Fuel consumption, traction, and handling are all important factors that rely on the amount of air present in your tires. While not every vehicle's tires need to be inflated at the same level, every vehicle should have its tires properly inflated. The air pressure inside of your tires also varies depending on weather conditions. As long as you have your tires inflated at the right level you will reap many benefits.
You will not only see an improvement in handling and fuel economy but you will also make for a safer ride. Properly inflated tires also have a longer lifespan since the tread doesn't wear as much and the tires themselves are able to withstand poor road conditions better. But keeping a tire inflated isn't enough to keep your ride safe, economic, and smooth. You should also put some TLC into the tyre valves.
Anatomy of a Tire Valve
Core
The core of a tyre valve is the sealing device that is screwed snugly into what is known as a valve core chamber. Valve cores can be short and long with the former being better for high-performance applications. All proper tire valves come with a movable spring-loaded pin that lets air pass when you're inflating the tire. This is what makes it a valve in the first place. The core can also be made from brass or aluminium and it can be nickel-plated too.
Extension
If your car has wheel covers, then it probably has a valve extension. These extensions are made from nylon or metal and are used to provide an easier way to check tire pressure. Extensions vary from 1.2 to 5 cm in length. Longer extensions can scrape against a curb and nylon ones are known to gather debris and let air escape. This is why metal extensions are preferred as well as ones that are shorter. Of course, the latter doesn't allow for much leeway if the wheel covers are protruding a lot.
Cap
The cap of a tire valve is the plastic or metal component that sits on top of it. This part is used to keep air from escaping and to prevent debris and other environmental factors from disrupting the core's seal. These caps are tightened on the valve by a twisting motion, just like you open a jar. If your vehicle doesn't have a cap make sure to press the core a bit to let some air out before you check tire pressure or inflate the tire.
Types of Tire Valves
Rubber Snap-In
Just like there are different types of extensions and caps, there are different types of valves. Take for example a rubber snap-in valve. This type of tyre valve is made to sustain a pressure of 4.4 bar which makes it suitable for light-duty trailer and truck applications.
High-Pressure Snap-In
A high-pressure snap-in valve is able to sustain a tire pressure ranging from 5.5 to 7 bar. These tire valves are mainly used on steel wheels as they combine a thicker rubber snap-in base than regular rubber snap-in valves, coupled with a metal barrel or a plastic cap.
High-Pressure Metal Clamp-In
With high-pressure metal clamp-in tyre valves, you should use tires that can be inflated more than 7 bar. These valves can be used for any type of track and towing application. If your vehicle is regularly exceeding speeds over 200 km/ h a high-pressure metal clamp-in valve is a must. This is because a high-pressure metal clamp-in valve has a rubber grommet that seals the wheel once the retaining nut is tightened.
Check for A Slow Tire Leak
Spray Method
Sometimes, no matter the tyre valves you use, they can start to slowly but surely leak air. This can be due to damage or them being near the end of their lifespan. To determine whether or not that is the case you should first try the spray method. This method involves mixing soap and water in a spray bottle and then spraying the mixture over the whole tire. Once you've done that, you will see bubbling where the air leak is. Sometimes the source can be where the valve is located.
TPMS
Using a tire pressure monitoring system or TPMS is a surefire way to determine if there is a slow tire leak. All you need to do is check if your TPMS is lit. If it is then it means that one of your tires doesn't have enough air in it. If you then inflate all your tires and the TPMS is lit again after a couple of days, then you definitely have a leak somewhere. To locate it use the spray method above.
Manual Readings
But even if your vehicle has a TPMS system, you should still take manual readings to ensure that no slow air leaks affect your handling or fuel economy. If one of your tires is always under-inflated then you most definitely have an air leak.
