An light weight hollow valve assembly for use in an engine. The intake and exhaust valve seats are of a different metallurgical composition for reducing adhesive and abrasive wear between the valve seat and the insert. The assembly 10 includes a valve 12 including a valve seat face 16. An insert 18 is mounted within the engine for cooperating in sealing engagement with the valve seat face 16. The insert 18 and the valve seat face 16 are each provided with a layer 20, 22 consisting essentially of a nitride for reducing adhesive and abrasive wear between the valve seat face 16 and the insert 18.