mikeleblanc413
Sour Lake, Texas
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After doing my research for metal stems I decided on TireMan. Every time I spoke with Chuck on the phone he was most courteous and the order arrived much quicker than he promised. The products appear to be well made and his accompanying instructions thorough.
Here's my problem and when I would appreciate a recommendation.
Chuck said any tire shop should be able to do the work. My point is I don't want the person who's doing the installation for this job to be the first time he's installed such. I've talked with several shops in the Beaumont, Texas area and remain unimpressed. I've sent emails to businesses on RV Service.com with no response.
I want someone to have the same enthusiasm for doing the job that I have for wanting the job done. I am not against driving to have the job done if that job will result in what I want. I'm about 75 miles East of Houston and 50 miles West of the Louisiana border.
Company names, person to contact and phone numbers/emails are appreciated. PM me if more comfortable. The TireMan tire stems are sitting in the front seat of Winnie ready to be installed.
THANK YOU for reading...and THANK YOU for your input!
Mike LeBlanc, "The Digital Guy"
Professional Photographer, Retired Art Educator
Sour Lake, Texas
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ronfisherman
SE Michigan
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I have used Discount Tire to install metal valve stems with good results. Other option would be to take your RV to a truck tire shop. They deal with metal valve stems all the time. Wingfoot is a company that I have used.
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Replant
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ronfisherman wrote:I have used Discount Tire to install metal valve stems with good results. Other option would be to take your RV to a truck tire shop. They deal with metal valve stems all the time. Wingfoot is a company that I have used.
You was lucky, Ron. When I went to Discount Tire to have new tires installed they assured me that it would be no problem to install the stems on all 6 wheels. After the tires were installed I tried to install the wheel simulators and found that a few of the stems were installed at such an angle the simulators wouldn't go on and they couldn't install the discs in the outer dually rim to support the stem of the inner wheel. Also, they didn't apply the thread lock that was in the package. On the front right stem they used a vise grip pliers to twist the stem into position. That really chewed up the stem and the chrome finish so it's only a matter of time until the rust sets in.
It was a bad day for me. Things got worse after that on the way home but it was no fault of DT.
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dlbapm
Escondido, CA, USA
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My Tireman stems were installed for me by Chuck. My experience with Discount Tire has been quite different. They have mounted new tires on my rig twice and have remounted tires on the rims (to rotate them) twice. Damage to the stems has been limited to messing up the external (valve cap) threads on one front stem a little. They called Chuck and got a new stem and installed same correctly. (I watched them do it.)
A friend had Discount Tire install his Tireman stems. He had to go home and get his 9/16 - inch (?) wrench as Discount could not find one in their shop. I thought the Tireman stem installation instructions were pretty clear. Guess that it all depends on what person does the work, the level of their experience, and how interested they are in doing quality work.
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wolfe10
Texas
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A good OTR truck tire dealer would be where I would look. We use:
http://www.strouhaltire.com/
Brett Wolfe
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jbarry
California
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I had mine done at Costco when I bought new tires. I don't think they would have done it without the tire purchase, though. They did an excellent job and there was no extra charge.
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rwagner43
Fountain Valley, CA
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I had Wingfoot install mine for $30. They also said they could have provided similar extensions for a fraction of the price that Tireman charges.
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j-d
Sunny Florida USA
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Mike, Is there anyone who might help you install these stems "at home?"
I ask because Chuck points out that you do NOT have to remove tires from rims to install these valves. He doesn't say specifically, but it seems to me that one side of the tire must be "broken down" from its rim on the side with the tire valve.
Then the front valve goes in place through the hole from the inside, and washers/nut on the outside, right? Then the rears are the opposite. Namely, threaded end of the stem passes through from the outside and washers/nut go on the inside with LocTite, Correct?
An OP here said he installed his custom stems at home by removing the wheels, putting them under the coach (one at a time) and used his bottle jack to break them down at the stems, by jacking with the base of the jack on the tire at the bead, and "lifting" the coach with the top of the jack. That gave the access he needed.
I was fortunate, I guess. Took my wheels off and carted them to the Auto Skills Center at the Navy base. I left them the wheels, the stems, the instructions and LocTite, plus a sheet telling them what I wanted installed where. They apparently followed instructions well. Job's held up for a year. The installation, balancing, and dismount/flip/remount of two cost a total of $60.
God Bless, jd
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Replant
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John,
After installing the valves the wheels have to be rebalanced. I believe they are heavier than the rubber valves, or are they?
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j-d
Sunny Florida USA
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From a theoretical/perfectionist standpoint, YES. However: I don't think that the added weight of front stems would affect the front balance noticeably. The rear stems are a good deal heavier, but they mount 180* opposite each other so my thinking is they'd offset each other. Besides, the weight is in at the rims, not out in the tire, maybe at the tread. I've always thought the Tire was what gets out of balance, much more than the Wheel.
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