Rim Tape - Overlap or Butt ends
 

I have been getting a lot of mystery flats lately and decided to change the rim tape since it is the original factory "nylon strips" that came with the bike three years ago. My flats always seem to come from the rim side. I noticed that the spoke holes in the rim do appear to be causing my problem. I have purchased some “Velox” rim tape to replace the factory garbage that is on my rims now. So my question is, do I overlap the ends or do I pull nice and snug and butt the two ends evenly next to each other?

The factory job overlapped at the stem hole, but I’m not sure if this is the correct thing to do.

as long as the stem hole is clear, just overlap it.

I do both depending on the rim. Rims that are difficult to get the tire on, I butt the ends. For rims that the tires go on easily, I just overlap.

You should overlap it.

There is no reason to overlap. It can make tires harder to install and might interfere with the bead seating.

I butt the ends just making sure the seam is more or less centered between two spoke holes. Most OEM wheels overlap the tape but, as noted, this can make tight tires a bit more difficult to mount and remove.

I overlap about an inch. It's a small area in the grand scheme of things and makes the tires no easier or harder to install.

Butt the ends. The adhesive is more likely to lose its grip on the fabric than on the rim itself.

Velox is great stuff. Had the same problem with mystery flats as you. Stripped off the cheap plastic strips and installed the Velox. End of mystery flats.

Oh yeah, I overlapped them with no problems.

If you overlap, the adhesive losing its grip on the fabric is a good thing. Makes the tape easier to peel off and put back on. Velox is very reusable;)

Exactly right, as long as the rim is free of oil or grease. I prefer to cut the tape so as to leave a gap at the valve hole.Having the spoke heads or holes covered is what matters.

Dunno. I've seen valve holes every bit a sharp as spoke holes and presta tubes are pretty vulnerable at the valve stem base. I center the pre-punched hole in Velox tape over the valve hole.

Eh? I dunno. I'd rather it stay on there. You can always get it off if you really want to, but I'd prefer it not to come off otherwise.

Yeah, because you're doing it wrong.

Lots of people using Velo Plugs with no issues. They do nothing for the valve hole.

If your rim tape is anywhere near your tire, then the rim tape is too wide. Get a narrower size.

Not true, the velox should cover the wall of the rim from the hook bead on one side of the rim, to the other. The smaller size of velox is VERY narrow, and will probably leave your spoke holes partially exposed. The tire should sit on the rim tape, but the tape should not be overlapped.

+1, the tube is reinforced at the valve. The valve hole is not likely to puncture your tube.

All things being equal - I join the ends so they touch, but not overlap. I just disassembled a pair of wheels I built back in 1982. They'd been in storage for 5 years. The Velox rimtape was still somewhat sticky and right where I put it.

Hmm... that is an interesting take on rim tape. My rims (which I have been riding on for 4 years) are NOT set up as you describe. I have JUST ENOUGH velox to cover the spoke holes and not even a little more.

Current score:

overlap ends - 6
butt ends - 6

New score:
overlap ends - 6
butt ends - 6
doesn't matter - 1

As long as the pressure of the tire doesn't push the tape into the holes, just covering the holes - with a little extra overlap - is an acceptable way to put in the tape. There's no real need to fill the rim from bead to bead.

In normal usage, the tape shouldn't come off. The pressure in the tires will hold it in place. After the pressure has been released, the tape is still pretty hard to remove...even when it overlaps with the cloth.

Since there is no clear cut winner and one way is not obviously better than the other, I think the real conclusion is: Doesn't matter.