Just a little story to share about my tires today.  Back in early August
when completing an in town errand I noticed my right rear passenger tire was
quite deflated when I had reached home.  I slapped on the spare and drove to
the tire shop - dropped off the tire expecting for them to find a nail or
something.  On my return, the tire jockey told me it was a valve stem that
needed replacing and which they fixed.

Fast forward to this morning when I noticed my left rear passenger tire very
deflated.  I again slapped on my trusty spare and went to fill the
troublesome tire with air and found the valve stem to be gushing air as I
attempted to fill the tire.  Thinking that I had two valve stem problems in
a month's time, I figured I would inspect the other tires and sure enough
both showed signs of splitting - one even released air if I pushed the stem
sideways.

I run stock rims without hub caps and my tires are about 2.5 years old and
have maybe 20,000 km on them.  After talking to a tire jockey #2 on the
phone it was apparent that the stems were not replaced when I had the tires
changed over.  Anyway the old stems are longer than standard stems in order
to stick out past the hub cap for filling access.  Without the hub cap on -
the old stems protrude ever so slightly out past the tire sidewall and
according the tire jockey # 3 will rub against the curb and wear - this is
possible but I think I would have pretty scuffed up sidewalls as evidence
and this theory doesn't explain the weak stems on the driver's side of the
van.

I got everything fixed with new stems without a charge or a hassle as the
Tireshop (where I bought the tires) knew deep down they should have replaced
the stems.  Anyway - before heading out on a trip or just as an
inspection, double check the base of your valve stems to see whether they
are worn or split.  This will save you the hassle of a flat or worse a
possible blow out like scenario.

BT

86 Syncro Westfalia