you have a tire pressure monitoring system?

Excellent point. No way to pop one of those babies out with this and might explain the $50 quote.

 

[PBCampbell]

I have one of those and have used it successfully a few times. The extraction tool eventually bent which reminds me to get a replacement.

 

[vssjim]

I have had them from the late 70's and actually talked to the guy that invented it he used to work for Ingersol-Rand and then started his own company called Continental Air tool co. in LA somewhere. They work very well but it is a must to use smooth old type hand cleaner with lanolin ie: the smelly type from back then. to extract the the stems really important and bend / pry and pull all at once. I once bet the boss where I worked I could change 4 stems with pick up truck on the ground in less ten minuets when I first got the tool and won easily. Also the guys that said not for TPMS that is true unless it is an early tpms that has banded sensors to the wheel like some fords had etc.

 

[vwtrey]

That doesn’t seem worth it to save $12. Put the spare on, drop the bad one off, pick it up later.

 

[vssjim]

That doesn’t seem worth it to save $12. Put the spare on, drop the bad one off, pick it up later.

The tire stores even in the building our shop are in just are worthless but maybe in Nevada they are better.

 

[Garcky]

I've done it in the past, but only at the roadside. That was when I was the tire guy for a fleet shop. If I had access to a tire machine, though, there's no way I'd bother with that. And these days, with TPMS sensors in almost everything, that time has passed, really.

 

[nicks78camaro]

We charge about $32 to replace a stem, clean the beads while the tire is off, and rebalance after repair. $9 extra if the stem is a more expensive TPMS type rubber stem w/sensor attached.

(Pep Boys)

 

[2ndGearRubber]

We charge about $32 to replace a stem, clean the beads while the tire is off, and rebalance after repair. $9 extra if the stem is a more expensive TPMS type rubber stem w/sensor attached.

(Pep Boys)

It's free at some chain stores starting with an M.
People don't understand the flat repair price is at minimum mount and balance price. Shops obviously don't cater to these "repairs" as they make zero money.

I used to try and use the garabge plug/patches my employer buys, they hardly even stick to the tire. They all get blackjack plugs from me now.

 

[Steve_P]

Where I'm at it's typically $25 if the wheel is on the car- remove tire, fix issue, balance, install.

 

[bwringer]

I change my own motorcycle tires, so I guess I'm in the advanced class... but I've replaced bad valve stems and serviced TPMS stems on car tires several times by breaking the outer bead and pushing the tire down out of the way to get to the valve stem (you need to support the wheel on something like a shop stool). No need to disturb the other bead.

Anyhoo, by all accounts, those kits do work for replacing rubber valve stems as long as you follow the directions exactly, and, for lack of a better term, you're not "timid". It takes some force.

From my perspective, with the skills and tools I have on hand, it was easier to just break one bead and proceed more or less conventionally. YMMV.

 

[tamaraw]

How old are the tires? I wouldn't work on ancient rubber either for liability reasons.

Labor cost doesn't seem mindblowing, a lot of places have a minimum (like 1/2 their hourly rate) so that they aren't wasting time.

And the all day quote is because they don't know what time they will get to it, might be able to do it quicker if it were scheduled in advance. Might as well swap a spare on for the day or just keep topping it up until you have a day off.

 

[fourjeepin]

I have one I bought on a whim probably 20 years ago. Besides testing it in the garage, only used it once. Trip from Atlanta to Moab with probably 4 other Jeeps. one of the tow rigs got new tires right before we left and the stem was bad.

The T handle insertion tool on mine is very beefy and it’s a good thing as it requires a large amount of effort even with lube.

 

[rust in the eye]

We charge about $32 to replace a stem, clean the beads while the tire is off, and rebalance after repair. $9 extra if the stem is a more expensive TPMS type rubber stem w/sensor attached.

(Pep Boys)

Why dismount the tire? Oh, so you can re-balance.

 

[nicks78camaro]

Why dismount the tire? Oh, so you can re-balance.

Usually in our area the beads are corroded, so we clean them to avoid a slow leak. Then we rebalance.

Occasionally we are able to just pop the outer bead and slip a stem in.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Why dismount the tire? Oh, so you can re-balance.

