Peek the Geek

How does one determine which width rim tape to use on a wheel. I.e., what all should the tape be covering?

cascade168

Velox comes in 10mm, 17mm, and 22mm. The 10 is for super skinny road rims and deep-V's. 17 is for most road rims (like OP's). 22 is for 26" stuff (i.e. MTB). I keep some of each around and when I build a wheel I just set one of the rolls in the rim. It's pretty obvious which width is the right size. Most rims have a flat part of the cross section. You can measure that and see what will fit. If it's a little bigger (say 18 or 19 mm), that's not a problem. Remember, all you are trying to accomplish is to cover the spoke holes.

HillRider

Actually, the narrowest (10 mm) Velox is intended for rather wide road rims. These typically have a depressed spoke hole track in the center of the rim and the tape covers just that section. The most common width is 17 mm for typical high-performance road rims like Open Pros, CXP-33's and the like with the spoke hole bed the full width of the rim. As noted, 22 mm is for MTB rims.

cascade168

Actually, I used the 10mm on some CXP21's and it was perfect. Every rim is different and lots of them have a very narrow channel where the spoke holes are. YMMV.

vol

My bike is hybrid with tires 700x35c. From the outside the rim width measures 24mm. What Velox rim tape should I buy? 17mm or 21mm? (sorry I don't know the rim width measures from inside) Kenda K-192 w/Kshield 700x35c, Rims: Weinmann CN520

(Also if unsure, should I err on the narrower side?)

Andrew R Stewart 

The real issue is the width of th inside part of the rim that the tape has to cover. For single wall rims made of extruded Alu this is often the 10mm wide strip. For double wall rims of narrow width or wide but with a step just inside of the tire bead seat the 17 or 16 width is the usual. For really wide double wall rims the 22mm strip is likely. But the REAL answer is "wear the shoe that fits".

This issue of judgment is where the LBS can help. Andy.

vol

Just found more info about my bike's rims: Weinmann CN520. There is a picture here (in lower right corner) showing some dimensions from inside. It seems the rim tape has to be much less than the 19.60 mm, so maybe 16-17mm (which?) will work?

techsensei

Looking at the rim on Weinmann's site, I'd say the 10mm.

vol

Thanks.

Looigi

The "all" in this case is anything that can damage the tube. If there are holes in the rim bed to access recessed nipples. the tape needs to be wide enough to cover the holes and have at least a couple of mm on each side of the holes so that the tape can't fall into the hole allowing the tube to bulge into the hole or possibly get cut by the sharp edge of the hole. If it's a rim where tube would rest on the heads of the nipples, the tape should be wide enough to cover the nipples so the tube doesn't contact any sharp edges on the nipples. The width of the rim doesn't matter, except in limiting the width of the tape to that which won't interfere with the tire beads.

Bezalel

Based on this photo I'd say 10mm.

vol

Thanks. Glad I asked here before going ahead to buy the wider ones.

Btw, I wonder what the advantage of that strange inner structure of this rim is? In particular, any relation to the fact that (1) I had only 1 flat in 3+ years, and (2) that only flat was caused by a tear in the rim tape near the valve stem, causing the spoke puncturing the tube?

mrrabbit 

Agree...

10mm

=8-)