Tubeless Tape

Posted by: xy9ine

apparently stan's is tesa (4289) tape. impressive margins people are making on this stuff...

It's ridiculous how much some companies charge for a few meters of plastic tape.

I scuffed my WAO rims with light sandpaper and no sticking problems now.

haha, for giggles ($49 vs ~$5.77 / roll retail):

https://www.notubes.com/stan-s-rim-tape-60yd-x-25mm

https://www.packbgr.com/filament-and-strapping-tape/tesa-4289-1in-111357.asp

i'm sure tubeless sealant pricing is similarly jacked.

Does anyone know the difference between 4288 and 4289? Also, one of the handy things about the different name brand tapes is they come in specific mm widths. Anyone find Tessa in a 30 or 32mm width? I know you can get away with 1" (25.4mm) but it really does work better if the tape seals up to the bead.

I think you want 4289 if you can get it. There’s a difference in tensile strength. I think UV resistance is different too but that doesn’t matter for rims  the big thing is width vs availability.

When you buy WAO wheels they come taped with 4288 black tape and they sent me a roll of spare tape because I had adhesion issues. For sure the yellow/4289 tape is easier to get stretched and placed on the rim (without breaking).

I don’t know about you guys, but have a pretty respectable tape wall going on nowadays.

I also had problems with Stans tape (and the very similar WTB tape and Giant tape).

However, I found a trick for ensuring a good seal. 

After installing the tape, I inflate the tire with a tube in it and leave it overnight (hard, 35 psi or more). This uses the tube-pressure to press the tape to the rim-bed until the adhesive has cured a bit. Then, pop out ONE BEAD ONLY, remove the tube, and add sealant and inflate.

This also makes the final inflation easier because one bead remains fully mounted.

Aforementioned heat gun or blow dry for removal and I have never had to touch solvent.

Out of my bikes I only have one tubeless wheel that came set up that way. My other ride is tubeless ready but I haven't bothered to do it. Re setting up the tape, how close to the bead seat should the tape go?

4288 is thinner.  4289 is what Stan's rebrands.

I got the 25mm roll's.  I double wrap and go all the way to the side of the rim.

It works great.

Posted by: syncro

Out of my bikes I only have one tubeless wheel that came set up that way. My other ride is tubeless ready but I haven't bothered to do it. Re setting up the tape, how close to the bead seat should the tape go?

I find it is best if the tape is hugging just under the bead. I like your tube overnight idea.

Yeah, you really want to cover the whole width or even slightly wider so the tape goes even slightly up the side of the rim just a couple of mm, ideally (32mm tape on 30mm rims is great).

The secret is the tire beads need to sit ON TOP of the tape.

If you do that, the whole inflate a tube overnight to press the tape down dance is totally unnecessary.

If the tape is sandwiched between the tire beads and the rim along the outside edge, it will seal and pressure of the air in the tire pressing the rim beads onto the rim provides plenty of pressure on the tape.

This was the key for me. If the tape is narrower than the rim and you're just relying on the tape being stuck to the area around the spoke holes, you're gonna struggle.

I second having the tape slightly wider (1-2 mm) than the rim as the tire bead helps really stick the tape down as its aired up. I only use rubbing alcohol and and old sock to get the rim bed somewhat clean it does not have to be perfect. You also should not be stretching it until you bleed, the tape should be taut but not stretched. Apply on a truing stand if you have one.

Latest tape update...  I've tried some 19mm 4289 on 30mm ID rims but couldn't get one rim / tyre to seal due to a big dent in the rim from a massive kerb case.  I think the tape wasn't sealing over the dent.  I ended up running a tube to allow me to ride the wheel.

I've just ordered some more 30mm wide 4289 from Viking tapes in UK (who will cut to the width you want).  £10 for 60m inc delivery.  I'm hoping that I can seal between the tape and tyre bead (similar to split tube tubeless which I used for years with great results) rather than tape, rim and bead.  Which will eliminate one place for leaks to occur (tape / rim junction).

My end goal is to be able to tape up rims once and get multiple tyre changes out of one set of tape.  With 3 sets of wheels over 2 bikes it's a PITA having to retape every time I change tyres which I had to do with Gorilla tape.  At least 4289 is much cheaper than 25mm Gorilla tape (£10 for 60m cf £10 for 10m) and less messy re residue.

Posted by: fartymarty

Latest tape update... I've tried some 19mm 4289 on 30mm ID rims but couldn't get one rim / tyre to seal due to a big dent in the rim from a massive kerb case. I think the tape wasn't sealing over the dent. I ended up running a tube to allow me to ride the wheel.

I've had success adding an extra piece or pieces of tape to a damaged area of a metal rim where it wouldn't seal and getting the tire to seal fine.

Good tip, I may well have to do that