The simple tire cap is a car part that doesn’t get much attention but plays a vital role in protecting the valve that keeps your tires inflated. Called a Schrader valve, the part is incredibly common across the automotive, motorcycle, RV, trailer, and even bicycle segment, as well as incredibly important to your tire’s inflation. And chances are, you have a Schrader valve with a very inexpensive plastic cap on top. Now, when most people realize they need a new tire cap is when they notice they have one, or more, missing. Or they watch it bounce into the dark recesses of their garage, lost forever, after filling up your tires. The buying guide below is designed to give you a better idea of what’s out there and what to avoid, so you can make a more informed purchase decision.
Best Overall
Dorman Gray Plastic Sealing Valve Cap
Best Value
SAMIKIVA Tire Stem Valve Caps
Honorable Mention
Dsycar Locking Tire Valve Caps
Our Methodology
To assemble a buyer’s guide for the best tire caps on the market, I cast a wide net using The Drive’s methodology and looked through hundreds of different products to find the few that made the cut. Though I didn’t get hands-on with every product in this guide, I used the knowledge I’ve gained over the years of wrenching and filling tires to inform my decisions for what made the cut and what didn’t. There are a ton of different types of tire caps out there, and a huge number of those snazzy-looking anodized aluminum ones, but we branched out into as wide a range as possible so you have the best idea of what’s available and which is the best overall.
Best Tire Caps Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall
Dorman Grey Plastic Sealing Valve Cap
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Best Value
SAMIKIVA Tire Stem Valve Caps
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Honorable Mention
Dsycar Locking Tire Valve Caps
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Best Aluminum
CKAuto Tire Valve Stem Caps
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Best Durable
Hollow-Point Gear Silver Bullet Valve Caps
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Best Heavy Duty
Steel Hawk Precision CNC Machined Stainless Steel Tire Air Valve Caps
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Best Unique
Carbon Fiber Valve Stem Caps – Premium Aluminum
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Our Verdict on Tire Caps
My top pick for best tire caps are the Dorman Grey Plastic Sealing Valve Cap as they’re simple, an upgrade over ordinary caps, and they’re an excellent value to boot. If you absolutely must get the cheapest tire caps possible that’ll still do the job, I found the SAMIKIVA Tire Stem Valve Caps. They come in several colors too, which makes them a great value choice.
What to Consider When Buying Tire Caps
For most of us, replacing tire caps is a chore that only comes around when you drop one and it rolls out of sight or you find some missing. Maybe you just need something basic to protect your tire valves, or maybe you want to dress your ride up a bit. Whatever your desire, consider the double-edged sword of price and be careful with the cheap aluminum ones.
Types of Tire Caps
Plastic
Plastic caps are what’s probably on your valve stem right now, and there’s a good reason too: they’re inexpensive, they don’t corrode with salt and grime, and they’re the simplest way to protect the Schrader valve inside the stem. The best alternative material tire caps come with a plastic liner inside, which prevents the fusion of the two dissimilar metals.
Aluminum
Aluminum tire caps are incredibly common when people start looking for upgrades, but I’d caution you against the very cheapest ones. All over online marketplaces (think Amazon and eBay), you’ll find these for $5 to $10 with your favorite automaker’s logo, sports teams, American flags, etc. But use caution, as cheap aluminum tire caps tend to fuse to the valve stem if they don’t have any grease applied prior to screwing them on. Look for the relatively more expensive ones with a plastic liner to prevent the issue entirely, while retaining the style.
Locking
There appear to be two different approaches to making tire caps “anti-theft” but both make it necessary to use a tool to remove, similar to lug nut locks. Unlike lug nut locks, however, locking tire caps usually rely on Allen keys to tighten further, making them impossible to remove with finger strength alone. Many users, however, caution against overdoing it, so torque with care.
Stainless Steel
When searching for attractive metal alternatives to the flawed aluminum tire caps, we found several made out of stainless steel. These are often attractive pieces of machining, but the one caveat is that some users have reported galling. Galling is when some dirt, or imperfection in the threads, causes the caps to seize upon installation. When installing, be careful to back them off at the first hint of resistance.
