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Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:05 am

I was changing the tires on my '75 Beetle (4x130 PCD 15"x4.5" wheels). Doing the work myself (had access to a tire machine). I bought some new valve stems to replace the dried out old ones.
I thought there were only two sizes of valve stems (ignoring the different lengths available). I got the "skinny ones" meant for the smaller diameter holes in the wheels. Like TR 413/414 in this pic:

Well, when I removed the tires and got a close look at the old valve stems... I was stuck. There were obviously two different types of stems on the four wheels. One was almost identical to the ones I had purchased (side my side comparison). The other three had a larger diameter base on BOTH sides of the wheel (inner and outer). I didn't have a "fat" valve stem (like TR 415) to compare it with and didn't want to cut it off only to find I didn't have the correct size stem to replace it (that darn air doesn't want to stay in the tire without a valve stem in that hole ;) ).

So after putting my new tires on the rims with the old valve stems :( ... I looked up on the Internet more info on valve stems... trying to "edumacate" myself. Here's what I found:
http://www.blackjacktirerepair.com/index.asp?pchild=24
http://www.tyre-equipment.co.uk/acatalog/Rubber_Snap-In_Valves.html
Two different "style" valve stems with different hole diameters.
The "skinny ones" fit in 0.453" (11.5mm) diameter holes (also seen reference to 7/16", but 29/64" is actually closer to 0.453").

The "fat ones" fit 0.625" (16mm) diameter holes (5/8")

So, what size valve stem should fit the '68-later wheels? I thought the wheel valve stems were ALL the same size from '68?
Are there any "special" 4x130mm stock wheels that might have the "fat holes"?
Or maybe the PO drilled out the holes?

At one point, I actually thought the fat ones on my wheels were just a different brand with a wide diameter neck, but that wider diameter would still need to fit through the same smaller diameter hole as you pulled them through... and the "fat" ones were noticeably fatter.

Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:23 am

Here are some pics of the valve stems w/ measurements:

I've included the measurements I took as well.

If you look closely you will see that the flat area around the base of the valve stem is different between the two wheels. Three (3) of my wheels are like the ones with the "fat" stem (bottom pic). There is a squared off area where the hole was drilled. You can see a distinct line on either side of the stem.
The wheel with the "skinny" valve stem (top pic) has a round stamping that sort of forms a ring depression around the base. I obviously have one rim that is different than the rest.

Has anyone ever used a valve stem other then the "skinny" one (14.5mm hole) in a late model wheel?

I'm thinking I may need to order a set of these:

They indicate they will fit BOTH size holes (different seals & washers?)

Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:05 am

Just an update...

I ended up buying the chrome valve stems in the pic above. They came with two different neoprene seals. One of my wheels used the smaller 11.5mm seal... the other three used the 16mm ones.
When I removed the fat stems I confirmed they were the TR-415 style shown above and the hole was larger than the one 11.5mm wheel.

I noticed that my dirty spare tire had the smaller 11.5mm valve stem installed.

I guess my next move will be to buy a pair of matching wheels; clean them up and paint them; mount two of my tires to them and clean/paint a matched pair of my wheels so at least I have two pairs of matching wheels.
If I can find some T3 stock wheels in the same pattern w/ larger offset maybe I can fix my rubbing issue once and for all (the new front 145 tires haven't rubbed yet, but I'd like a bit more clearance just to be sure).

In case anyone is interested, I bought the chrome valve stems off of eBay.

Thu Mar 24, 2011 5:01 pm

Hmm. I wasn't aware that Beetle wheels came with different diameter valve stems! Learn something everyday!

Sat Mar 26, 2011 8:59 am

I knew there were two sizes of stems, but was certain that the 1967 and earlier "wide five" wheels used the "fat stems" and the later years all used "skinny stems"... that was obviously wrong.

Heck, the earlier years might even use "skinny stems"?!?!?! I'm sure when you get "early enough" (40's & 50's?) it becomes a mute point because you would have needed inner tubes, right? :?

Sat Jun 21, 2014 10:55 am

I realize this is a dead post, but it came up in google searching, so...

I was researching to find tubes that will nicely fit in my wide 5 steel wheels. The wider holes fit a TR15 valve stem. It is also possible to get a smaller stemmed tube (such as a TR13, which should fit the smaller hole) and use adapter bushings.

There's a good list of tubes and dimensions here:
http://www.firestonetubes.com/ShowValves.aspx

Thu May 07, 2015 6:03 am

Dragging up an old dead thread. I'm about to install valve stems in my Empi 8 spokes. Anyone know what size the stems are?

Fri May 08, 2015 4:35 am

I've listed the diameters of the two holes in the rim above. If you have the wheels without the valve stems just measure the hole diameter.
If you are like me and you have the wheels with the valve stems installed, measure the diameter at the base of the rubber valve stem. It would need to be larger than 16mm to keep from falling back in in the larger 16mm holes.
For the smaller 11.5mm hole, anything larger than 16mm would have a hard time fitting through from the underside.

A dial or digital caliper really helps with measuring.