Safety Issue: Check Your Tire Valve Stems

Faulty rubber tire valve stems recall expanded

The recall of millions of faulty tire valve stems, produced in China, has been expanded. The rubber replacement valve stems in question may crack prematurely and cause tires to lose air quickly. At high speeds such rapid tire deflation can cause a serious crash.

Tech International, tire accessory distributor of Johnstown, Ohio, originally recalled model TR-413, which was manufactured for Dill Air Control Products of Oxford, N.C. by Topseal Shanghai Auto-Parts Co. Ltd. in China. The company said at that time the intial recall involved as many as six million valve stems.

But Tech International has now expanded the recall to include five additional models—TR-413CH, TR-414, TR-415, TR-418 and TR-423—manufactured between August 2006 and November 2006. Tech Int'l did not say how many of those additional models of valve stems it has distributed. As many as 30 million of the TR-413 valve stems had been shipped to the North American market.

An investigation by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

of the valve stems was opened on May 15.

Most consumers will have a have a hard time figuring out with any certainty if they have any of the defective valve stems on their tires, however. That's because once a valve stems is installed, the only way to check to see if it is one of the suspected models is to dismount the tire from the wheel and inspect if from the inside.

Vehicle owners should conduct a visual inspection of their valve stems to check for cracks. To do this, remove the hubcap (if there is one) and move the top of the stem around, checking for any sign of cracks in the base of the stem where it meets the wheel. To aid in checking, use a flashlight for better light while moving the the stem around.

If a valve stem is found to be cracked, have all four valve stems replaced by the dealer where the tires were purchased/installed.

Be certain to check the tire air pressure and inspect the rubber valve stems for cracks at least once a month.