Next door neighbour called by to say the front offside tyre on my wife's IS was a bit low. Checked it and found just 3psi left in it. Connected up the air pump and left it running for a few minutes but couldn't get over ~ 15psi. Then I tried to disconnect the pump and the entire valve core came away leaving the rubber sleeve attached to the wheel. Had the valve replaced at the local Humphries Tyres (£2!) and that fixed it so guess must have been a defective valve.

Gasp! I'd used the car the previous day for a motorway trip up to Cheshire and back - talk about close shave Gromit!

I've never experienced this before in 40 years of motoring - anyone else encountered it?

How can I check out the other valves are OK? Present set was fitted with new tyres ~ 4 years ago.

It sounds like the inner core just "unscrewed" itself.....was there evidence of damage or did it look normal?

I'll add.....people forget the main "air seal" on a valve is the valve cap.....not the valve itself! Make sure the caps are good condition with a nice rubber seal inside not deformed etc, and do not overtighten them so much that it might lead to damage.

Best regards David

No, valve inner was still firmly screwed into the valve body.

Here a pic of the item.

I see what you mean.....looks like the valve body delaminated from outer "sleeve".....never ever seen that before! Even on tyres tested to destruction at excess temperatures never seen that.....probably cannot tell whose make that is now I guess?

Best regards David