Bad Valve Stem?

[BBuzecky]

I checked the air pressure in my tires today, normally do it once a month so I never come across any major surpriises, until today. I used my craftsmen air guage, and the first three tires read 32psi, normal. My last tire reads.... 16psi. I find this pretty much impossible, the tire appears just as the others, and feels just as bit as full as the others. At first I thought my digital gauge was starting to fail. Went back and checked the first three tires and all read 32, while the last consisently reads 16. I decided to fill up the tire in question 10 more psi and see how it went. The tire was starting to bulge a bit, and was rock hard, and read 26psi, supposdly. I firmly believe I have full 32psi pressure in the tire, but the valve stem is partially blocked, or somehow giving a bad reading. Has anyone here experienced such a thing? I am going to check it the next few days to see if it remains at 16, make sure there isen't a slow leak. Above all I don't want to fill it to a supposed 32, where if the reading is really 16psi off would be actually 48psi, and the tire is only rated for 44 max. Thanks for any experience you guys can lend.

 

[Donald]

Sounds a little hookey. Get a 2nd opinion. You must have more than one gauge? Replace the valve inside the stem.

 

[BBuzecky]

Other guage gives same exact reading. How would I go about replacing the valve inside the stem, or should I just take it to a tire shop?

 

[Rand]

with air pressure even if it was partially blocked if any air could come out it would read the right pressure because its not air volume, its air pressure. There is no easy way for it to read 10lb low because of the valve stem.

 

[BBuzecky]

Baffled then, I realize trying to tell air pressure by sight and feel is not exact. Yet when this one is filled to 26psi it is rock hard and bulging, and the others at 32 are firm and not bulging. Don't understand this at all.

 

[HTSS_TR]

It's best you take it to a tire shop to change the valve inside the stem or replace the whole valve stem, also check inside the tire.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: BBuzecky

Other guage gives same exact reading. How would I go about replacing the valve inside the stem, or should I just take it to a tire shop?

If you have your own air compressor, you can do it yourself without any difficulty. Heck, you can even do it at the gas station beside the air hose. A valve stem tool is like $5 at most parts stores. Buy a valve core, too, or more than likely you'll have to buy more than one - they usually come in packs and are cheap. Take your valve cap off, use the tool, and screw out the valve core. Air will rush out - no big deal. Screw in the new valve core, air will stop coming out. Fill the tire back to specified pressure, and the replacement is done.