Silca, perhaps best known for its Super Pista and Super Pista Ultimate floor pumps, is getting into the tubeless game with its new tubeless valve kit and rim tape and is offering replacement valve cores and valve extenders now as well too.
Silca’s new Tubeless Valve Kit, replacement valve cores and valve extenders. ©️ Cyclocross Magazine
Silca Tubeless Valve Kit with Speed Shield
Silca’s tubeless valves are designed to be lighter than their brass counterparts, but more robust than traditional aluminum offerings. Silca’s units are extracted from a cold-drawn aluminum bar rather than being produced by hollow extrusion. The result is a valve stem that weighs less than half what a brass stem does, yet is a claimed 50-200% stronger than other aluminum valve stems. The actual valve cores are machined brass and are said to improve airflow. And the nut is spherical for improved strength.
Silca’s tubeless valves are designed to be lighter and more durable than traditional brass or aluminum offerings. ©️ Cyclocross Magazine
The valve stems themselves aren’t the only part of the Silca tubeless valve kit. There’s also Silca’s Speed Shield. Sitting around the valve base, the Speed Shield is designed to keep the valve from rattling and scratching carbon rims and are said to prevent bending forces that can result in poor sealing or valve stem failures. They are also said to aid aerodynamics up to 0.5 watts at 30 mph, which doesn’t seem like much, but Silca claims is equal to a ceramic bearing upgrade. Maybe not applicable to ‘cross or gravel racing speeds, but interesting nonetheless.
The Silca tubeless valve kit comes with two valve stems, two spherical valve nuts and two Speed Shield rim protectors and come in 44, 60, 80 and 100mm lengths. The price is based on valve length: 44mm: $26 USD; 60mm: $28 USD; 80mm: $30 USD; and 100mm: $34 USD
Silca Replacement Presta Valve Core
Obviously with tubeless valves comes the issue of valve cores clogged with sealant or otherwise damaged cores from repeated uses. So Silca is also making replacement valve cores that work with any presta valve stems with removable cores. Silca’s replacement cores are said to have tight tolerances to allow increased airflow and help keep out contaminates when sealed.
The valve cores are 100% CNC machined brass with roll-formed threads for higher strength and feature full synthetic seals that are designed to resist aging and are more resistant to damage from sealant. A package contains four valve cores and one valve core removal tool and sells for $6 USD.
Silca Threaded Valve Extender With Speed Shield
The Silca valve Speed Shield is designed to keep the valve from rattling and is said to improve aerodynamics around carbon rim shapes equal to that of a ceramic bearing upgrade. ©️ Cyclocross Magazine
Whether you’re running Silca’s tubeless valves or standard valves with removable cores, you may need valve extenders for your deep profile race wheels. Silca’s valve extenders are 40mm long and work with any presta valve with a removable core. They come with the aforementioned Speed Shield and are designed to eliminate rattles and protect carbon surfaces. A pair sells for $26 USD.
Silca Platinum Tubeless Rim Tape
Silca’s Platinum rim tape is designed to easily conform to complex surfaces thanks to its ability to stretch further than other tape while also being thinner, which is said to help with tire removal when the time comes. The fully-synthetic adhesive is designed specifically for carbon surfaces, but also works well on alloy rims according to Silca.
Silca also has a new rim tape out called Platinum Rim Tape. ©️ Cyclocross Magazine
Platinum rim tape is claimed to be 25% stronger while also 25% thinner for better conformability to your rim. And the special adhesive is said to be stronger than traditional adhesives on aluminum rim cavities and optimized to be up to 30% stronger on carbon surfaces.
The tape comes in two widths. The 21mm tape fits 15c to 19c internal width rims. The 25mm tape fits rims with an internal width of 21c to 27c. For road wheels riders will need two wraps, which weighs a claimed nine grams, of their rims while one wrap, weighing a claimed 4.5 grams, will suffice for mountain and CX uses.
Silca’s Platinum Rim Tape is said to be 25% stronger and 25% thinner than other rim tapes. ©️ Cyclocross Magazine
There are nine meters of tape per roll, which will wrap two road wheels or four 29″ MTB or CX wheels or five 26″ MTB wheels. The 21mm wide roll sells for $16 USD while the 25mm wide roll goes for $18 USD.
With all of these tubeless developments, how long might it be before we see Silca sealant?
More info: https://silca.cc
