Gran Fondo

Well, my new dedicated race wheel set arrived today. They are Easton EC90SL tubulars. Now I'm in the research mode for tires (favoring the Vittoria CX III so far). There are two ways to mount them... glue or tape. So which is the preferred method? What are the pros and cons of each?

kleng

Tufo tape is less messy, easier to remove but heavier than glue.

You can basically tape a tubular wheelset in 5 minutes

Aged Veloflex Extreme's with 30ml of Stan's no tubes are great for a supple tubular

My current favourite tubular is the Tufo Elite Jet <160, running at 140psi, because it's so light at 160gm.

miamijim

Tape.

carpediemracing 

I'm old fashioned and prefer glue. One of my goals is to never roll a tire. You don't want to cause a crash by rolling a tire. It not only can get you suspended but it's really poor form. I was at three races in a row where someone rolled a tire, and I've seen them as recently as last summer.

Tubulars should be really stuck on. If I flatted a tubular on a training ride I'd realistically have to ride the tire because I don't carry tools that give me leverage to pry off a well glued tire (some tongue in cheek in that post but you get the idea, it shouldn't be easy or convenient to remove a tubular).

Gluing tires isn't that difficult, it just takes a bit of time, some patience, and some well applied force (to stretch the tire over the rim). The most "under pressure" glue job I did was when the Missus went to the hospital to be induced, something we hadn't expected. Since I had a race in 3 days and I had a flat rear I decided to glue a new tire on the rim before I went to the hospital. With no prior prep (no tire stretching etc) it took me something like 10-15 minutes to do a proper glue job. No baby that week, I raced fine, and Junior arrived a week later. And yes, I raced again the day after he was born (since I was the promoter for those races I sort of had to go, baby or no baby).

Personally I like the Vittoria EVO tires. They're made on a round form, not from a cotton tube rolled into a ball. I've had good experiences with Bontragers (made in the same factory I think). Based on that the Michelins and Specialized tires should be good also, since I think they're made in the same place. I'd try the Michelins except the shop that sponsors our team is a Bontrager dealer so I try to buy those from him. More thoughts on tire selection.

OldTryGuy

Preferred glue over tape back in early '80s because of rolling tires, but if the tape has been vastly improved I might consider it.

merlinextraligh

I prefer glue for the reasons CDR states, as well as some concern about the potential for tape to delaminate carbon rims on removal.

topflightpro

Glue.

Unless you only plan to use them in TTs, avoid tape.

As CDR said, it's a lot easier to glue on tires than peopel often let on. Go to Harbor Freight and for $3 you can buy a big bag of Acid Brushes for applying the glue. I buy Vittoria glue in the little tubes, though I tend to buy a box at a time. And like CDR, I ride tubulars all the time.

As for tires, I have Vittoria Evos and Continental GP4000s. The Vittorias are such great tires, but they lose air quickly. Also, and this may have changed, Vittorias do not use replaceable valve cores, but rather replaceable valve stems. It's an important distinction, as I keep a bottle of Stans with me should I flat, and I cannot put Stans into the Vittorias. The GP4000s are nice too.

coachboyd

Glue is for wheels and tape is for presents.

More specifically, there is no reason why anybody should use anything other than Vittoria Mastik One glue. These are your race wheels, don't cut corners and be lazy by using tape. You'll especially be upset if the tape lets the tire roll off and you destroy your new race wheels.

stealthbiker

I'd vote for glue but I've been so long removed from using tubulars that my opinion isn't really worth anything. But I do have to tell this story.

Back in 1983 was racing a series of criteriums in the Quad Cities area of Illinois and a group of us were staying at one of the official's houses. Before one of the races - a race with a nasty switch-back climb and then a steep, fast descent he (the official) was doing tire checks. He grabbed the tire of one fellow down at the other side of the start line - and almost hurt himself when the tire totally rolled off. They talked and the fellow pulled out of the starting line. That evening when we were relaxing with a beer I asked the official what the story was. He had asked the fellow what sort of glue he used on his tires since it totally peeled off without much effort. He said the guy just looked at him and said "glue?". If he had somehow made it to the bottom of the descent he would have taken out anyone around him when that tire had come off. Yikes!

coachboyd

It's actually in the rulebook where if you roll a tire you can get suspended for a set time, and if you roll a tire that causes other people to crash the suspension is longer.

Psimet2001 

Glue. It isn't even really up for discussion. Anything less is a lazy cop out and bound for an eventual failure.

I was having a conversation with a pro team DS last year and we were talking about UCI wheel certifications. His statement, "wheels aren't hurting my guys. Rolled tubulars hurt a ton more guys than wheels do. They should UCI certify those who glue them on." I did and do agree with him completely. Don't f around. Glue them up.

miamijim

So all y'all are saying glued tires don't roll?

canam73

Mine haven't. I've only successfully removed one without destroying it.

Psimet2001 

Where did I say glued tires don't roll? When they are glued on correctly though you would be hard pressed to roll it....or even remove it without ruining the tire.

coachboyd

Mine don't!
In fact for me to remove a tire I usually leave the wheel inside my car on a sunny day to help soften the glue enough to make it manageable to remove.

JohnDThompson 

A properly glued tire won't roll. Then again, tape has improved considerably to the point where I find it just as reliable.

There are some studies that suggest a wheel with a properly glued tire will have lower rolling resistance than the same wheel with a taped tire, if that's important to you.

waters60

I'll second the Vittoria glue. Never rolled a tire in 30 + years of riding tubulars.

caloso

Mastik FTW

Psimet2001 

Mastik for sure. I buy it by the case load. The case of cases load that is.

Info on gluing, bond strength of techniques and different types of glue, etc.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwhV...p=docslist_api

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwhV...p=docslist_api

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwhV...p=docslist_api

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwhV...p=docslist_api

cycledogg

They're called "glue on" for a reason.......

Gran Fondo

Wow, what a bunch of nice replies (for a change). Very informative. Sounds like not only is glue the way to go, but the Vittoria Mastik One is the recommended glue. Thanks, all. I appreciate it.

Fox Farm

I have used both glue and tape and as one of the earlier posts said, tape is fast and easy. I would not call it lazy at all. I have been using tufo tape and tufo Elite tires and like both. Never had a problem with rolling tires off with tape.

ultraman6970

Glue here, if somebody is gettgin glue all over the place is because he doesnt know what he is doing

Bob Dopolina 

Raced on tape for several season (as did my team) and never a single problem. I still use tape (maybe I'm lazy?).

kleng

I have to really struggle to break the bond of a taped tubular using the TUFO tape, even have to use a knife to cut it away while exterting a lot of pressure with the thumbs, there is no way this would roll off.
On some Conti Competitions the base tape has come off and remained stuck on the rims with the tape, when I've removed the tyre.