changing valve core ...do tires from the factory use "Equal?"

[amanda_h]

We have a valve core that has a very slight leak. DH is going to change the core but he has some questions. He’s changed the core on car tires before but is a bit worried about changing the valve core on the RV tire.

First, we’ve read that if a tire is balanced with “Equal” that a special filtered core has to be installed to filter out the stuff from the stem. We have a 2007 Meridian with the original tires. When they installed them at the factory (or wherever), did they use this “Equal?”

If not, he can use a regular valve core, correct? Has anybody changed one? Can you just unscrew it using a core removal tool and get the new one in without a problem with the volume of air escaping out the stem?

He doesn’t want to let all the air escape for fear that he will unseat the bead and not be able to air it back up. Is that a concern?

Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[autofish]

amana_h The tires donot come with beads in them when the unit is new. New cores are easy to change just put the leveling jacks down to take the load off the tire before you let the air out so not to break the tire seal. You may be able to get the new cores in before the air is all out but not always. Make sure you get tuck tire cores , high pressure , not car low pressure cores. As far as the filter cores they should be used with ballance beads. Look up filtered valve cores on the net and you will find dealers. Hope this helps.

[amanda_h]

Thank you for the reply, autofish.

So we can be sure that balancing powder wasn't used for the initial balance of the wheels from the factory?

Yes, we've been researching online that there is a higher temperature valve core used for buses and trucks and that it usually has a red band instead of a black band that the standard car tire valve core has.

So theoretically DH can just unscrew the leaking core and screw in the new core hopefully without letting all the air out of the tire? Yes, he is concerned about breaking the bead/seal if all the air is let out of the tire.

We are going to keep our fingers crossed that he can get the new core in before all the air is out!

Thanks again.

[Getting Old]

Just to take this thread a little farther, the use of special valve cores and other procedures are not always followed. I had a smooth running rig until my tires were balanced with Equal and afterwards I could barely hold it on the road. Got to Gaffney, SC at the Freightliner plant and they took it out rebalanced with lead weights and it ran smooth again. They said it is very common. Put the "Equal" in your coffee and stick to lead.

Don, WIT 70041

[amanda_h]

Thanks for the tip, Don. We'll keep that in mind when the time comes.

[DAN L]

Originally Posted by amanda_h

So theoretically DH can just unscrew the leaking core and screw in the new core hopefully without letting all the air out of the tire? Yes, he is concerned about breaking the bead/seal if all the air is let out of the tire.

We are going to keep our fingers crossed that he can get the new core in before all the air is out!

if you have your leveling jacks deployed, (i have hwh jacks) you can completely deflate the tire without unseating the bead.
wear safety glasses or goggles when removing valve cores. you do not want any debris or a valve core to hit your eye.
i have removed and replaced valve cores on 225 psi aircraft tires without deflating the tire and it is no problem except for the flying debris.

[amanda_h]

Thanks, Dan!

DH said he just ordered these:





He still seems a bit nervous to attempt to change one out on the big RV tire but he is determined to give it a try. Thanks for the reassurance.



.

[wa8yxm]

NOTE: If I'm not mistaken there are two kinds of "Regular" valve cores.. physically they look a lot alike

But one is designed for like 50 pounds per square inch and down

And the other for 100 PSI and up

(I'm not sure the actual break point)

Make sure he gets the high pressure kind for a RV tire

[zippo]

I was told at one time if the valve core is not the filter type to always make sure the valve is at the bottom when you check the air pressure or add air as it allows the Equal to fall out of the valve area. Sort of made sense so maybe the same for changing the core.

[amanda_h]

Thanks, wa8yxm and zippo, for the additional comments. Yes, from the research and calls he made, he deduced that there are in fact two types of “regular” cores.

However, from the tire shops he called, they aren’t necessarily based on PSI but rather how much heat they can resist. He was told that the regular ones that are used in cars usually have a black band in the middle. The ones that are rated at a slightly higher heat resistance that are recommended for trucks and buses have a red band. He said that just about all the tire stores told him there really wasn’t that much of a difference and that they all use the red-banded ones which supposedly hold up to heat a little bit better for all vehicles no matter if they are cars or trucks.

We’re still not sure if that information is correct or not because I don’t see why they’d make two types of cores. Why not just use the higher heat-resistant ones on all vehicles like the tire shop guys are saying? They said that the price is not that much different.

Online example:

For standard automotive tires


For tires that run at high heat levels.


Notice how the standard one has a black band and the heat-resistant one has a red band. As you can see, there is only a 20 cent price difference

Again, here’s the ones he ordered:

Lot of 100 Valve Stem Core Heat Resistant Car Truck Bus: A100VC1 New Truck and Trailer Parts - Cargo Control: Global Parts Inc.

They are from a truck supply place so they sell to truckers. He’s hoping that they will be adequate for the RV tire.

Good advice, zippo, I’ll tell him to be sure the valve is at the bottom just in case.

Thanks again!

[a k]

Refrigeration valves. High temp high pressure. (like the ones in your house AC unit)