Shadowjaxs

My rim tape has a hole where one of the spokes go in to the rim. Replace the all the rim tape or can that little hole be patched with rim tape? I did try to take off the tape but its pretty much glue in really good.

CliffordK

It depends on the tape, and issue. I like black electrical tape for some things, and might use it to patch some rim tape imperfections on my personal bikes.

Velox cloth rim tape used to be popular, but it is a bit thick. Perhaps there are newer, thinner, slicker versions available.

The rubber stuff is ok, but not my preference.

smarkinson

Your patch would need to be a long piece to avoid being pushed into the hole. It's also possible a patch could be moved about when installing the tyre. Particularly if the bead of the tyre gets hooked up against the patch when you are pumping the tyre up. As the tyre inflates this may move the patch. If the patch doesn't stick to the rim tape as well as the existing rim tape does to the rim then again you may have problems with the patch moving.

Excessive rim tape will make it harder to install/uninstall the tyre by making the rim wider.

If the tape is glued in really good it sounds like it is a tubeless rim tape and those little suckers are really difficult to remove but it can be done, eventually.

RPK79

Considering how cheap it is I wouldn't even consider trying to repair what could just as easily be replaced.

Shadowjaxs

It's not the cloth tape it looks like a thin sticker

noodle soup

+1, but I've cut out a little Stan's tape and replaced it with a short length patch of Stan's tape.

shelbyfv

The thin and sticky Stan's or Kapton tape might hold a patch but I would want to check it after awhile, see if it moved. Easier to just replace it.

Andy Somnifac 

This seems to fall into the "Does it save enough money to be worth the effort, time, and chance of failure?" category.

Rim tape is cheap enough that replacing it seems to be a no-brainer.

fietsbob

single wall rim? or double wall

Velox cotton fabric rim tape has its fans, for 40 years//

trailangel

Replace the rim tape now, or keep cell phone with you and hope you have reception, to call somebody.
Why is this even a topic?

dabac

I've been using bundling tape as rim tape for a few years now, and that stuff patches well if you need to create spoke nipple access.

noodle soup

It depends on the tape in question.

Velox tape? Replace the whole thing.

Stan's tubeless tape? Cut out the damaged area, and patch it.

trailangel

^^You sure about that? If it's old and cutting through at one hole, it's only a matter of time before there are other cuts from the rim. Don't be cheap.... you will think about this going 40mph on a downhill.

noodle soup

where did the OP mention the tape was old?

noodle soup

If the tape is the cheap stretchy plastic type, replace it immediately.

Elvo

Velocity Wheels - Hand Made in USA

franswa

mrv 

man, i hope this comes back as a zombie thread one day.... that'd be grate.
my lbs uses Gorilla tape. so now i use Gorilla tape. you should too.

VNA

Replace the all tape and use filament tape it is excellent and less expensive and stronger!

spry

new rims tape is included

Shadowjaxs

Up date the wheel Is a new Dt Swiss wheel, It took a while to get the grip on the tape. I used a razor blade. So it took about ten mins. to get off. Replace with cloth tape. The End