Valve caps for Audi: four rings, S or red lettering, in black or silver

RD Customz valve caps for Audi come in three designs: the four rings, the S emblem and the Audi rings with red lettering. Each design is a set of 4 aluminium caps in black or silver that fits standard Schrader tyre valves and screws on by hand. Below: how the designs differ, how to choose a colour, and how to fit and look after them.

1. Three designs

• Four rings. The silver Audi four rings logo on a glossy black top. Audi four rings valve caps
• S emblem. A red and silver S emblem on a glossy black top, the letter of Audi's sporty S models. Audi S valve caps
• Red lettering. The Audi rings with the Audi name in red lettering on a glossy black top. Audi valve caps with red lettering

Apart from the design, the three sets are identical: aluminium, 4 caps per set, the same fit and the same fitting.

2. Black or silver

Every design is available in black or silver. The colour refers to the aluminium cap; the logo always sits on a glossy black top. Choose the colour to match your wheels. A simple rule of thumb:

• Silver blends in with silver, grey or polished alloy wheels.
• Black suits black or dark wheels and gives a more subdued look.

Silver on a dark wheel, or black on a light wheel, gives a deliberate contrast instead. Neither is wrong; it depends on whether you want the caps to blend in or stand out.

3. Will they fit my Audi?

Whether valve caps fit depends on the valve, not on the car model. These caps fit standard Schrader car tyre valves, the valve type used on almost every car tyre. Its outer end, where the cap screws on, has one standard thread, and on cars you will find it in two versions:

• Rubber snap-in valve. A rubber body pushed into the rim, with a metal tip that carries the thread.
• Metal clamp-in valve. A metal stem held in the rim by a nut and sealed with a rubber grommet.

Both use the same cap thread, so the caps fit either type. They do not fit the narrow Presta valves found on many racing bikes. If in doubt about your valves, you can always send us a photo.

4. Fitting them by hand

1. Unscrew the old cap anticlockwise. Keep it if you want to swap back in winter.
2. Wipe the valve thread clean with a dry cloth. If you see cracks in a rubber valve, have a tyre shop look at it.
3. Screw the new cap on clockwise by hand until it sits snugly. No tools are needed, and tighter is not better.
4. Repeat on the other wheels; one set of 4 covers all four.

5. Care tips, also with tyre pressure sensors

If your Audi has direct tyre pressure monitoring, a sensor inside the wheel is attached to the valve. The cap thread is the same, so the caps fit. Sensor valves are often made of aluminium, so keep these tips in mind:

• Matching metal. Tyre trade sources warn that a steel or chrome cap on an aluminium valve stem causes galvanic corrosion and can seize onto it. Plastic and aluminium caps are named as the right choice; these caps are aluminium.
• Road salt. Even aluminium caps can stick where a lot of road salt is used, and some manufacturers recommend plastic caps on sensor valves. On salted roads, unscrew the caps at every pressure check, or use plastic caps in winter.
• Check the pressure. Michelin advises checking the tyre pressure once a month and before long journeys, ideally with cold tyres. The recommended pressure is in the handbook or on a label on the door frame or fuel filler flap.
• No force. If a cap will not come off, do not use pliers. A sensor valve stem can snap, and then a tyre shop has to replace it.

If your owner's manual or tyre shop specifies a particular cap for your sensor valves, follow that advice.

6. Frequently asked questions

• Do I need an Audi S model for the S caps? No. The caps fit any standard Schrader car tyre valve, so which design you choose is a matter of taste.
• Do I need tools to fit them? No. The caps screw on by hand. Turn them until they sit snugly; tighter is not better.
• Do they work with tyre pressure sensors? Yes, the cap thread on sensor valves is the same. See the care tips above, especially for winter.
• Does the valve cap keep the air in? Not on its own: the valve core inside the valve holds the air. The cap keeps dirt, dust and moisture away from it, so a missing cap is always worth replacing.

7. Ordering

Choose your design and colour: four rings, S emblem or red lettering, each a set of 4 in black or silver. Enter your car model and year in the order field when ordering; we check it and send the right set. Want the Audi look on your doors as well? See the LED door-entry lights for Audi.

Ships within 24 hours · 30-day returns · Free shipping until 30 November

Further reading

All valve caps · Accessories for Audi · LED door-entry lights for Audi · Valve caps with logo for Mercedes-Benz and BMW · Frequently asked questions

Sources: Tire Rack (tire valves); Underhood Service, “TPMS Sensor Corrosion: 5 Tips To Help Avoid A Snapped Stem”; Michelin Tyre Academy (key safety checks); Wikipedia, “Schrader valve”; Audi Magazine, “Performance to the power of S”.