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Silly question that most people would not care about: I noticed on my 2019 GS that the tire valve caps are just a cheap gray plastic cap. Almost all aftermarket "fancy" caps are plastic as well. I saw one accessories website that stated their caps are high quality plastic as to "not interfere with tire pressure sensors". I am assuming they mean that a METAL cap would somehow interfere with the function of the sensors. Has anyone else ever heard of this? It just aroused my curiosity. Yes, I am bored today.
search "Corvette valve stem caps" on amazon. Lots of choices.
Originally Posted by bsterling9
Silly question that most people would not care about: I noticed on my 2019 GS that the tire valve caps are just a cheap gray plastic cap. Almost all aftermarket "fancy" caps are plastic as well. I saw one accessories website that stated their caps are high quality plastic as to "not interfere with tire pressure sensors". I am assuming they mean that a METAL cap would somehow interfere with the function of the sensors. Has anyone else ever heard of this? It just aroused my curiosity. Yes, I am bored today.
All I know is that metal caps seize to the valve stem way to often for me to use them.
Correct. Over time, the aluminum stem will react with the steel cap and possible seize over time. One way to prevent this is to simply apply a little lithium grease to the threads.
If you are checking your tire pressures every month, you don't have to worry. Honestly, I've never had a problem with using the metal caps. I buy the fake carbon fiber ones off of eBay sourced usually from China.
Last edited by gurneyeagle; 06-22-2018 at 09:39 AM.
Don't use metal caps on tire pressure sensors because the stems are not brass like th see old rubber ones and dis-similar metals can cause galvanic corrosion. I actually like the stock gray ones better than the standard black ones.
Has anyone actually ever had a Metal cover on a Corvette actually seize to a stem ?
I have had a lot of metal covers and have never experienced this ...
Dave
Has anyone actually ever had a Metal cover on a Corvette actually seize to a stem ?
I have had a lot of metal covers and have never experienced this ...
Dave
Consider yourself lucky if you haven't had this problem. I assure you it happens alot.
Consider yourself lucky if you haven't had this problem. I assure you it happens alot.
I have always had luck using anti-seize compound to solve this, but the term I read, "interfere with tire pressure sensors", made me think it would somehow disrupt the signal of the sensor and not just a dissimilar metals problem.
I have always had luck using anti-seize compound to solve this, but the term I read, "interfere with tire pressure sensors", made me think it would somehow disrupt the signal of the sensor and not just a dissimilar metals problem.
Anti seize would do the trick.
Im not sure if the metal caps effect the tps or not, but if I had to guess, I would guess no.
Has anyone actually ever had a Metal cover on a Corvette actually seize to a stem ?
I have had a lot of metal covers and have never experienced this ...
Dave
Go to a tire store and ask the manager if he has ever seen a TPMS stem ruined because they could not get the cap off.
I just bought these aluminum ones, and I love them... They just give the wheels a subtle pop. The offer them with smooth sides too...but the Knurled sides make it so much easier to remove. FYI - I've had metal stem covers on every Vette for years, and never had a problem with them seizing. Let me know if you want to see a picture of them on a Black wheel.
Silly question that most people would not care about: I noticed on my 2019 GS that the tire valve caps are just a cheap gray plastic cap. Almost all aftermarket "fancy" caps are plastic as well. I saw one accessories website that stated their caps are high quality plastic as to "not interfere with tire pressure sensors". I am assuming they mean that a METAL cap would somehow interfere with the function of the sensors. Has anyone else ever heard of this? It just aroused my curiosity. Yes, I am bored today.
Only thing I can come up with is they use a magnet to train the car when you install new sensors. Maybe in isolated cases the metal caps throw off the training? Unlikely I would think, but that's all I can come up with.
Never had any siezing or corrosion issues with metal caps. I find it hard to believe that ANYONE would ever have these issues if they checked their tire pressures once every month or two.
Go to a tire store and ask the manager if he has ever seen a TPMS stem ruined because they could not get the cap off.
I currently have 5 cars , 3 of which sit outside in the weather and many cars over the years that all have had metal caps and never once had an issue , now the NUT that holds the TPMS sensor to the wheel …. that I had an issue with when the replaced the tires on my Expedition the second time , I got new sensors put in just to be safe and that was a bear to get off ...
All I know is that metal caps seize to the valve stem way to often for me to use them.
Yes they do and DON'T put them on. You can buy stylish plastic ones on ebay. Some metal caps have a plastic inner core and they will work fine. These are the plastic ones I have and they also come in chrome with several different C7 logos to pick from.
Here is the quick answer. Even though you guys know better, I'll post it anyway.
Metal caps can easily cause corrosion on the threads of TPMS stems as well as beginning to corrode themselves. The result is all too often that the cap will rust-weld itself to the stem, leading to outcomes from the cap simply seizing when a technician tries to remove it, to cross threading issues, or even having the stem break off entirely. When the valve stem is a nonremovable part of the TPMS monitor, this goes from being a minor issue to a critical and often expensive problem.
06-22-2018, 09:18 AM
Plastic Tire Valve Caps
