How to Install a Tire Valve

Save money and prevent an accident by installing a new valve stem.

Operating a vehicle with an under-inflated tire compromises the safety of the driver and the passengers. This can also shorten the useful life of the tire and even damage it. There are many reasons why a tire may leak air and be unable to keep its tire pressure. Air leak from the tire's valve stem is just one of them. Using soap and water is an easy way to check the tire's valve stem. Bubble formation on any part of the tire's valve stem will indicate that there is a leak, and the valve stem will need to be replaced.

Things You'll Need

• Vehicle jack
• Tire iron
• Crowbar
• Rubber mallet
• Needle-nose pliers
• Replacement tire valve
• Lubricant
• Air compressor

Instructions

1. Remove the wheel with the tire valve that needs to be replaced from the vehicle. Crack the lug nuts on the tire free by rotating them counterclockwise with a tire iron. Place the jack under the axle behind the tire and raise the wheel off the ground. Finish unscrewing the lug nuts completely with the tire iron then pull the wheel off the axle.

2. Place the wheel on a hard, flat surface. The wheel should lay flat with the tire's valve stem facing upward.

3. Press the valve pin to remove any remaining air pressure inside the wheel.

4. Wedge a crowbar in between the wheel's rim and the tire. Push down on the tire with the crowbar. Use the wheel's rim as leverage to break the tire's bead. You can also use a rubber mallet to hammer down the tire to help unstick the tire's edge from the wheel's rim.

5. Pry the tire's edge over the wheel's rim with the crowbar. Work your way around the wheel, moving the crowbar up and down until the tire's edge is completely over the wheel's rim.

6. Insert your hand into the tire and remove the old valve stem with a pair of needle-nose pliers.

7. Apply lubricant onto the new valve then insert it into its hole from the inside of the wheel. Pull the tire's valve stem from the outside of the wheel's rim.

8. Reinsert the tire into the wheel's rim with the crowbar then pry the tire back into the wheel's rim. Use the rubber mallet to hammer the wheel back into place.

9. Inflate the tire to the recommended pressure with an air compressor. Refer to the tire's sidewall for the correct air pressure.

10. Remount the wheel onto the axle and tighten the lug nuts with the tire iron. Lower the vehicle jack. Tighten all the lug nuts again to ensure they are snug.

References

• Mademan: How To Install Valve Stems on Tires