Care and feeding of your valve extenders

Valve extenders should be installed before the tube or tire is installed or glued on.

1. Unscrew your valve as you normally would to pump up your tire, then grip it tightly and give it an extra twist open. You want to wedge the stem open so that it will not vibrate shut while riding.
2. Procure some teflon pipe sealing tape. A roll can be bought at a hardware store of home center in the plumbing section. Put four wraps of tape clockwise around the stem, right where the extender will screw on. The tape provides an airtight seal so that a pump gauge will read.
3. Screw the extender on and leave it on the tube or tire after you install it.

It is not a bad idea to put an extender on your spare tube or tire, it is one less thing to mess with on the road if you get a flat.