"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Tufo Tubular Tape........

anyone use it? if so how do you like it.

I don't own tubulars, but the people I know who do say skip the tape. go with glue.

I don't own tubulars, but the people I know who do say skip the tape. go with glue.

well thats my thinking,......but gluing can be a real pain in the ass......my LBS was telling me about the Tufo tape and said it was great, just wanted to know if anyone else has tried it......

I tried this product once and didn't like it because it wasn't much easier to use than glue. A friend used it and rolled his tire. I say, glue!

I don't glue, all I use is the Tufo Extreme tape, and have been for years. Much stronger bond than glue and handles higher temperatures better. Also much less time consuming to properly mount a tire.

It's recommended ONLY for Tufo tires, which have an exposed cotton base layer. The tape is two sided, and you need to be aware of which side goes towards the rim, which side goes towards the tire, because the tire side has a pressure activated adhesive that bonds into the cotton.

I've used it with non Tufo tires, it will work, but not as well unless you remove the latex coating that's over the cotton layer on most non Tufo tires.

Anyone who's rolled a tire with this tape, especially the Extreme tape, didn't apply it correctly. Period. And please don't bother to dig up the one online study where they compared it to glue, because, as they say up front, they used it on a non Tufo tire and didn't scrape the latex layer off...just terrific science.

I've read of some people saying you can't use it with Zipp rims because of delamination problems, I've used it and haven't had an issue. Here's Zipp's take:

• Can I use Tufo tape? Yes and no. Rather, at your own risk. Some folks have used Tufo tape exclusively with our wheels without issue. There are two types- regular and Extreme, which is intended for warmer weather use and is VERY sticky. In some rare cases, removal of the Extreme tape has actually pulled the carbon tire bed away from the rim, ruining the rim. In these instances, it is our policy to offer crash replacement pricing on a new rim, but we WILL NOT cover it under the manufacturer’s warranty.

FYI: I've used it on Reynolds and Zipp carbons, and a half dozen types of aluminum rims.

I use it and like it.
Carbon wheels/ non-tufo tires

I have used the Extreem with Tufo tires and AL rims. No chance in hell you are going to roll a tire with it...nice and easy to mount a tire...be sure you get all of the tape backing off (I had an issue with this but I figured it out before riding).

there is also a version of tubular tape available from cyclocross world that I have been using for the last year with non tufo tubulars, you use it with a thin application of glue on tire and rim. Its been bullet proof for me but then I've never rolled a tubular with the old method either, I'm a little curious how it even happens.

Extreme tape used with conti tires. Never had a problem. VERY easy to apply and you can perfectly mount your tire (centered) every time.

the warranty on some carbon rims are voided if u use tape instead of glue. just something to think about.

any of you tape-types got any tips for removing the stuff when you need to replace a tire?

Peel off all you can then warm the residue with a heat gun. GENTLY.

It pretty much rolls off.

ahhhh heat gun. ok, gotcha. I'd be real hesitant to try that on carbon rims, but on aluminum i'll give it a go.

Peel off all you can then warm the residue with a heat gun. GENTLY.

It pretty much rolls off.
What about aceton?
I think I will give a tape a try next time I need to remount a tire. Was thinking of trying Tufos anyway. Right now I use Conti Tires with their glue on Ritchey carbon wheels. Works well, just kind of PITA to remove and somewhat time consuming to put on.

ahhhh heat gun. ok, gotcha. I'd be real hesitant to try that on carbon rims, but on aluminum i'll give it a go.

Carbons are fine, they actually hold less heat than aluminum, the key is to just get the glue warm.

Acetone might work, and lacquer thinner is pretty good too is there a little residue.

One of my friends has ripped off sections of the tire bed on his Zipp 404 rim simply by pulling off a traditionally-glued tire. I haven't seen or heard of anyone with problems with their tape, though.

I used it for my cyclocross wheelset and I will never use it again. I couldn't believe how easy it was to pull a tire off with that tape :eek:

I also don't like how you are restricted to using Tufo tires. There are other tapes on the market out there and what a lot of cross racers will do is use a layer of glue on each side of the tape and the tires base tape. I've seen this set up work quite well but if you are going through all that trouble you may as just use glue.

One of my friends has ripped off sections of the tire bed on his Zipp 404 rim simply by pulling off a traditionally-glued tire. I haven't seen or heard of anyone with problems with their tape, though.


i have heard of ppl ripping sections off of the tire bed of carbon rims with tape. never with glue.

I've used it with non Tufo tires, it will work, but not as well unless you remove the latex coating that's over the cotton layer on most non Tufo tires.


any suggestions on taking the latex coating off?

any suggestions on taking the latex coating off?

Use something fairly blunt, I've used a thickish feeler gauge, or a brass wire brush type attachment on a dremel (on slooooooowwwwwww).

Use something fairly blunt, I've used a thickish feeler gauge, or a brass wire brush type attachment on a dremel (on slooooooowwwwwww).

i forsee a credit card bill of countless tubulars........all in the bin with dremal holes in them....;)

Extreme tape, conti tires, Cane Creek Carbon rims. I was very impressed with the ease of installation, and bond once it was done. I flatted just a few rides later, and had to peel the bad boy off. Just as hard to do as when it was glued.