Why rim tape

Once you have peeled off a few centimetres or so you will see that the very beginning of the tape has a small hole in it. This is for the valve and needs to be positioned over the valve hole in your rim. Press down firmly so that the tape sticks. Next, grab a screw driver and shove it through the valve hole. Even though the tape is adhesive the force needed to pull it from the roll can cause what has already been placed on the rim to slip slightly.

This remedies that situation ensuring that when you finally get all the way around the rim, the hole in the tape still lines up with the valve hole in the rim. Trust me, this simple precaution will save you hassles later on. Once you have positioned the tape over the valve hole you need to keep peeling the tape off the roll and pressing it firmly into the rim recess.

I like to peel off about 20 centimetres at a time. It is important to make sure that the tape is pressed evenly into the recess and not allowed to creep higher up one side of the rim wall than the other. This ensures that the spoke holes are well and truly covered.

With the wheel held between my knees, I slowly rotate it around as I apply the tape a few centimetres at a time, making sure I follow everything outlined above. Instead, we recommend using a wide tape that reaches from rim wall to rim wall.

This may complicate the fitting process, but it provides the best option for a secure covering of all rim holes. Wait for your discount code before making your order, it will arrive at the address you enter below!

By signing up you agree to allow Schwalbe Tires North America to send you emails and other promotional materials. You may unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy. While you're fitting the loop, it can, and will, slip around the rim as you manhandle it into position in the rim bed. We use a screwdriver shaft dropped through the lined up tape and rim valve hole to effectively lock them together while you're fitting the remainder of the loop. As you work around the rim circumference, away from the valve hole keep a good level of tension on the tape.

This will cause the side of the tape to curl up a fraction, narrowing the tape and making it easier for it to be seated in the rim bed. When you get to the last section is can be very tricky to snap it over the rim wall with you fingers as they get in the way a bit.

We use another screwdriver instead. When you get to the last six inches or so, slide the shaft of the screwdriver under the tape and use it to lever the last bit into position. After it snaps into the rim bed run the screwdriver right around the outer edge of the rim as shown to even out the tape tension around the rim. Remove the locking screwdriver from the valve hole and carefully withdraw the one you've just used to install and even out the tape. Give the tape a visual inspection to ensure that it is fitted squarely into the rim bed and isn't creeping up the sidewalls - which is why buying the right width tape for your rims is important.

Traditionalists will love the fabric tape with self adhesive backing, it comes on a roll and in different widths. It's probably the easiest rim tape to fit. Again like the loop rim tape as you apply it you should try to maintain a good even tension. This will help seat the tape and ensure the tape sticks well to the rim bed.

The roll of tape will be a bit longer than the rim, so use a sharp pair of scissor to trim the excess off. I like to trim the two ends for fit flush up next to each other, rather than overlapping. Air tight tubeless tape like this fits in a similar way.

Pre-cut rim tape. Cut to a standard rim dimension with a pre drilled valve hole. Rim tape types There are rubber ones, made of material similar to the one used for tubes. Rubber rim tape, pre cut to a size. High quality high pressure rim tape. Bicycle wheel rim types There are simple single wall rims, where spoke nipples are screwed onto the rim interior, so that rim tape goes directly over the spoke nipples: Single wall rim.

Rim tape lies directly over the spoke nipples. Modern rims are usually double walled and made of aluminium. Tape for tubeless-ready rims Tubeless are the tyres without the inner tubes.

DT Swiss rim tape for sealing tubeless-ready rims Amazon affiliate link Such rim tapes have to seal very well, to prevent any air leaking through spoke holes in the rim — because tubeless tyres have no tubes to hold the air. Optimal rim-tape width Rim tape should fit the lower, flat rim section completely — from wall to wall. What exact rim tape width do you need?

For tubeless-ready rims with tubeless tyres, take a rim tape that is 3 to 5 mm wider, depending on how much the rim is curved, and how tall the sidewalls are. Valve that can be placed and screwed in place , to hold the rim tape while it is being mounted.

Choose the size for your wheels rims.