Feckin Valves

[bobjebb]

Just "popped" into petrol station to top up tyres - annoying enough in itself - 3 or 4 times I've had to do that now. (all four pressures low on DIS)

Did the first 3 tyres, a real pain trying to hold the nozzle on tight enough in the icy wind and at the same time peer through the car windows to see the display on those stupid digital compressors.

Hands now blue, and 3 quid in 20p's later I went for tyre number four... Whatever I tried I could only get air OUT.

10 mins later and sapped of strength, I read "6 PSI" on the read-out and one flat tyre. Fisher Price compressor out of the boot and it made it to 2 BAR just - before I gave up and came home to try again tomorrow.

Is this a warranty issue?

PS Have to say the trip TO the petrol station was just a blast, don't know if it was the cold air, but the car absolutely flew.

[Golfather]

Invest in one of those electric Michellin digital pumps. Around 20 quid, and they're pretty accurate, plus screw onto the valves perfectly.

[Rupert]

The Halfords ones are half-price now too. I have a Michelin one with a removable digital gauge.
This is the Halfords one:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... ryId=31465

I have trouble putting air into one of mine, even with the Michelin inflator. It's a warranty issue, my local dealer claimed to have replaced two valves, but alas, nothing has changed.

[bobjebb]

Many thanks - will get me one.

[quattro25]

Last visit to the tyre dealers they suggested filling them with Nitrogen as the tyres hold their pressure better - something to do with the molecules being larger and less prone to leaking out and also less prone to variation with heat, if you believe the science bit. Don't know if there are any do's and don'ts with it as I chose not to give it a go until I'd found out a little more (and I haven't done so yet), but if it is true it might save on a few frustrating visits to the petrol station. Has anyone here tried it and are the claims true?

[shineydave]

yup, i always get my top ups from national tyres who use nitrogen. not had any real deviations in pressure since

[SteveH]

This is the Halfords one:

I have that one, has served me very well over the last couple of years.

[BigMo]

you find that the tyre pumps in some petrol stations are suited to our tyre valves (my local garage no exception). It is really hit and miss. I too have an electric pump in the boot, but wary of it's accuracy. The DIS has been going off these past few weeks, but after a few brisk miles, all seems ok. Only yesterday did I visit a local tyre place to have all pumped to 40psi. All hunky dory since (so far).

[bobjebb]

Picked one up - nice and convenient, but doesn't like my recommended pressure, struggles to get there, so have set all four to 43psi. See how long before I get any deviation.

[david7m]

I've got a Michelin digital tyre pressure guage that I use mainly for my motorbike. I set the digital machine at my local Shell garage to 32psi, let the machine beep, then test with the guage. Its always out, sometimes upto 2psi (not so important in a car compared to a bike). If guage reads 30psi, I increase the machine to 34psi etc.

Dave

[bobjebb]

not so important in a car compared to a bike

Judging by the little play I've had with a big bike over about 5 miles of fab empty A road, I would bloody well think they are important. You guys are nuts. Wild horses...

I was quite happy being (only a little) slower whilst still listening to Jeremy Vine chat about supermarket monopolies.

[MugelloR]

Valves!!!!! Oh Bugga......story so far:

DIS fired up the front right low pressure alarm a couple of days ago. Pulled into local Esso Station, their air hose fitting miles too big!!

Removed in car toytown compressor and attempted to fit it onto the valve...bloody thread corroded to buggery!!! Huffed and puffed, cut hands, sliced fingers in my attempt to get enough air into tyre to get back home.....

Called dealer who advised me that the valves have a habit of corroding especially when fitted with metal dust caps!!! Enroute to dealer to have the valves replaced (£9.94p each) I ran over a 2" Cheese head screw which pierced the FR sidewall........limped to dealer where I needed 1 new Pirelli PZero tyre and 4 new valves......best part of £300 squid inc bits and labour!!!! Thank feck the TPMS transmitters were ok!!! They run at £99 per wheel...

NB..Replaced in car compressor with the Halfords Rapid digital jobbie too.....

[Rupert]

Bad luck MugelloR.

I read about the metal dust cap issue a few weeks ago and wondered what all the fuss was about as I hadn't had any issues up to that point. A few days ago I tried removing them and all four were welded tight, I had to use pliers to get them off.

I am now using a set of plastic ones which I painted silver.

[david7m]

How about a bit of copper grease between the metal cap and thread?

Dave

[MarkB]

I had metal valves on my TVR... never again. They were a complete PITA.

We just don't need them in this country on the roads. If you need them for track days get a second set of wheels that get stored indoors.

IMO obviously

or have I missed something