Are tire valve stem solid rubber, or are they reinforced somehow?
The one on my rear tire has some dryrot and cracks. I think the last bike shop I went to didn't change it when the tires was put on. Cheap shits. I guess I should get it redone now instead of later.
I mean, what good is it having that new tire with thick sidewalls if this shitty valve stem can leave me stranded or crashed?
Valve stems should be replaced whenever you change a tire, it's cheap insurance against a leak. There is a threaded metal sleeve that the valve core screws into but if the rubber on the stem deteriorates it will leak. When a valve stem gets really bad it will have a noticeable leak when you push it side to side.
-Jessie
The traditional rubber ones will eventually crack at the base and leak. That is a flat you won't easily "fix" on the road. I use bolt in all metal types like the ones at www.patchboy.com. There are some cool anodized 90 degree alumium ones too.
prs
90* sounds good. It's always a trick getting my pressure guage or compressor hose on it even with a swivel head.
Here is a place with a snazzy look'n Shrader valve selection:
http://www.motorcycleanchor.com/tire_valves/index.htm
prs
BUT NEVER use a conventional 90 degree rubber based valve stem on a cycle unless the cycle has a brace for it. Sooner or later they crack and fail due to centrifical forces.
prs