Is it a safety issue having tyre valves level with the rim protector on the tyre? Or is this more cosmetic than a safety issue?
I had 4 new tyres fitted today on my NC, Kumho Ecsta PS71 at Blackcircles. These replaced the original Bridgestone tyres. My car had blingy MX5 metal dust caps on the valves and I took these off before fitting the new tyres.
The new tyres have been fitted with new valves, but I think they are longer. They definitely have a longer thread, as my metal dust caps screw on, but only so far, there is a gap at the end of the dust cap where you can see a mm or so of brass thread. Not the end of the world, as I can use the plastic dust caps, but then realised they seem long and stick out level with the rim protector on the wall of the tyre and worried they seem more exposed to being knocked.
Blackcircles say they fit standard rubber valves, which I took to mean they don’t include tyre pressure monitor valves or metal valves, but assume they would be the right size rubber valves.
Does BC actually fit tyres? I thought they just directed you to a local fitter?
It seems likely that the standard fitting charge covers only a standard black rubber valve, but as you say they do come in different lengths and I imagine they will fit short ones if requested and if they have them.
I don’t suppose they will be too keen on changing them now they are on unless they are obviously unsuitable, which I wouldn’t say applies to those. That’s not an expert opinion, just mine.
The pressure sensor is on the inside, otherwise your car would send out a TPMS warning. The valve fits onto the sensor. Its not BC its the fitter, they probably used the cheapest possible valve they buy in bulk.
TR414 valves are 38mm in length, TR413 are 30mm. We put TR412 which are 22mm in race cars as wheel to wheel action can rip longer valves out, so unless you plan on going all Ben Hur on the By-Pass, it is just a standard valve and I wouldn’t worry about it.
I personally would not like to have valves that protruded beyond the rims. They could catch on a kerb and be ripped out or even worse be loosened and then blow out when travelling at speed. I would want to get these replaced ASAP.
Valves do not fit into TPMS sensors, they are attached to the base of a suitable valve stem. You can get rubber ones or rigid ones depending on the design of the sensor. You most certainly cannot attach them to standard valves.
Never did that job myself to see exactly how the valve mates with the sensor, was just referring to the op comments that they fitted standard valves. Was just trying to explain that the sensor is still in the wheel, they just fitted whatever was available that would fit and the fitter not considered/ did not care how it looked
A standard snap in valve is a standard snap in valve. You can’t fit sensors to them. If it is a standard valve, there will be no sensor in side the wheel. it would be loose and broken in seconds. The TPM may well be done with the ABS as Mazda used the rigid metal valves when they fitted sensors. It also maybe a rubber stem valve that is designed for a sensor, beloved by Ford, in which case it is what it is. Tyre fitters do a very physical job, usually under great time pressure from customers that buy on price. They put in the valves they had.
