I just wanted to make a quick post because of an issue I recently ran into and fixed. If you are an idiot like me and you bought metal tire caps, take them off immediately if they aren't already seized to the valve. Yes thats exactly what happened.... I had to actually cut it off with a dremel and ended up puncturing the valve so it had to be replaced. The minute it seizes to the valve your done for. It takes an extreme amount of precision in order to cut it off without damaging anything, you might as well get the stem replaced its cheaper and easier. Regardless it was a cheap fix but a real pain in the a$$. Easily avoidable, keep buying the cheap plastic ones.... Hopefully I can save one of yall the hastle of this.

 

whoops didnt mean to reply lol

 

Hastle 🤣🤣🤣
Guess it never occurred to you to maybe put a tiny dab of anti-seize or some kind of grease on the threads (like most people with common sense would do).........?

 

I just use 3in1 penetrant. I use rubber caps myself but I've gotten vehicles that had the novelty caps before. You can get them off without it, but it takes an angled pair of pliers along with a pair of slip joint. I just use the normal ones to keep the rotating inertia down.

 

It wasn't my idea in the first place lol. My dad bought them for me initially cause they had "good reviews" looked cool for about 3 months until the color started fading. Every other cap ive had (plastic) Ive never had to use antiseize or anything cause its not like the cap is gonna rattle off lol. You could go out of your way to lube every stem before you cap it or you could just use plastic caps lol.

 

I tried using vicegrips and needle nose to grab the stem, the problem is my rim. The stem is buried in the rim, even with it pulled as far out as it would go, there wasn't enough room for me to grab the stem and hold it in place. Also with the amount of force I was using, I started to damage the rubber on the stem and probably the integrity of it. Americas tire fixed it for free by putting in a new stem. Had to put my spare on to drive it over there lol 😂