So, I hate standard presta valve stems. They're threaded, which lets you tighten a little useless nut down to your rim, but that also means the valve on my pump is nearly impossible to get on or off of them. I've been pulling valve stems out of tubes lately because my pump just sticks to my damn valve stems.

I've seen non-threaded ones before, but I don't know where to find them. Anyone know a place that sells them online?

I had some by chance several years ago and I think they were all Michelin. It might have been one style, I don't know, they were standard 700c. I think I still have some at home, I'll check tonite. Of course, this was some years ago and things may be different now.

I don't like them myself, as my foot pump head slips off them as I try pump them up.

I believe Giant-branded tubes are not threaded.

I always just pick up whatever Michelin tubes they have at the local LBS. The ones I've bought for 700c have never been threaded, but I never paid attention to exactly what model name they are. But I have to say, I've never had trouble with a pump head on the threaded ones either. Are you sure there isn't something wrong with how tightly the rubber in the head is compressed down by the cap which screws down on it?

+1

I like the threaded stems and nuts. They allow me to easily attach and detach my pump head. (that sounded a little dirty, no? )

... Brad

Yeah, seems there's something wrong here, either with the pump, or maybe the valve hole in the rim has too sharp an edge, or something. I've never had this problem in many years and with many different pumps.

BTW the little nut isn't entirely useless - I find that it facilitates getting the pump on when the tube is deflated (i.e. after a tube repair or change).

REI (Novara?) branded tubes now have threadless presta valves - M

I have Michelin tubes with presta valves that do not have threads. They're kinda hard to find because these ones are made in France. Colorado Cyclist used to sell them. I wonder if they still do.

I think Google has them

Maybe it varies. I bought several Giant tubes on closeout at Performance a couple years ago and they were all Kendas with threaded stems.

I can confirm the one Michelin Airstop tube I have here is not threaded.

The Specialized Airlock tubes I bought last year are threadless. Personally I prefer the threaded variety since it makes it much easier for me to get my pump on the stem when there's no air in it, but to each his own. I know a lot of rims don't really have much of a place for the nut to seat, which would limit the utility of it.

+1 for a good laugh.

Michelin tubes are unthreaded and very high quality. Performance often has them on sale, and then I stock up. I absolutely hate threaded stems on tubes -- they tear up the valve in your pump over time. They are a curse, and don't use them if you have a decent pump.

For me I start pulling the valves off the tube when the tubes are getting older and starting to dry out. I have Novara threadless ones from REI ($5), but I've found that even when those get old and dry I can still pull them off.

So, I went back to threaded and I put a nut on the inside of the rim to prevent this, as well as one on the outside. I was afraid it would rub the tube on the inside and cause flats, but so far it hasn't, and it works pretty well.

I have done it this way for years with no problems. The nut on the inside acts as a strain relief when I pull the pump head off.

I found some Giant branded tubes with threadless stems at an LBS near my work, but the nut on the inside of the rim is a pretty clever idea, too.

This is a six year old thread but it was useful. I recently bought some non-threaded presta tubes. I've been riding for more than a few years. This is the first time I've seen non-threaded presta valve tubes; good to know that some folks love them and some hate them (sort of like most issues on BF, ).

If it's an issue.. You are pushing the Air chuck on too far .. it doesn't have to be that far down,

all presta valve stems have a smooth ring between the coarse cap thread, and the fine ring nut thread ..

that is as far as I ever put the silca pump head on and the gasket doesnt wear out, either , then