Nobody wants to be doing tire repairs or balances for pocket change. It's all CYA. Same as cleaning the bead and sealing it. Because when it still has a bead leak after you repair the 3/8 hole in the tread they're back, bitching, and you're not getting paid for the "comeback".

Do a complete job? They complain you did too much. Cut some corners for time/price savings? They're not getting what they paid for. blah blah blah.

 

[rust in the eye]

Usually in our area the beads are corroded, so we clean them to avoid a slow leak. Then we rebalance.

Occasionally we are able to just pop the outer bead and slip a stem in.

Valid points about corroded bead. No need to re-balance if the tire position is noted and re-installed same position

 

[dscheidt]

Valid points about corroded bead. No need to re-balance if the tire position is noted and re-installed same position

If the wheel was properly balanced when it came in the shop, and if it's got more than a few hundred miles on it, it's not Are you going to bet a pissed off customer and the cost of redoing the work for the benefit of saving them $10? If you don't want the job done properly, go somewhere else.

 

[nicks78camaro]

Valid points about corroded bead. No need to re-balance if the tire position is noted and re-installed same position

I guess. But tire balance changes as the tire wears, and it takes two minutes to balance.

Why not be a professional and do a thorough and complete job?

 

[Pinemarten]

Why not just replace the Schrader valve core of the valve stem. Then pocket the savings, while you monitor the pressure for a couple of days. After that, you may decide that 4+ year old tires (which might have 50-60K miles on them) might be due for replacement. Tires keep you out of ditches!

 

[mikedodge]

Why not just replace the Schrader valve core of the valve stem. Then pocket the savings, while you monitor the pressure for a couple of days. After that, you may decide that 4+ year old tires (which might have 50-60K miles on them) might be due for replacement. Tires keep you out of ditches!

The pic shows its leaking where the valve stem attaches to the rim.

 

[Fedwrench]

Why not just replace the Schrader valve core of the valve stem. Then pocket the savings, while you monitor the pressure for a couple of days. After that, you may decide that 4+ year old tires (which might have 50-60K miles on them) might be due for replacement. Tires keep you out of ditches!

Because the quality of current valve stems **** along with most other parts these days. I've seen new out of of the bag stems leak at their rubber base upon installation. It's like the rubber is too thin at the base.

 

[Pinemarten]

Sorry.........I just looked at the photo on a different screen, and see what the issue is.

 

[FredWanaker]

How old are the tires? There was a recall of millions of stems about 15 years ago. Mazda has a valve stem recall right now - 2021 CX-30 and 2021 Mazda3 vehicles, Daimler Trucks North America also had one in late 2021.

 

[BarrelRoll]

I've had luck with some lube and a small flat head screw driver pushing a new valve stem in from the outside after pulling the old stem out. No special tools required.

 

[P0234]

Agree with others, your wheel is corroded at the stem opening. Find a shop that understands this otherwise one annoying trip will turn into several.

 

[bonneyman]

My local mechanic charges $15 to repair a leak in a car tire. They dismount the tire, rough up the internal area, and patch from the inside. Then remount the tire. If I asked them to replace a bad stem they'd probably do a similar procedure. For $15.

Fifty sounds like too much.

 

[visionguru]

The tire is 5 years old and 20K miles, with no TPMS.

I live in the downtown area of a big city, where every shop seems to be busy. After 3 shops, I got a feeling that nobody seems interested in such a minor job. It's not about saving money, rather the feeling of being treated like a beggar with $50 in hand.

I just ordered the tools and will report back how it goes.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

I've had luck with some lube and a small flat head screw driver pushing a new valve stem in from the outside after pulling the old stem out. No special tools required.

worth a try, they are cheap. sometimes just rubber is old/cracked, not rusted rim.

 

[bwringer]

My local mechanic charges $15 to repair a leak in a car tire. They dismount the tire, rough up the internal area, and patch from the inside. Then remount the tire. If I asked them to replace a bad stem they'd probably do a similar procedure. For $15.

Fifty sounds like too much.

And $15 is far too little to turn a profit in 2023.

Discount Tire, for example, usually doesn't even bother charging for puncture repairs (not sure about valve stems); they regard it as an investment in goodwill. And in some cases, such as the OP's, the tire and/or valve stem is too old or damaged to repair to their standards.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

And $15 is far too little to turn a profit in 2023.

