yangstarrr

I have these aluminum tire caps with a plastic retaining hook ring on them that makes sure it never falls off. I think they are called Capsure? A friend gave me a set recently, seems to be pretty sturdy.

davidc1

Interestingly, I just read about melting valve stems at 949Racing. Here's their solution:

http://949racing.com/lugs-valves.aspx

noodels

Thought caps were a secondary guard to valve failure.
Could also try cooling brakes with air ducts.

Chuck S

I'd buy the 949 valve stems just for the last sentence. I appreciate honest advertising.-- Chuck

flanders

I'm running both lug nuts and valve stems from 949, great products and great price.
Those metal caps will really burn you fingers though when you try to unscrew them after a track session.

andrewhake

This has gotten a lot of response lately and figured I would reply since I originally posted. I stopped running caps at all not long after I posted this. Whether it is on normal rubber valves on OEM wheels or metal valves on aftermarket wheels, I just always leave the caps off. I like to check the pressures often enough that it is better to just leave them off. I will sometimes pop them on if I am going out driving in the rain or something but I have never really had an issue just leaving them off. I live in an area with very consistent weather, if the car was regularly sitting in rain or snow I would definitely use them in those conditions.

Something I have found very worthwhile is getting my own valve stem torquing tool and double checking myself that the valves are properly tightened up after getting new tires mounted and throughout the life of those tires. Every once in awhile you can end up with a slow leak from a valve that isn't fully sealed which will be much more dramatic with higher tire temps and increased pressures.

nissanfanatic

I have always run metal caps because they are a backup in the event that a schrader valve failed. Extremely unlikely I know...

I also use the metal valve stems.

yamahaSHO

I use eBay aluminum valve stems and haven't had caps on my car in years.

King Tut

I got 3 sets of the 949 valve stems for my track wheels. I run metal caps on the street, but not at the track.

Ricky_Flowers_

I don't have caps on any of my track wheels. FWIW, none of the spec miatas I've ever worked on had caps either, and they run enduros and such, take way more abuse than our cars. If you're tracking your car, just leave them off or take them off when you get to the track.