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ConvertAir turns fragile Presta valves into easy-to-use, tubeless-friendly Schraders

Written by Cory Benson Jan 24, 2019 6:00 p.m. ET

ConvertAir, Schrader valve end replacement for Presta valve core, tubeless

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A close look at the new ConvertAir valve end highlights the flaws we’ve come to accept from Presta valves. ConvertAir seemed like a solution looking for a problem when I first spotted it. I mean, who in the right mind would rather return to Schrader valves? But upon closer inspection, it seems the ConvertAir might keep all the best elements of the smaller valve, while adding only the positive aspects of the larger Schrader.

ConvertAir Schrader end replacement for Presta valve core

While most performance oriented cyclists have accepted the light & efficient locking benefits of the Presta valve, it’s pretty safe to say everyone has accidentally bent or broken a valve tip. And now with tubeless, we’ve all had a Presta valve clog with sealant.

Well, the RideAir Innovations team who created the easy-to-use, portable air pressure cylinder that fits in a bottle cage (and is also sold under SKS branding, too), they seem to have a bone to pick with the Presta valve.

They want to make the lives of regular cyclists easier by ditching the fragile Presta core, in favor of their ConvertAir, an external Schrader extension that puts the valve core on top of the small diameter valve. This isn’t the typical brass Schrader adapter that requires you to thread it on & off (and sometimes accidentally unscrew the Presta core.)

Instead the ConvertAir gives you complete press-to-fill or release air Schrader valve functionality, and tool-free removal to add sealant or seat a new tubeless tire. It essentially is just a completely functional short, conventional Schrader valve that threads on snugly overtop of your removable core Presta valve tube or tubeless valve – the body of Presta and the head of a Schrader.

But Why?

Of course you can’t use a Schrader valve tube in most applications because modern rims are drilled only for the smaller valve, and no very limited bike application tubeless Schrader valves exist. You wouldn’t really want a complete Schrader anyway, because it is even more a pain to remove its core for improved airflow or adding sealant.

But it also improves airflow, because now the valve sits on top in the wider Schrader extension body, and the narrower Presta valve is no longer obstructed by an internal valve core. And since the valve core never really goes into the same place where tubeless sealant touches, its is much less likely to be clogged by sealant.

Really, I started thinking this was a silly gadget. And now, the more I think & write about this, and I see why RideAir Innovations developed (& patented) this thing. So now I want to try it out (and don’t even get me started about how it would mean I could bring back my Skull Valve Caps or my old Buzztronics Sparx light up valve caps!)

ConvertAir Pricing & Availability

At just $12 for a pair, there’s also not much reason not to give it a test. They say each 23mm long ConvertAir weighs just 5g, and when you subtract the 1.5g from removing the Presta core, it adds a net of just 3.5g per wheel. And of course if can be moved from tube to tube with a conventional setup, or stay long-term on your tubeless valves.

Ride-Air.com

Cory Benson

4,158 articles

Cory Benson is the EU Tech Editor of Bikerumor.com.

Cory has been writing about mountain bikes, enduro, cyclocross, all-road, gravel bikes & bikepacking for over 25 years, even before the industry created some of these names. Prior to Bikerumor, Cory was a practicing Architect specializing in environmental sustainability, has designed bike shops & bike components, and worked as a bike shop mechanic.

Based in the Czech Republic for 15+ years, he is a technical mountain biker, adventurous gravel rider, and short & medium-haul bikepacker. Cory travels extensively across Europe riding bikes, meeting with key European product developers, industry experts & tastemakers for an in-depth review of what’s new, and what’s coming next.

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Mark Evans

5 years ago

There ARE a couple of Schrader tubeless valves on the market, Stan’s make (or at least made) one… But of course you wouldn’t want to make a hole in the rim bigger than necessary, so they are only really going to be used on older rims that people (like I did) want to convert to tubeless… I really hate Presta valves because they are so fragile, I’ll be getting some of these asap… Thanks Bikerumor, this is exactly why you’re one of my favorite websites!

Evan

5 years ago

Interesting idea.

Also…”no bike application tubeless Schrader valves exist”
This is incorrect, Stans makes a tubeless schrader valve.

Sanches

5 years ago

They do exist but the problem of drilling a hole in a carbon rim may make some squeamish, or its to short.
https://www.notubes.com/valve-stem-pair-universal-schrader-32mm-10mm-base

Mike Williams

5 years ago

Uh…its no more of a pain to remove a Schrader valve core than a Presta…heck my core removal tool has each type on the ends.

That said, I’d be really interested in this product if it 1) improves the air flow, when the core is pulled — making it easier to inflate a tubeless fat bike tire; and 2) it allows a pressure gauge to register the low air pressures used in fat tires. You currently need to buy a fat tire specific gauge in order to measure sub 10 psi pressures with a Presta valve whereas with a Schrader valve the same gauge works sub 5 psi. This alone would justify buying these valves since those gauges cost way more than $12 (and they are very sensitive so don’t drop them).

Stephen Gaucher

5 years ago

Reply to Mike Williams

Why would you remove the Schrader core? The point is that you’d just twist it off like a big valve cap in case you wanted to add sealant or use an inflator.

Mike Williams

5 years ago

Reply to Stephen Gaucher

I was referring to setups with standard Shrader valves (vs. standard Presta valves ref. his comment). I need to remove the core to put in sealant — breaking the bead on my rims is a real pita so once i get them seated I leave them seated.

If these would allow you to inflate an unseated tubeless tire with the core in (or on in this case), that would be even better since I could use my compressors standard chuck instead of the one with the Presta head (for better airflow).

