Taking care of your tyre valves is essential for maintaining the safety and structural integrity of your wheels. These maintain the right amount of air pressure needed to maintain optimal driving performance and fuel economy.
It’s important to regularly keep an eye on them, as a defective valve can cause a lot of issues. Naturally, as your valve ages they tend to break down over time, leading to leaks and loss of air pressure. They may also bend or deteriorate due to heat and UV exposure, along with abrasion from gravel and various road surfaces. Ultimately this can result in a loss of control when driving, problems with braking, and also have an impact on your car’s suspension system.
Here we’ll take you through some of the reasons why it’s important to replace these components regularly.
Usually your mechanic will inspect and check the overall condition of your tyres, along with your valves, as part of your regular service. However, it’s good practice to get into the habit of checking for yourself as well – particularly for your own peace of mind.
As a rule of thumb, it’s best to change these when you change your wheels. The best varieties are made with reinforced metal for ultimate durability. You can also get rubber alternatives, but you’ll need to replace these much sooner (every six months).
Make sure the core isn't bent and that air can flow through it properly. These can easily become clogged up with sealant, limiting their airflow. If this happens, carefully remove the core and clean it out, or replace if necessary. This will release all the air from the tyre.
Keeping this in check will mean you don’t have to fill up your tyres as regularly, and you’ll have the peace of mind in knowing you’ll have a much safer, smoother ride. It also means you’ll get a much longer life out of your wheels.
If you’re looking for something a little more stylish and subtle, you can also choose hidden varieties for your wheels, which are almost invisible and won’t protrude as much. You’ll often notice these on alloys, and they look pretty slick.
As they are hidden, they’re also less prone to getting damaged as they are safely tucked away. Definite food for thought.
Replacing these little components isn’t expensive, and we have a great range available here at Bits4Blokes. We’ll provide you with all the tools and accessories you need to keep your wheels in top condition and get the job done.
For all other enquiries, get in touch with us today. Our professional team is on hand to answer all your niggling questions and offer expert tips and advice for your next project. Contact us by email at sales@bits4blokes.com.au today.