Tire Cap Key Features
Cap Material
First and foremost, the material tire caps are made out of is important. If you don’t choose durable caps, made from tough and long-lasting material, then you’ll likely find yourself needing to replace those caps often. Instead, save yourself some time and effort and opt for quality materials. It’s common for tire caps to be made of everything from plastic to aluminum to nickel to brass and some even include a combination of materials. Metals in general are more durable than plastic, however, you’ll want to check special care requirements, as some metals can fuse to your valve stems if not properly cared for.
Seal
Some tire caps have interior seals to help them lock out dirt, debris, and water, while other caps don’t have seals. While it’s not a necessity, a seal can offer an extra layer of protection and literally seal out problematic road debris. Plus, a good seal can help your caps fit snugly. If you want tire caps that include a seal, look for details like a rubber O-ring that sits at the base of the interior threads.
Number of Caps
Lastly, it’s a small detail but one that can impact the value of a tire cap set. Decide if you want a large set that includes an array of caps or if you just want a standard four-pack to cover your vehicle’s four tires. Opting for sets that include a higher number of caps gives you more for your money, especially if they’re affordable. Plus, if you need to swap out your tire caps over time—or if any disappear on the road—you’ll have extras you can easily use.
Tire Caps Brand to Know
Dorman
This company is headquartered in Colmar, Penn., and is something of a household name for anyone who’s needed a replacement part on a common vehicle. I honestly didn’t know about them until I bought a Ford F-150 and found out they make generic door handles.
Divoti
Divoti is the maker of the attractive stainless steel Steel Hawk Machined Tire Caps. Divoti is a manufacturer that typically makes jewelry, necklaces, and pet identification tags. Rather than being a turnoff, it explains why their fine stainless work looks so good. Steel Hawk is one of their brands and makes a number of small accessories with a utilitarian bent.
Carbon Fiber Gear
Carbon Fiber Gear is a small business that was founded in 2007 and is based outside of Baltimore, Md. They make a bunch of different products out of carbon fiber, as their name suggests. Their quality looks top-notch for the Aluminum Carbon Fiber Valve Stem Caps in this guide. They sell a number of different products, even really cool-looking carbon fiber business cards.
Tire Caps Pricing
Tire caps are an affordable automotive accessory for the most part. Like almost anything, there’s a lot of ways to have fun with these and spend far too much money, but I rounded up a reasonable list. Though you’ll have to buy in bulk, many of the cheaper tire caps can be had for $5-10 for packages of 30-50. Stepping up to tire caps made out of aluminum or stainless steel brings the price closer to $10 for a set of four. Even the most expensive one I recommended sells for less than $50 for a set of four.
Tips and Tricks
As with something you do for decades upon decades, you pick up a few tips and tricks along the way in terms of selecting the right product, and/or using it. That’s the case with us and tire caps. To help you bridge the information gap, here’s a selection of what I’ve learned along the way.
- When you shop for aluminum tire caps, look closely at the pictures to see if they have a plastic liner.
- Check the package quantity when shopping for cheap plastic caps: you could end up with 200 when you just need three.
- If you need tire caps that are a certain length, check the specs carefully, as not all are made the same length.
- Read reviews if you stray from my recommendations and check to see if the colors fade rapidly because it seems to be a common issue for cheap ones.
- If you have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) on your vehicle, read the manual to see what material it recommends you use, because metal can interfere with the signal on some systems.
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers!
Q: Do tire caps keep air in?
A: Tire caps work to protect your tires’ Schrader valves, which is what keeps the air inside your tires. If those valves and attached valve systems become damaged, then your tires won’t be able to hold air inside properly. So, while tire caps don’t directly keep the air inside your tires, they do play an important protective role.
Q: Are tire caps universal?
A: Most tire caps do claim they’re universal and many are. Most tire caps can fit cars, SUVs, trucks, motorcycles, and even ATVs. But you should always double-check the size of tire caps before buying them. You’ll want to make sure the diameter and height actually work with your valve stems; otherwise, you might find they’re too loose or too tight.
Q: Can tires lose pressure without tire caps?
A: A missing tire cap can actually lead to potential pressure loss in your tire. The tire caps help keep dirt, dust, debris, and other obstacles out of your tire. If those do happen to sneak inside, they can break through the seal of your valve stem and valve system, causing air pressure to decrease (or even air to leak out).