Mike Williams

5 years ago

Reply to Stephen Gaucher

You just gave me another reason for buying these — letting air out (a common thing to do when fat biking on snow). With Presta when it is really cold the sealant clogs up the valve so much that very little air will flow (I typically count to 30 to let out a couple of psi). With Schrader the air will flow but you need something to press the release (a stick, key, cable tie, etc.). If you can partially unscrew these (while wearing heavy gloves) to release air, then it would be the best of both.

Asaf

5 years ago

Reply to Mike Williams

@Mike, yes for both of your questions. It improves the airflow dramatically and normal gouge should be sufficient with Schrader.

Ryan

5 years ago

Why are companies working so hard to inovate solutions to to things that are not real problems. Drill the rim and put in a real tubeless schrader valve. The article says they are not available, but that is incorrect.

PU2308: Stan’s No Tubes valve set $16

Stephen Gaucher

5 years ago

Reply to Ryan

This will compromise the integrity of most rims and is a super bad idea.

-1

B@se

5 years ago

Reply to Stephen Gaucher

right…

I’ve in been in a bike workshop for 23 years now and have drilled a lot of rims to fit a schrader in a fench/dutch valve hole…. works like a charm and never had any issues with it…

so could you supply us (the reader) with clear and simple proof of this beeing a bad idea?

tnx

Bas

(indeed Dutch guy..)

Mike Williams

5 years ago

Reply to B@se

Had this discussion with the local manufacturer of my $1600 Carbon Fiber wheels (Woven). I wanted Schrader like the alloy rims they were replacing, they made theirs only Presta. They thought drilling them out was a bad idea and wouldn’t do it for me. Said if I drilled them and the rim cracked it was my problem. I stuck with Presta.

-1

Asaf

5 years ago

Reply to B@se

First, you loose your warranty on the rim. Second, cost for customers to drill the rim is about 10-30 EUR. Add this to the Stan’s 16$/EUR and you get an expensive and messy solution while for a 12$ you get the same result with this product.

-1

DingDang

5 years ago

Reply to B@se

I’d say asking people to drill carbon rims is a bad idea……

Loki

5 years ago

Reply to DingDang

So the difference between an 18h, 24h, 28 h and 32h rim is the number of holes they drill in the rim after manufacture …

-1

john

4 years ago

Reply to DingDang

Just use a reamer,instead.With patience,you can size it right.

Mark Veno

5 years ago

Reply to Stephen Gaucher

The only rim I would not drill for shraeder would be a Deep-V. Any downhill rim and most road rims are wide enough to stand losing the 1/16″ of material enlarging the hole will take away. Many rims are available either/or so that really disproves your statement, which was probably told to you by someone trying to upsell you to new wheels rather than drill out the valve stem hole, or they weren’t competent enough with a drill to guarantee a good result.

5 years ago

,,,,,” you can’t use a Schrader valve tube in most applications because modern rims are drilled only for the smaller valve, and no bike application tubeless Schrader valves exist. ” ,,,,,
Some rims will tolerate a slightly larger hole for Schrader valves. Presta valves need a 6mm hole while schrader valves need close to 5/16″ (8mm) hole. A simple search showed there are schrader tubeless valves available on the cycling market although only with 32-40mm lengths.

Rider

5 years ago

Yet another solution in search of a problem.

First of all, this system gives you exactly as much airflow as a presta valve with its core removed. Just take your Presta valve, remove the core, and inflate until the tire pops into the sidewall of the rim. So no real innovation here.

Secondly, clogging the valve will happen anyway in some cases. It’s not a tiny bit better than adding sealant through a core-less Presta valve with a simple syringe – clean, easy and fast. What happens after that, when the tire rolls, is out of our control anyway.

Thirdly, I don’t really know how stupid or careless one must be to damage a Presta valve core. But even if you do, a replacement core costs less than a dollar, so you can be pretty reckless with your wheels and still be better off financially.

Jeez, people do like to make their own lives complicated. But hey, to each according to his needs!

-1

Fred Greezy

5 years ago

3.5 grams………..

Looooooooooool

Fred Again

5 years ago

What’s really impressive is that 8 paragraphs were devoted to these $12 lumps of valve-y unnecessary-ness.
Is that the right english-ness???

MBR

5 years ago

Yeah, throw away the Presta valves and just put in Schrader valve stems. Buy the cheapest Continental tube available, having a metal [usually brass or plated brass] Schrader valve stem that’s threaded full length. Then cut around the base of the valve, leaving enough rubber around the base of the stem to seal against the rim. Yeah, you have to enlarge the hole thru the rim, think I drill to 8.5 mm [?], but the hole isn’t large enough to cause an issue. I’ve done this on almost a dozen wheels since going tubeless many years ago. I’m a weight-weenie and can live with the additional 1 gram penalty, since I can fill my tires with the compressor in my garage or at any gas station. Easy to remove the valve core and add sealant. No more plugged valves! More air flow to seat those tubeless tires too. I’ve also used aluminum Schrader valve stems for [auto] racing wheels.

Fred Again

5 years ago

Reply to MBR

But that gram could have made all the difference

Guy Ford

5 years ago

I like it, I see the advantages.

Stephen

5 years ago

Here’s a high-end lightweight alternative that beats presta in every way:

http://949racing.com/blackanodizedaluminumvalve.aspx

-1

miklos

5 years ago

Mavic gives to their TL valves this converter for “free”

roadstain

5 years ago

Reply to miklos

That is exactly what I was thinking. For years Mavic has shipped that adapter (front and rear) with their wheel/tire sets (they also come with installed tubes you remove) and the valve stems and sealant. Not so sure what is new about this product at all.