E*thirteen’s hi-volume tubeless valves were designed to make installing tubeless tires just a little bit easier. We all know what a pain in the ass setting up a tubeless tire can be, especially if you’re a home mechanic attempting to seat a bead without the aid of an air compressor. The folks at E*thirteen clearly have gotten as pissed off as me when it comes to setting up a tire.
Though the tubeless valves aren’t compatible with all rims, they successfully address two issues with stock valves: creating a good airtight seal, and allowing more air to pass when using a high volume pump.
The valves allow maximum airflow when using hi-volume pumps and C02 cartridges. The durable kit includes a few different rubber washers shaped to match round or flat profile rims. Sized to fit 17-23mm deep rims, the tubeless valves are compatible with E*13 rims and other rims with a similar height.
The shaped washers rims seal quickly, especially in comparison to the stock valves. We’ve been challenged with the stock pieces, which often leak and require jury rigging to deal with air loss. Sometimes I just crank them down with needle nose pliers, but my go-to fix is a double layer of duct tape to create a seal. I create a clean hole through the tape using a heated punch, then push the valve through. The extra material does a fine job of plugging the leaks, but it’s definitely a stop-gap solution.
The E*13 valve is a far more elegant solution and running a rubber washer with the correct profile seals well without any jury rigging.
The downside? They don’t fit all wheels yet. Spank Oozy Trail rims and my Sun Ringle Charger and Black Flag rims were just a few millimeters to tall to be compatible. They did pair well with a set of WTB i23 rims though, and I got a Bontrager G4 with a DH casing to seat up immediately using my Bontrager high volume floor pump. The rear one was still giving me troubles, so I had to go to a gas station compressor to seat it. A few weeks later and its still leaking at the bead, so I’ll attribute the issue to the stiff casing not quite malleable enough to pair well with the rim.
If you have a set of compatible rims, they’re a significant upgrade from the stock valve cores. I have yet to see any air leaking through the core.
Did we mention they’re available in three different anodized colors? E*Thirteen also offers sealant and tape to complete their system.
The E*thirteen Tubeless valve set sells for $26.95.