This custom 44mm Presta valve stem to be used when converting most 700c rims to tubeless using NoTubes 21mm yellow tape. This valve will seal most existing rims with inner valve stem hole 6mm - 8mm. Rims with no inner spoke holes will not require the yellow spoke tape just the 44mm valve stems like the Mavic Ksyrium rims.
Deep dish rims will require a valve stem extender. Valve stem features a removable valve core which allows for application of NoTubes tire sealant.
I’ve heard the only rim you can use to run 700c road tubeless is the Shimano Dura Ace. Is this true?
No, there are three things a tubeless rim can do:
1) A tubeless rim can make tires mount harder or easier
2) A tubeless rim can make inflating harder or easier
3) The biggest thing a tubeless rim should do is once the tires inflated the rim should trap air better when used in a tubeless application. (Not burp or lose air pressure when riding over bumps)
A rim cannot stop tires from stretching and blowing off the rim. If this were the case we would have had tubeless road rims years ago. The rim cannot make the tire bead stronger. This bead strength or stretching problem must be addressed in the tire design. This means you can inflate the Hutchinson tubeless 700c tire on most any standard rim and not have it stretch off the rim.
What do I need?
If your rim has traditional spoke hole drillings start with one roll of NoTubes 21mm yellow spoke tape (will do 2 layers on 2 rims), two 44mm tubeless road valve stem, two Hutchinson Fusion 2 road tubeless tires and 2oz of NoTubes sealant per tire.
If your 700c road rims do not have holes in the inner rim cavity like the,
Mavic Ksyrium all you need are the 44mm road valve stems and Hutchinson Tubeless road tires and sealant.
Remember you can only use the Hutchinson Fusion 2 Road Tubeless tire on your rim for tubeless use. It does not matter what other road tire you have it will stretch and blow off the rim.This is currently the only tire you can use.
Watch movie “Road Tubeless Kit Installation”
Instructions for converting 700c rims to tubeless
- Remove your existing tire and rim tape
- Clean and lightly sand the inner part of your rim. Clean the rim again with automotive brake clean to remove any oil or grease.
- Install two layers of NoTubes 21mm wide yellow spoke tape pulling very hard using a waving motion. This waving motion will allow the wide tape to fill almost the entire inside of the rim. While installing, press the tape using a terry cloth towel and hand pressure. This will seat the tape and work out the air bubbles. The wider tape will seal not only the spoke hole but also go up the sides of the narrow rims sealing rims that are sleeved rather than welded.
- After installing the yellow spoke tape cut a hole in the tape at the valve and install the 44mm 700c road valve stem. Be sure to remove all tape from the valve hole with a small file. At this point you can mount up a tire & tube. Inflate the tire to 100 psi and let it sit or do a small ride. The tube will press the tape down and help make it air tight. We just press the tape with our hand and a towel.
- Now mount your new Hutchinson tubeless road tire (you can use tire levers if you wish). After the tire is mounted soap both sides of the tire and beads. This lubrication will make inflating and sealing easier
- Inflate the tire before adding sealant to make sure you can get it inflated. By inflating the tire it will also seat the tire on both sides of the valve stem
- To add sealant place your valve stem at 8:00 position, not at the bottom. Remove your valve core and inject 2oz in each tire
- After adding sealant soap the entire tire, valve stem area and all spoke nipples to make sure you have no bubbling. If you have any bubbling at the valve stem or spoke nipples your tape is leaking. If you have a sleeved rim you may need to shake the tire so the sealant can seal any area around the sleeve that the yellow spoke tape did not cover. The sealant will seal most leaks at the seam of the rim.
Benefits of running tubeless:
- The lower pressures give you a much smoother ride adding suspension to your road bike
- Once you're tubeless tires roll 12% easier
- Puncture resistance, NoTubes sealant will seal most punctures
- Lower pressures will stop many of the small cuts you get due to the high pressure making the tire not conform and roll over sharp objects
- For city riding over glass you can run 70 psi and have fewer cuts
- Lower pressures will make tires last much longer
- Better air retention. After a few days of riding NoTubes sealant will make your road tires hold air pressure with little air loss. This means you may not need to check your pressures as often saving you time.
- When riding tubeless you will not need to worry as much about pinch flatting
- There is very little risk with this system. If you do not like riding tubeless you can leave in the yellow spoke tape, wash the sealant out with cold water and use the new tubeless tires with your tubes
- Cost less than $150.00 including two new Hutchinson tubeless road tires
If your 700c road rims do not have holes in the inner rim cavity like the,
Mavic Ksyrium all you need are the 44mm road valve stems and Hutchinson Tubeless road tires & 2oz of NoTubes sealant.
Of all road rims tested the only one that burped air was the Mavic Open Pro. This older design square shaped inner cavity rim will require a 700c rim strip which we make.
If after installing the two layers of yellow spoke tape your tubeless road tires are burping air. You will then need two of our 700c cyclocross rim strips. Simply remove your valve stems leave in your yellow spoke tape and stretch on the 700c cyclocross strip.
All other rims tested trapped air with no burping and all held air fine, even the sleeved rims. Some rims mounted tires and inflated easily with a floor pump. Others needed an air compressor to inflate. But even then they inflated easily.
Why not install the 700c cyclocross strips on first?
Most 700c rims mount tires hard. If you use the 700c cyclocross strips tires will mount even harder. By mounting harder you have more risks of poking holes in the strip during tire mounting. Plus the 700c cyclocross strips add 45g to each rim. So we recommend starting with two layers of our 21mm yellow spoke tape first.
If you are cyclocross racing you will most likely need the 700c cyclocross rim strips or you will burp air. |
