I have a set of 17" Enkei RS6 with 215/40/17 tires on my max. I had a flat the other day while on my lunch break. Turns out it was the valve stem. This is the FIFTH one that has gone bad. Not on this same rim but all together, between the 4 of them. I have had no tire problems except valve stems. It's always the rubber part just before it gets to the rim, tears open. Is there some reason for this?!?!?

 

the rim is too sharp around the valve stem??????/

 

are you sure it's torn? I had a leaking stem too, but for some reason I looked for a solution before concluding that it was broken.

I went to PepBoys and found a Valve Stem tool, and I was able to tighten the middle needle, which in turn tightened the whole stem back into the tire.

 

You can pull it to the side and see the huge tear in the rubber. Are there solid metal ones maybe? I can't figure it out. I'm gonna go to Sears today and see what they can do. I think this is one they just replaced so if my tire is ruined, I'm gonna be ****ed!

 

There are screw in solid metal ones you can buy at nearly all auto parts stores but you have to keep them clean much more than rubber so as to prevent rust...I like the chrome shorties myself but my wheels are silver so there is a bit of a contrast if I used them on mine.

 

Man, same thing happened to me about a week ago. I have the RS6's in 18" and my valve stem did the exact same thing. I took it into discount tire and they replaced the valve stem for free. Nothing major done to the tire. Something must be wrong with the rims b/c it seems pretty odd that it would happen. I just hope it doesn't happen to me 5 times.

 

It's nice and shiny too

 

I had the rubber ones replaced with some chrome ones that are about 1/4" long. Guy at Sears gave me his guarantee that they would be the last valve stems I would ever need. Hope he's right.

 

I've had metal ones since I got my RS5s, no problems.