Can tyre valves leak?

jamesgarbett

Active member
 South Manchester
Got what I thought was a slow puncture on my XC90.

Inflated it yesterday and just been to check the tyre and it seems to be leaking from the valve? Screwing the dust cap on tight certainly seems to be slowing the leak down.

Is there a way of changing the valve core or tightening it up? Or is it a trip to KwikFit?
 
Also before rushing off to buy check the valve is screwed in. The end of old style pencil pressure gauges always had a tool in to tighten them.
 
If the stem is damaged internally, the valve plunger could get hung up on it. There's a brass tube that holds the threads for the core and extends a bit further in (assuming rubber stems). It can collapse if the stem gets wacked, with no evidence outside. If it's not too badly damaged, you can get enough clearance for the plunger with a proper sized drill, big enough for the plunger to clear, small enough to not damage the threads. If the drill doesn't drag on anything, that wasn't the problem. Remove the core first, of course.
 
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