A friend runs a whitwall store, and she is having trouble with steel Vintique Wheel smoothies and TPMS on a 2010 HHR. The stem keeps getting cut off.

Any advice on this? Thank s in advance.

 

The first thing to check would be the installation of the trim rings, if they're installed a bit "off" they can cut the valve stems eventually, the sharp edge will slowly abrade through the stem.

Make sure the correct stems are being used and check the holes in the rims for burrs.

One other thing to consider is vandalism, someone could be cutting the stems out of spite/jealousy/anger.

 

Okay, well this is a specialty shop for whitewall tires of all kinds, and they have never run into this before. However I'm not sure they've put these tires in combination with Vintiques Wheels and on a car with TPMS. But assuming they know how to handle this, what is the next step? I have their tires, and Vintiques wheels, but mine is an 06.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I will faithfully relay all these possibilities, and to thank you kindly for responding. This is really driving them nuts.

 

I talked to my friend who has a tire shop about this problem your friends have been having, he's a bit flummoxed by it since they've never had issues with valve stem failures in Wheel Vintiques rims with TPMS sensors.

But he did tell me about his supplier who has a selection of chrome plated steel valve stems for use with TPMS sensors in aftermarket rims. You can't cut them so it would solve the immediate problem, but the cause of the valve stem damage should still be found.

Have your friends contacted the folks at Wheel Vintiques yet, they have a good reputation for making things right.

Here's the link to Prier Tire Supply's chromed steel valve stems for TMPS sensors.....

http://priertiresupply.biz/index.php...011b72c3d09cc1

 

I have Vintiques Wheels and there is nothing special or different here than any other steel wheel.

It has to be some kind of install issue of defective valve issue. The wheel just has the standard hole and the valve where it contacts the wheel is no different than any other valve.

They are either damaging the valve putting it in and tearing it, the ring could damage it but unlikley. Most of theit rings will not come off anyways once they are on with out bending them. It also could be a bad run of valves that tear during install.

All I can tell you is I had no issue with install or use of my own. The valves pulled through for me just as any other rubber valve.

 

My thoughts too hyperv6, its either an installation error, misapplied trim rings(and you're right, when they're on, they're on), or vandalism from some nefarious individual.

I'd love to see a picture of the damage to the stems, it would help with figuring out what is going on.