transit tyre valves new shape cab

[ERIC G]

Colin thanks for suggestion but still cant find any info on tyre valves failing I remember reading something about faulty valves a while back but cant remember what it was One of my valves split near the rim and the tyre deflated on the motorway Luckily it was a rear tyre so did not effect handling Vehicle is Auto Sleeper Ravenna 53 reg on 3:5ton chassis My worry is that the other three valves may fail also

[Terrytraveller]

Hi Eric, The only comment I have read on recalls for faulty valves, was where the valve was fitted to Michelin XC camping tyres. Michelin XC camping tyres can be inflated to 80psi and were fitted with rubber valves instead of the correct metal valves. The rubber valves are safe up to around 65psi only. Regards Terry

[colin]

I've bumped it up for you

[ERIC G]

Thanks for the information Terry I carry a 125 Honda scooter on the back sometimes and was advised by Michelin advice line to run at 65psi in the rears My tyres are not Michelin Campingcar tyres but Michelin Agilas I think it might be worth changing all the valves to metal ones as you suggest many thanks Eric

[Brian Kirby]

[QUOTE]ERIC G - 2006-08-28 3:13 PM Colin thanks for suggestion but still cant find any info on tyre valves failing I remember reading something about faulty valves a while back but cant remember what it was One of my valves split near the rim and the tyre deflated on the motorway Luckily it was a rear tyre so did not effect handling Vehicle is Auto Sleeper Ravenna 53 reg on 3:5ton chassis My worry is that the other three valves may fail also[/QUOTE]

Eric

Friends of mine had a similar problem with the valves on their Ford based Autosleeper.  The valves are described as high pressure snap in valves, and seem to be a half way house between the normal car type snap ins and the clamp in type normally fitted with Michelin Camping tyres due to their higher pressures.  On my friends' van, the metal stem seemed to have gradually parted company with the rubber base.

Ford say they have no knowledge of this and have asked that any such failed valves be referred to their technical department, via a Ford commercial main dealership.

At a guess, the type of valve fitted to Transits won't usually give trouble, since the valves will be changed with the tyres as a matter of routine and, with normal Transit mileages, this will be fairly regularly.  However, motorhomes cover much smaller mileages, and their tyres are ofter replaced due to age, rather than wear.  Although the valves will be replaced at the same time, this will be when the valves are 5 or so years old and it seems possible the rubber element of the valve has begun to harden, or perish, by that age, leading to the kind of failure you, and my friends, have experienced.

If you can, therefore, try to bring this issue to Ford's attention.  I think the present situation with these valves, as they age, may be potentially dangerous.  I'll put up a separate post on just this subject.