So, in the process of trueing my Jet 4s, I removed the tape. It’s an older, cloth tape. I’m wondering if anyone has come out with a super light or otherwise magical rim tape at which I can throw money. With latex tubes, it’s probably worth it.
JackMott has suggested Stan’s Rim Tape. Anyone second?
SRAM has some cheap stuff (8 bucks a pair) on Amazon. That’s about all I’ve seen.
Experiences?
So, in the process of trueing my Jet 4s, I removed the tape. It’s an older, cloth tape. I’m wondering if anyone has come out with a super light or otherwise magical rim tape at which I can throw money. With latex tubes, it’s probably worth it.
JackMott has suggested Stan’s Rim Tape. Anyone second?
SRAM has some cheap stuff (8 bucks a pair) on Amazon. That’s about all I’ve seen.
Experiences?
Quote, go to the hardware store or office supply store and buy a roll of fiberglass reinforced strapping tape used for packing. If it’s too wide for the rim bed, then cut a slit in the end of the tape at the right width and just pull it off the roll (it will continue to tear at the correct width due to the tear following one of the strands). Put a double-layer of tape on your rim and then cut the hole for the valve stem with an X-acto blade.
Cheap, light, thin, easily available, and VERY good. One can’t complain about that 
There are basically three options. The sort of vinyl SRAM type tape, cloth velox tape, and velocity plugs. The cloth tape is probably the most “set it and forget it” option as I have seen some of the SRAM stuff wear out over time. Veloplugs are the lightest but I’ve never run them with latex. I don’t know if latex would some how squeeze it’s way into the spoke hole.
I like the SRAM stuff
There are basically three options. The sort of vinyl SRAM type tape, cloth velox tape, and velocity plugs. The cloth tape is probably the most “set it and forget it” option as I have seen some of the SRAM stuff wear out over time. Veloplugs are the lightest but I’ve never run them with latex. I don’t know if latex would some how squeeze it’s way into the spoke hole.
I like the SRAM stuff
I’ve found that with cloth tape, latex tubes tend to “grab” onto the small gaps in the fabric weave and after time make it VERY hard to remove the tube without damaging it. The strapping tape I mentioned above is WAY better since it’s perfectly smooth.
BTW, the SRAM rim strips are also pretty good (I’m assuming that’s the same stuff that Zipp provides).
Stan’s is nice, very smooth surface and very light but really made more for creating an airtight seal on tubeless conversions than standard rim taping but it works just fine in that application and yes it’s very light. Veloplugs are also a very light and slick alternative to rim tape.
Whatever you use, make sure it covers all spoke holes completely and is strong/thick enough that high pressure tubes won’t eventually dimple the tape to the point where spoke hole or spoke grommet edges begin to wear through any thin tape. That’s a sure flat for high pressure latex tubes that have a way of finding their way into any irregularity inside the rim/tire setup. Maybe it’s overkill but when I use the thin Stan’s rim tape I’ll run a couple layers even though the stuff is quite strong.
But realistically there’s nothing wrong with a good sturdy cloth tape like Velox for use with latex tubes and high performance race wheels. I doubt there’s any measurable performance advantage to using some other rim tape beyond possible weight differences but at least correctly sized Velox is bombproof even with high pressure latex tubes.
-Dave
Plus 2 for the Stan’s tape. it works very well with latex tubes and has the width to work with the newer wider rims.
Stans is okay, Velox of course is the old staple.
3.5 years later, anything come out that works better than strapping tape?
Velox tape is the best for sure if you just want something reliable that works well.
3.5 years later, anything come out that works better than strapping tape?
After having experience with it for a tubeless setup, I now use the yellow “Stan’s tape” type stuff for everything, tubed and tubeless. It’s also what comes with the new Hed wheels. Good stuff.
Velox tape (or any other thick tape) works quite poorly with tubeless compatible rims and tight aramid fiber beaded tires.
Stans is it for me. More expensive, probably, but you can get a nice big roll to keep on hand that will do several wheels. Like Tom A. I run both tubed and tubeless tires and so it is easier to stock just one kind of tape in my garage. If you take the extra 30 seconds to put it on right (stretch it really tight) it goes on clean and stays put for good.
As others have said, nothing wrong with cloth tape (velox) as long as you have the right width for your rims. If you use tape that is too thin it can creep around (especially with overzealous tire levers) and cause problems. Redeeming factor for cloth tape is you can re-use it if you really have to, but I generally consider rim tape a disposable item.
Why do you use tape.
Velo Plugs all the way
I have used the fiberglass tape, overall not bad for most wheels.
Until you have to remove it, as the tape’s glue is very tenacious.
But for my race wheels (16 and 20 spokes), I like the veloplugs. No need to have a tape covering mostly blank rim (with so few spokes, these wheels are more black rim than spoke hole). The veloplugs are simple, light, affordable. Just get the right size for your spoke holes.
I have used the fiberglass tape, overall not bad for most wheels.
Until you have to remove it, as the tape’s glue is very tenacious.
But for my race wheels (16 and 20 spokes), I like the veloplugs. No need to have a tape covering mostly blank rim (with so few spokes, these wheels are more black rim than spoke hole). The veloplugs are simple, light, affordable. Just get the right size for your spoke holes.
Knowing the elasticity of latex tubes, and how they don’t do well expanded against sharp edges…the edges of the veloplugs always have given me pause as to whether or not to run them with latex tubes. The Stan’s tape just seems a smoother and more solid solution.
Plus, I can run tubed or tubeless tires on the same rim just by swapping in a valve stem, which is a bonus.
I always heard that latex was LESS likely to puncture flat, because of its elasticity
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I always heard that latex was LESS likely to puncture flat, because of its elasticity
There’s a difference between being exposed to a sharp edge temporarily and being exposed to it continually. Latex does well on the former, and not so well on the latter.
I guess you could say it’s highly elastic, but it also can “creep”.
I picked up some Shimano C24 wheels on the classifieds. They had just one layer of electrical tape.
Latex tube went flat and I assumed user error (I have installed a latex tube maybe a dozen times with only one other issue). I swapped out for my spare (butyl) and it developed a leak and I had to limp back home.
No plans to run these tubeless, but other than cost, it seems that Stans will have no downside. I thought about the Veloplugs, but all those potential nooks and crannies make me nervous about latex sneaking in there.
Yellow veloplugs work great with HED wheels. I use them on my TT bike with latex tubes.
Knowing the elasticity of latex tubes, and how they don’t do well expanded against sharp edges…the edges of the veloplugs always have given me pause as to whether or not to run them with latex tubes.
Good points.
That said, here is my n=1 approach. I have used veloplugs for 3 years with the same set of latex tubes on some zipp AL/carbon wheels. What I did was hammer in the veloplugs thoroughly (checking that they fully seated) and also check every single one for any sharp plastic edges. Just did this once on the install. I had zero problems for 3 seasons, however, when I changed tires, I did notice that there were some abrasions on the inside of the latex tubes at some of the veloplug locations. So, since then, I still run the veloplugs, but just wrap the rim once with a thin layer of electrical tape (not for holding the tube pressure, just to reduce any abrasion issues with the inside of the tube).