…or have a lifespan?? How often does it need to be replaced?
no.
No? Never? I replaced it on a set of wheels about 4 years and 4000 miles ago and had my first flat. There was a small puncture on the rim (tape) side and my only guess is that the tape was pushed far enough into the spoke hole that it caused it? It was just a guess… It was the same tube I put in 4 years ago.
No? Never?
No. Never. Like the Ronco informercial…set it and forget it.
Replace it when it no longer does the job. If you are talking about the good stuff like velox, it will be a long, long time.
Hmmm… Well I would say yes, it does “wear out”; or more accurately, fail.
Over time, and particularly on higher pressure tires, the tape will slowly push down into the holes for the spokes. At some point, the edge of the hole gets exposed, and you will start getting tube punctures as a result. This often takes several years (2-4), but it does happen even with Velox, which I use, and have to replace every few years.
Paul
Thats exactly what I was thinking… I guess I should have said “fail” instead. I think this is what occured… thanks
Rim tape does wear/fail. I have DNF’d before because the end of the spokes had punctured the rim tape and I kept getting flats next to the rim. It took me awhile to find out. Check your tape if your have hit a pothole, etc. and needed to true your wheel or if you needed a spoke changed. It does not take much to puncture a tube if the tape is a little worn at the spoke end.
FYI,
Does anyone know if you should put rim tape on a HED 3 wheel? I initially thought no, but I noticed a small inscribed/engraved mark on the inside of the rim with a Serial No. or manufacturing number of some kind. I went ahead and put rim tape on as a precaution. I did not want to that small “indenture” to eventually wear on the tube and cause a flat over time, especially during a long course race.
The Hed3 question has been asked before: consensus is “no tape”. That being said, I had a little unused rim tape left over on a roll and used it to tape over the hole for the valve stem when I put new tires on my H3 a month or so ago. Didn’t do the whole rim though.
Mystery flats can come from rim tape that’s either worn out, not installed well, or sharp on the edge (ie not Velox, but some plastic versions)
Enough velox for a wheel is like $4. Well worth it, as it’s cheaper than a single tube if you’re puncturing and not sure why.