There’s been a glut of new, ‘best-ever’, ‘fastest airflow’, supposedly better sealing tubeless tech released over the last few years. And since more and more of us are adopting this technology on our road bikes, brands are getting behind it and pushing on with their development. Enter the Tru-Tension Fillfast tubeless valve system.
Should you get tubeless tyres?
A new benchmark in tubeless tech?
Tru-Tension, that also makes an alternative take on the humble tyre lever called the Tyre Monkey and bagged investment from Touker Suleyman on Dragon’s Den after presenting a motorbike chain tensioning tool on the show in 2018, makes some pretty big claims about the new Fillfast valve system. It says the product “sets a new benchmark in efficiency and performance”, but how exactly is this new Fillfast valve system hyped to achieve that?
Firstly, it uses anti-clog technology, which is something many tubeless valve systems have adopted now. The problem with sealant is it can clog up and get stuck in the valve, leading to difficulties inflating your tyres. One such valve system we reviewed and found to all-but solve the clogging and mess issues were Reserve’s Fillmore Valves, that received a 9/10 and a road.cc Recommends award in 2023.
Back to Tru-Tension’s new take on the tubeless valve: the brand claims the Fillfast allows for 3.75 times the airflow of a standard Presta valve, encouraging “faster, more efficient inflation.” Thankfully, Tru-Tension isn’t in charge of UK economic policy…
It’s also a universal fit. You can buy the full tubeless valve system kit or a conversion kit which can be used with any existing Presta tubeless valve stems and removable core Presta inner tubes.
The details
So far, we’re not reading anything particularly mind-blowing about this tubeless valve system, but it doesn’t sound bad either. And for £25.99, it’s not to be sniffed at, when competitors like the Muc-Off Big Bore Lite tubeless valves retail for almost double that. The Fillmore valves from Reserve that we mentioned earlier have an RRP of £34.99.
The Fillfast valves are made from 7075 aluminium and are available in six different colours: black, gold, pink, orange, red and oil slick. They’re also available in three different valve lengths: 44mm, 60mm, and 80mm, so you can use them with most deep dish aero wheels.
It sounds pretty simple to use, too. Simply clean the wheel rim, insert the valve, tighten the nut then add the sealant (when the tyre is on). When it’s installed, Tru-Tension claims the Fillfast inflation is “faster and more effective than ever before.”
The Tru-Tension Fillfast system is available to purchase now online and at retailers, priced at £25.99 for the tubeless valves and £15.99 for the Fillfast conversion kits.
8 thoughts on “Tru-Tension claims its new Fillfast tubeless valve system “sets a new benchmark in tubeless tech”, offering four times the airflow of standard Presta valves”
seems odd to not mention the
seems odd to not mention the Filmores in this article, lots of options now emerging for tubelss valves. resisted changing for several years but the filmore were a revelation. expensive, but effective. hoping new competitors can be compared against other types of similar valves rather than presta valves.
Very much liking my filmores,
Very much liking my filmores, with oil slick upgrade.
Agreed. Filmores work great
Agreed. Filmores work great and also look less clunky than alternatives.
Quote:
…but how exactly is this new Fillfast valve system hyped to achieve that [performance]?
… it uses anti-clog technology
Ah, I see – that’s clear then.
I think they’ve been at
I think they’ve been at Molière’s “La malade imaginaire” again…
I very much like my Big Bores
I very much like my Big Bores. Had them on for a couple of months, and they are still flowing nicely. They feel a fair bit easier to inflate and were excellent when seating my tyre. I agree with the comment by Global Nomad. Time for more like for like comparisons.
+1 for the Muc Offs. They
+1 for the Muc Offs. They made fitting tyres which previously needed a trip to the bike shop a cinch. They aren’t cheap, but buying them in Muc Off’s sale made the price easier to bear and the ease of fitting tubeless tyres outweigh the cost in my mind.
I’ve had loads of problems
I’ve had loads of problems with clogged valves since I switched the sealant to Peaty’s.
Peaty’s works well but after a few months I have to start swapping the Presta cores out.
The Schwalbe clik valve system looks like a winner and will shortly be available in the Uk – converting any Presta valve to something that doesn’t clog.
My biggest tubeless tip has been to invest in a makita 18v car tyre inflator. For anyone that already has makita batteries (or another brand with an adapter) it solves the tubeless inflation challenge for £50 ish. I’ve put my track pumps / tubeless inflator pumps in the shed because I never use them now.