Discount Tire, for example, usually doesn't even bother charging for puncture repairs (not sure about valve stems); they regard it as an investment in goodwill. And in some cases, such as the OP's, the tire and/or valve stem is too old or damaged to repair to their standards.

The only reason shops do cheap/free flat repairs is on the hope it is not repairable and they can sell a tire. It's a colossal liability for basically zero profit. If your lube tech takes 30min to do that flat, and the required inspection forms, you have almost $10 in PAYROLL costs. Before you buy plug/patches, rubber cement, bead sealer, hundreds of bulk tpms kits and valve stems, etc. It's a loser plain and simple.

Our shop paid out several thousand dollars a few years ago. Guy is on video repairing the RIGHT front tire. A month later the LEFT front tire falls off. This tire was never removed. We were found liable in civil court. For a free flat repair.

50 bucks too much? Cool; wrestle it off with spoons then and DIY it.

 

[bonneyman]

And $15 is far too little to turn a profit in 2023.

Discount Tire, for example, usually doesn't even bother charging for puncture repairs (not sure about valve stems); they regard it as an investment in goodwill. And in some cases, such as the OP's, the tire and/or valve stem is too old or damaged to repair to their standards.

That's my point. He charges small amounts for little jobs just as a service. Makes me go back to him for more repairs and pay what he says, just because of his old time practices. Great guy, too!

 

[liliysdad]

That's a flat repair here....$20 off the street, $10 if you're a regular. There is ZERO reason to dismount or rebalance the tire.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

That's a flat repair here....$20 off the street, $10 if you're a regular. There is ZERO reason to dismount or rebalance the tire.

For a worm plug, yes. For a "proper" patch/plug combo like what the tire manufacturer wants, the tire has to come off.

 

[liliysdad]

For a worm plug, yes. For a "proper" patch/plug combo like what the tire manufacturer wants, the tire has to come off.

What does a plug have to do with a valve stem replacement?

I was only referencing a flat repair because that’s what a valve stem replacement would be charged as.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

What does a plug have to do with a valve stem replacement?

I was only referencing a flat repair because that’s what a valve stem replacement would be charged as.

A flat repair can be anything causing a flat which is repairable. A flat repair can be a leaking TPMS valve, rubber valve, bead leak, or puncture. The "approved" method by any shop, manufacturer, or legal entity is going to be removal of the tire. Even with OPs tool, no shop, tire manufacturer, or lawyer would accept not removing the tire. Half the point is to remove it to inspect for internal damage which is not always visible and could cause sudden failure. Tires with leaks are often run low, which is how we discover the leak, and thus may have internal damage.


For a leaking valve stem, at a bare minimum you will be breaking the outside bead unless you can use a contraption like OP is trying. You should be breaking both sides to check for corrosion, so you don't get a comeback from their rotted and corroded wheel. Which is why I said one should always be dismounting it. If the word "balance" is on the ticket with the flat repair, as a separate item or included with the repair, it needs balanced as it's a billed/included service. Normally you can just mark the tire and re-seat it where it was so it's no more or less balanced than it was when it came it.

For his specific service, which is a type of flat repair, one could break the bead to peak inside for crumbs, and swap the stem. Unless it's a 45 series or below in which case I doubt the mounting arm could crush the tire down enough to actually look inside. IMO stating that qualifies as a flat repair and there is no reason to dismount doesn't make sense. The way it reads it sounds like one does not need to dismount a tire to perform a flat repair. Which might be true in certain specific circumstances. But is certainly not the case in all circumstances.

Your post in #38 clears that all up.

 

[BarrelRoll]

And $15 is far too little to turn a profit in 2023.

Discount Tire, for example, usually doesn't even bother charging for puncture repairs (not sure about valve stems); they regard it as an investment in goodwill. And in some cases, such as the OP's, the tire and/or valve stem is too old or damaged to repair to their standards.

It's part of their business model. Free flat repair and rotations. They push through the volume and use it to get you in the door/ build customer loyalty. I spent a lot of time in discount tires servicing their equipment along with Big O tire shops. I won't bring my vehicle to a Big O anymore unless I know someone who works there who can vouch for how the individual branch is run after seeing how most are run. Discount Tire is a grade A operation for the most part, everywhere has their issues though I very rarely saw something cringe worthy as a fly on the wall.

The history of discount tire is a good read. The owner had some great ideas and created a great business.