Valve stem caps

[Red Ranger]

Anyone have an idea if those caps that indicate tire pressures are very accurate. Saw some at the store the other day. The package claimed they would show an indication before a 5 pound loss of pressure.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

They're not all that accurate from what I've heard, they usually will indicate a really low tire, but they're no replacement for checking your tire pressures regularly. Plus they're standardized... they're probably fine if you run the pressure the indicators are spec'd for, but that isn't always the best pressure... I believe they're for 35 psi.... I couldn't use 'em on my Ranger or my Choptop... My Ranger I often air up when I'm hauling and run around 40 psi... 30 if I'm running empty. My choptop runs at 15psi front and 12psi rear... that's where I get best tire wear with my chotop.

 

[kunar]

not to mention that they will actually leak themselves (think about it - its gotta have the valve stem open to know what the pressure is) youre better off just checking your tire pressure on a regular basis.

 

[LearjetMinako]

Not the best thing to use. Accuracy is only accurate to which PSI set you get. Not only that, because of the increase of mass on the valve stem, the valve stem is more likely to crack and leak. Also the pressure is prone to leaking if the seals crack.

As a tire mechanic, I don't approve of them and usually try to remove them. Some customers accept, others get annoyed if I do.

 

[Red Ranger]

I was thinking along the same line with the stems being open in order for the pressure to be monitored. Glad I bought the cheap plastic black caps. (a couple of mine were missing. The previous owner had "chrome" stems installed, and the black caps look funny, so I may look for some caps with the Ford logo on them.