tshelver

Living in South Africa for the past few years. Last year I bought a Trek 7300 with two wheelsets. The narrower tires didn't hold pressure well, so I swapped out the the set with 32mm tires.

I then stripped the tires off the narrow wheelset, and hard pieces of rim liner fell out. I guess this is what had caused the previous issues.

Rim tape at the local bike shop is only available in bigger (more expensive rolls), else they will charge to retape.

I am moving to a smaller country town where access to well-stocked cycle shops is slightly more problematic. What would make a 'reasonable' (not perfect) and cost effective substitute? I have taped the rim with electrical tape for now, but suspect I may need at least 2 layers. The other alternative is maybe cloth wiring / electrical tape, which should be available in the hardware store.

Or am I being naive and have to go online and pay shipping charges (and wait) for the 'real thing'?

Garthr

Shipping/strapping filament tape works just fine and comes in various widths. Here's a 3M page which gives you an idea of what may be available in your country. I've had it on a set of rims for years and it just works.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/c/tapes/filament/

CliffordK

I've tried cloth electrical tape, but I think it often is sticky on both sides and makes a bit of a mess.

Do you have single walled or double walled rims? The tape requirements may be different for the two, as the single walled rims just needs one to cover the nipples, and the double walled rims need support over the holes.

Cloth handlebar tape may also substitute for rim tape, but probably isn't any cheaper than the rim tape.

With newer tighter fitting tires/rims, I've pretty much given up on the cloth tapes, and started getting plastic rim tapes. Usually ordering a few from overseas bike shops.

I have intended to experiment with various heavy duty tapes, like packing tape, but ultimately it wasn't needed.

SurferRosa

https://www.ebay.com/itm/393314587452

​​​​​​

3alarmer 

...use the Kapton tape. You can get it in rolls in various widths, and it is easier to remove sometime in the future, than fiberglass strapping tape (which does work, but the adhesive tends to petrify after a while).
I usually use a couple of full wraps of Kapton tape. It's tough, so use something like an ice pick to punch the valve stem hole.

SurferRosa

Same. Two wraps. But I start on one side of the valve and end on the other side. Cut with a razor blade.

maddog34

or use one of these...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/30376558849...Bk9SR8zS9bCrYg

FBinNY 

My old standby is cloth surgical (first aid) tape. Though the cloth version is getting scarcer as plastic is taking over, it's still available at most retail drug stores. A roll is cheap enough, and any left over can be kept and used with your other first aid supplies, so no waste.

oldbobcat

Gorilla Tape, if you can get it. Also, the cheap rubber rim strips most shops sell for about a dollar work fine as long as your pressures are below 80 psi (5.3 atm).

_ForceD_

+1 on the Kapton tape.

Dan

Jeff Neese

I wouldn't ride with electrical tape in there for very long. Even with two layers, it's still going to move around and create a sticky mess. I've done it in an emergency (two layers) but replaced it as soon as I could.

If you have to order something, why not just go with Velox? You're not going to find anything better - it lasts forever and doesn't move. Plus it's available in a number of different widths.

Keefusb

Velox or Pedro's rim tape would be my first choice. In a pinch, fiber-reinforced packing tape, or cloth first aid tape will work, but I have found that the first aid tape leaves a sticky mess like electrical tape. You can order Velox or Pedro's rim tape from most reputable online bike parts sources or Amazon. REI retail brick and mortar stores usually carry them as well.

BNB

I'm looking for an alternative to Velox which isn't working for me though it has worked fine on other rims for years. I need tape that sits in the "well" of this rim so it doesn't interfere with with the tire seating properly. The rim is H Plus Son Hydra. I had a bike that had yellow "shiny" tape that was wrapped twice around the rim but don't know what it was. Any ideas for tape that won't slip or what that yellow rim tape might have been?

Troul 

are plugging the holes prior to applying the tape?

BNB

Never done that nor ever seen it done. chewing gum?? or what? 😳

BNB

Never done that nor ever seen it done. chewing gum?? or what? 😳

andrewclaus

The yellow tape may have been Stans tubeless tape. I've used that on several wheel sets for several years and it seems to work fine.

Spoke holes can be plugged with Veloplugs in lieu of tape. I just tried them for the first time last month and they seem to be fine, but they do add diameter making tires harder to mount. That's the main reason I normally use Stans or Kapton.

easyupbug 

+1 as Dan said on the Kapton tape.

Crankycrank

Looks like you have 13mm Velox tape. Velox has a 10mm width if that would work. Velox 10Mm Rim Tape Sold as Each | eBay

Troul 

if leaking with just one of the options stills occurs, try dabbing the plugs in an anaerobic sealant & using tubeless specific rim tape that crowds the least of the inner rim area.

smd4

Why anyone would use anything other than Velox is beyond me.

BNB

I'll repost my picture to help answer your question.

smd4

That apparently only happens to you. Probably from running your tire pressure too low.