I am currently running some snow tires on my factory rims. I purchased some new Enkei wheels that I am prepping for A/S tires that will go on this spring. The Autel TPMS sensors will use rubber valve stems. I know that the normal installation of the valve stems would use standard tire mounting lube. I do not have that and do not want to purchase a gallon for this very limited use. Are there any concerns in using a bit of soapy water or even silicone spray or silicone-based grease/lube to ease installation of the new valve stems?
Installing Rubber Valve Stems / Choice of Lubricant
- Thread starter nutdriver
- Start date
Soapy water is ok. Most shops don't even lube them. The just pull them in dry.
It's nothing critical, but like chris said, soap....
Thought I read dish soaps can cause rust when using it for a tire bead lube. I don't know if that is internet folklore, but I use Murphys oil soap.
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- Jun 2, 2002
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This sounds funny but it'd work great.
I worked at a tire shop as a kid and have installed many hundreds of valve stems and we never lubed any of them. Never had much difficulty installing them.
I just use the same soapy water that I spray around the wheel to look for leaks when finished.
Spit
I've done the same in a pinch, but you don't want it to get between the tyre bead and rim, especially on a powerful car as the tyre could slip on the rim during braking or take off. It would be impossible to keep the wheel balanced.
