Could a dodgy tyre valve cause instant deflation?

[passtheword]

Imagine a tyre valve, poor and shoddy in condition, possibly with hairline cracks in it.

In theory, could a vehicle, travelling at speed, and maybe hitting a pothole or divot in the road, cause the valve to break or rupture, which in turn would cause instant deflation of the tyre, similar to a blowout?

I think it could, but i'm just wondering about other peoples opinion on it.

[Cupramax]

Try taking the core out of one with a valve removal tool and youll get your answer.

[ooo000ooo]

Had it happen on a motorbike, heading to work and just before joining a short section of motorway decided to call in for petrol. riding across the forecourt and the rear tyre deflated within about 10 feet. If i'd gone onto the motorway it would have happened in excess of 50 mph as i was accelerating round a left hander.

Wouldn't have been pretty as i had just nipped out to do a message and hadn't bothered putting on my protective trousers and boots.

[zb]

Yep. Always have a valve core tool in your arsenal. Never trust a tyre place to replace a valve accurately, ALWAYS check.

[littlebasher]

I had it years ago in a Hyundai Trajet (i know...)

Pretty much instant deflation caused by the valve failing. My theory being that the cheap and nasty wheel trims were rubbing against it, till the inevitable happened.

[passtheword]

littlebasher said:

I had it years ago in a Hyundai Trajet (i know...)

Pretty much instant deflation caused by the valve failing. My theory being that the cheap and nasty wheel trims were rubbing against it, till the inevitable happened.

Did you lose control?

[George111]

Some valves do not have the core screwed in tightly so they leak, slowly or quickly depending on how loose. I always check and tighten them every few months.

[HertsBiker]

I popped a valve out to add some ultra seal / goop sealant. It takes about 20 seconds to fully deflate. If driving if would feel weird after 5 seconds, and dangerous at 15. So no, it won't cause instant death, but will go pair shaped pronto.

[PaulD86]

Was pretty instantaneous when the metal tyre valve on my car sheared sending the end out put air in about 20m away. All 4 were immediately changed for rubber ones.

[littlebasher]

passtheword said:

Did you lose control?

Was only doing about 30, so rolled to a stop.

Didn't even damage the tyre, which was fine once the valve was changed..Good old Kwik Fit didn't even charge me for it (probably 'cos they couldn't up sell me a tyre!)

[miniman]

zb said:

Yep. Always have a valve core tool in your arsenal.

The top of dust-caps used to be one IIRC.

[aka_kerrly]

Not a car tyre but the valve tore from the inner tube on my mates mountain bike the other night and that went flat in about 2seconds.

[VeeDubBigBird]

I think it depends on the vehicle and speeds you'd be traveling at. Like some previous posters have mentioned Motorbikes and Cycles it would be a straight to a brown pants moment, especially in high speeds / congested scenario's.

From personal experience i had something similar happen in a MK3 Golf, where a piece of scrap metal fell of a lorry in front of me and shredded through the side wall of my tyre on the Motorway. Was scary and definitely felt my self clinch up as the car dipped to one corner at 70mph with other traffic around. It did hinder steering but given i had 4 wheels not 2 to rely on it was still manageable enough to get into the emergency lane before any more damage was done.

[Leptons]

The brass core pulled out of one of my tyre valves as I was undoing it. Flat within 7-8 seconds at a guess.