Bicycle Mechanics - Which rim tape?

With tyres able to go above 10bar nowadays, which rim tape is best for clincher rims? I had some bad luck lately in racing, with new cloth rim tape, which damaged the tubes, by wearing them through within 300km. I find Michelin rim strips do not last long, with pressures above 10bar.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Snowplug:
With tyres able to go above 10bar nowadays, which rim tape is best for clincher rims? I had some bad luck lately in racing, with new cloth rim tape, which damaged the tubes, by wearing them through within 300km. I find Michelin rim strips do not last long, with pressures above 10bar.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have used Velox rim tape with no problem for years. I don't know the conversion from PSI to bar, but I have run tires up to 140PSI and have never had any problems with Velox.

If this is the type of tape you have used and has given problems, make sure you are getting the right size. They make three sizes, I believe, so make sure the one you get is wide enough to cover the nipple seats, but not so wide it gets in the way of the tire.

Ritchey also makes a good rim strip which I have used successfully at high pressures: 120/140lbs. You need to have the strip (velox or ritchey) FLAT inside the rim.

Velox and Ritchey are great. I have also just used Rox ultralight rim strips, tires inflated to 130lbs. no problems with over 700 miles.

I love the blue rim strips Performance sells. I began getting flats and noticed the fabricy stuff on my first road bike was deteriorating and bunching up. Switched to the blue stuff and never got a spoke induced flat again. My new road bike too. Replaced the rubbery Walmart-like crap that was on there with the blue strips and no problems. I keep my tires arround 120 psi. It's also probably the same thing as those green ones Nashbar sells.

correction the ones Nashbar sells are black.

Velox is the standard, it is cheap, readily available, and more than adequate for most cyclists' needs.

If you had problems that can be directly attributed to the rim tape within 300km, I would strongly suspect that either the wrong size was used, and/or it was applied to the rim incorrectly.

the blue performance stuff melts on steep descents.

I have always used Velox (or the Performance knock-off of it), but recently they were out of it so I tried the Rox strips and they seem to be holding up fine as well.

Schwalbe rim strips. High pressure, cheap, light, and they last a loooong time.

A roll of free cloth bandage tape works for me. For higher presures I would just use an extra layer of tape.

Anyone have any experience with Velocity Veloplugs?

Anyone have any experience with Velocity Veloplugs?
I decided not to try them after reading how many people have had problems with them.

the blue performance stuff melts on steep descents.

You must either have carbon rims or are riding your brakes too much down hill...be careful or you might over pressure your tires and blow them off the rims. I live in the rockies now and get out to the Bay Area only every couple of years...I can't remember anything long or steep enough to heat Alloy rims up that much. Alternate the use of your brakes for starters. Good Luck

For those who wonder: 10 bars = 145 psi (give or take a few)


My tires are inflated at 90 psi (6.2 bars) and I use Vélox cloth tape, some plastic rim tape and even some rubber rim "tape" that feels like it were made from an old tire tube. All do their job properly but the rubber rim tape is the hardest to keep in place.

Apart from the width of the rim tape, there are a few other things to check:

– sand or stone pebbles present in the tire or on the rim
– pieces of glass "forgotten" last time you fixed a flat
– spokes that are too long and protrude through the rim tape.

I have had the same issue...the Performance blue plastic rims strips softened and allowed the tube to burst. I use aluminum rims, 110-115 psi, and normal braking. The blow out on the front wheel occurred after descending...basically it failed at a most critical time!
...OK, so back to cloth or a plastic that can take the heat!

The Performance fabric cloth is made in France. I wonder who makes it?....

Take a look at the Continental "High Pressure" rim tape........
http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=COETP
Installs easily ....then forget about it....

Velox is great but can add a bit too much thickness in the middle when using really tight tires. With stuff that's difficult to mount, every little bit counts.

While I have used Velox for years, I've tried Pedro's out of necessity, since the LBS was out of Velox and I wanted to ride NOW. So far, it works as well as Velox.