Community Forums

Helipilot · 11-22-2016, 08:17 PM

After we bought our fifth wheel we installed the Goodyear G114 Light Truck Tires (as recommended on this forum and others) to prevent the "China Bombs" from tearing up the wheel wells when they failed. The Goodyear G114's are great but the valve stems are the metal type held in tension with a nut at the base.

This nut, if it is loose or backs off, allows for a slow leak to develop at the valve stem base. Ours had a slow leak dropping from 125 PSI to 65 PSI overnight. Being the idiot I am I removed the tire and took it in to a tire shop to be repaired. They did the soapy water trick and discovered the leak at the valve stem. A simple deep reach socket tightened the nut and the leak was cured. The tire guy said "no charge" but I gave him a $10 bill for the education. Back at our RV I immediately checked the other three wheels and all were loose but had not started leaking. Passing this on to you folks at "No Charge"

MSHappyCampers · 11-23-2016, 08:40 AM

I hope you have bought, or will be buying, a tire pressure monitoring system! Ours has already prevented ruining two tires (at $750 each)!

You dodged a bullet on that one, but you might not be so lucky next time!

Helipilot · 11-23-2016, 09:45 PM

X2 Mississippi, researching right now to buy the best unit for the money. Suggestions welcome.

Selah · 11-24-2016, 06:54 AM

A little Locktite Blue might be in order.

MSHappyCampers · 11-24-2016, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helipilot

X2 Mississippi, researching right now to buy the best unit for the money. Suggestions welcome.

I use the TireTraker 500 system. At the time I bought mine, back in 2012, they had the best price on a 10-sensor system that I wanted to cover the MH and the toad.
https://www.amazon.com/TireTraker-TT.../dp/B019ZZCZY4

Here is what I like about it:

1. Easy to program and use

2. "Cap" type sensors to prevent loss of air from the valve stem

3. Low-cost, user-replaceable batteries

4. Lifetime warranty!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

OverDo · 11-24-2016, 03:26 PM

You can keep the nut from backing off on that type of valve stem by wiping a little RTV silicone between the nut and rim. They probably weren't properly tightened during install or they would not have loosened up and leaked. I have used these for many years and never had any trouble once they were properly tightened. The type I use have the nut on the inside of the rim not on the outside. I have had trouble with the GoodYear tires that are imported. They either take a lot of weight to balance due to not being round or else the tread is on crooked and they will squirm until the tread separates from the case. Usually at 8:00 PM in the rain on a busy expressway not near an exit ramp. Carlisle Radial Trail tires solved the problem and are made in the USA.

George Schweikle · 11-25-2016, 08:50 AM

I had metal valve stems installed on my car trailer wheels to accommodate my new TPMS. I had a slow leak indicated on one of the tires and, assuming the nut on the valve stem was loose, I tightened it and almost immediately the TPMS alarm sounded with "Rapid Air Loss". It seems that one can over tighten the metal valve stem nut, distort the rubber gasket, resulting in air loss. Loosening the offending nut allowed the seal to work again but, after reading this thread, I'm gonna apply a little sealant on the valve stem nuts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helipilot

... the valve stems are the metal type held in tension with a nut at the base.

This nut, if it is loose or backs off, allows for a slow leak to develop at the valve stem base. Ours had a slow leak dropping from 125 PSI to 65 PSI overnight. Being the idiot I am I removed the tire and took it in to a tire shop to be repaired. They did the soapy water trick and discovered the leak at the valve stem. A simple deep reach socket tightened the nut and the leak was cured. The tire guy said "no charge" but I gave him a $10 bill for the education. Back at our RV I immediately checked the other three wheels and all were loose but had not started leaking. Passing this on to you folks at "No Charge"

Bipeflier · 11-28-2016, 07:24 PM

We have used the Truck System Technology (TST) 510 system on our 5er for 3 years now. Only good things to say so far.

Helipilot · 11-28-2016, 09:09 PM

Thanks for the info folks, will be checking into the tire pressure systems.

Thanks for your service Bipeflier, RVN 68 & 69 Cobra Gunships for me. Your GPS sounds like my 1946 model GPS.