Plastic Tire Valve Caps
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Plastic Tire Valve Caps
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.
#3
Corvette Valve Stem Caps
search "Corvette valve stem caps" on amazon. Lots of choices.
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.
#4
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.
The following 2 users liked this post by gurneyeagle:
bsterling9 (06-22-2018),
Cubby558 (06-22-2018)
#6
Le Mans Master
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.
Last edited by TEXHAWK0; 06-22-2018 at 09:55 AM.
#7
Le Mans Master
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
I have had a lot of metal covers and have never experienced this ...
Dave
Last edited by Dcasole; 06-22-2018 at 09:58 AM.
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vdavenp802 (06-22-2018)
#8
Race Director
#9
Le Mans Master
Biggest problem I've had with the metal Corvette caps was they were stolen so frequently that I went to basic black plastic....
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Harbgrogan (10-01-2019)
#10
Instructor
Thread Starter
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.
#11
Race Director
Im not sure if the metal caps effect the tps or not, but if I had to guess, I would guess no.
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bsterling9 (06-22-2018)
#12
Le Mans Master
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.
#14
Melting Slicks
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.
https://www.amazon.com/West-Coast-Corvette-Crossed-Aluminum/dp/B07BZYY36H/ref=sr_1_5?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1529678872&sr=1-5&keywords=C7+Corvette+Crossed+Flags+Logo&dpID=51D8Nq%252BNozL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
Last edited by Mayor111; 06-22-2018 at 11:00 AM.
#15
Le Mans Master
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.
#16
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Oct 2005
Location: Left Coast, San Diego
Posts: 6,654
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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.
#17
Le Mans Master
Maybe its because I live in the South ?
Dave
#18
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.
Last edited by C5Driver; 06-22-2018 at 12:01 PM.
#19
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Nov 2015
Location: Lake Havasu City Arizona
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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.
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.
#20
Drifting
Never had any issues with metal covers, tho the kind of valve stem caps don't really bother me any.