Tire Valve Stem Difference

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Sep 14, 2010 | 08:04 PM

Aristo82

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Tire Valve Stem Difference

I just bought some OEM 5 spoke wheels for my GS300 (looks exactly same as the one pictured on this site, sandwiched between the IS and SC). When I was cleaning the wheels, I noticed that the valve stems are not solid metal like the ones on my current regular multi-spoke GS300 wheels. The valve caps on my 5 spoke wheels are plain plastic compared to the metal ones on my current wheels.

What are the valve stems like on everybody else's 5 spoke OEM wheels?

Sep 14, 2010 | 08:45 PM

TWong350

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Regardless of which cap you have (plastic or metal), it's just a cap. Now the portion sticking out of the wheel should be silverish in color as shown in this photo I found on the net. This is the the part right above (in this this photo) the caps that have a hex shape on them. That portion should be visible.

Sep 14, 2010 | 11:21 PM

rominl

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agree with tony. if you are talking about the valve cap (the part that you twist off to add air), plastic or metal doesn't really matter, it's just cosmetic.

but the stem itself, it should be metal hex look since it's all integrated together with the tpms unit

Sep 15, 2010 | 03:56 AM

Aristo82

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Thanks for the response. Actually I did not know about this, but some TPMS systems now come with rubber valve stems according to the site below.

http://www.standardbrand.com/TPMS-Te...s/Content.aspx

For those with the same rims as mine (pictured at very top of this page, sandwiched between IS & SC), do you have rubber stems? I just can't imagine somebody converting these rims for non-TPMS use.

Last edited by Aristo82; Sep 15, 2010 at 04:20 AM. Reason: Changed pic link

Sep 15, 2010 | 07:13 AM

duggy

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it's possible that your TPMS sensors were rebuilt by a tire shop (discount tire) and they used a cheaper rubber stem instead. i'd definitely bring it up.

Sep 15, 2010 | 08:51 AM

rominl

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yeah that definitely looks interesting. i can't say for all 3gs from lexus factory, but all i have seen, the stems are silver metal

Sep 15, 2010 | 09:18 AM

BinaryJay

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If it isn't a metal stem then there probably isn't a TPMS sensor in there at all. All of the Toyota/Lexus sensors, of which I think all of their vehicles share the same part #, have the metal stem held in with a metal hex bolt. The cap doesn't matter.

P.S. It can take a while before the system puts the warning on, I think. Especially if you park near your other set of wheels that have TPMS installed, the car will "reset" itself to think it's OK every time it's in the vicinity of the other TPMS sensors.

Last edited by BinaryJay; Sep 15, 2010 at 12:52 PM.