Just put some new Continental tires on the bike last week, and of course made sure to line up the Continental logo with the valve stem on the drive side (Rule #40 haha). But since the entire name of the tire "Continental Grand Prix 4 Season" is aligned with itself on the opposite side of the tire, the Continental logo does not line up on the NDS.

So what do y'all "rule followers" do? Just line up the logo on the drive side? Or center it on the entire name of the tire?

Dumb thread I know just wanted some opinions

I center it over the entire logo. The key is to be consistent so that you know how the tube and tire are aligned so you can prevent repeated flats, not to comply with any particular rule.

Get a black marker and cover up the logo on the NDS. DUH!

BTW, lose the little nut on the valve stem. Followers of THE Rules would scoff at you for such an obviously fred-like move.

I agree with center entire label over the valve stem, not the small Continental logo. I find that the other label on the same side of the tire is not exactly 180 deg opposite. I use the larger one for centering on the valve stem and let the other just fall where it will. Really not that big a deal but the ability to find flat causing defects is valuable. And then there is obsessive-compulsive disorder to contend with.

better yet, get tubes without threads...I know more than one flat caused by tightening that nut down too much...

I disagree with losing the nut on the valve stem. I am very disappointed with tubes that don't have threaded valve stems for this. Tightening the nut is a good way to keep the stem from clattering inside the rim. Yes there are other fixes like electrical tape over the valve stem hole in the rim, etc., but the nut is the simplest and very effective. I have never had noise from the valve stem when it has been threaded and tightented. The rules are for the birds.

Wow, how wrong I have been. I put the recommended inflation pressures over the valve stem, so that I can find them easily. Who could know that the label mattered more?

I guess you didn't get the tongue-in-cheek part of my post.

OTOH, read post #5 . There is something to be said for using smooth-sided valve stems.

Enjoy the ride and ride safely.

This is why I ditch them.

On the GP4KS, the middle N in CONTINENTAL is in the same spot on both sides of the tire, so that's what I align to.

Hey, at least he got rid of the little black cap!

True

i center rim and tire logos(always put tire logo on valve stem side). This is for aesthetics only, b/c i don't have tubes on any bikes i own.

Yeah I know the functional reason for aligning the tire logo to the stem. I did it on my old tires, but those tires had the tire brand and model name stacked one above the other on both sides, so alignment was easy. I just aligned it to the Continental logo because it's yellow and easier to see.

On the GP4S the graphics alignment extends from the Continental all the way to the Vectran at the other end. The center occurs somewhere between the I and the X in "PRIX". Maybe one day I'll move the tires around and center them there.

Oh and I LIKE the retaining nuts personally. Too often I've had to deal with the stem pushing into the rim when trying to attach the pump, and generally just being a PITA.

I always keep the valve stem caps on. My theory is that anything that can attract dirt eventually will attract dirt.

But don't the other kids make fun of you?

Uh, no I didn't. No emoticon to help me out! And ya know there are folks who really take those rules seriously. Can't be too careful. In any case, I did read #5 , but I can't get excited about over tightening as a problem. Been doing this a long time with only positive results. But I did just set up a set of carbon wheels with smooth valve stems and plugs instead of rim tape. Whoa baby, the noise was awful until I isolated the valve stems with electrical tape and later the special fittings from BDop. I'm sure that the nutted valve stem would have worked better as a starting point; other corrective action might still have been needed.

They're too busy laughing at my milk-white legs.

I typically press on the back of the tire behind the valve with my thumb to keep it from "retreating" when attaching the pump.

1. Yet another reason not to buy Conti tires...

2. Start buying tubes with the proper length stems...

please note sarcasm intended...

eh? I currently have my front wheel with a shorter stem and rear wheel with a longer stem (pinch flatted the front while installing the Contis and just threw my spare on). I use the nuts on both, because it just works better for me.

And I got the Contis for $30 each couldn't pass 'em up.

It also stabilizes the stem while pumping with e.g. a frame pump, reducing the likelihood of the tube tearing at the base of the stem from enthusiastic pumping action.

Caution on the nuts: if you are changing a flat, and tighten up the nut before having the tire seated and tube inflated, the tube may sit beneath the bead and keep the tire from seating. Means it pops when you inflate.

FWIW, tubular tires seldom come with label aligned with the valve stem:

A multi-ethnic friend of mine used to refer to my color as 'Frog-belly White', which I said sounds like a blues guitarist.

"No!" he said, "BLIND Frog-Belly White!!!"