KranX Tubeless Rim Tape

One of my wheels had been done with multiple layers of electrical tape, and it seemed to work. But I'd be more confident with a single layer of the "correct" stuff.

Having a look online the only other ones available at 45mm are Orange seal and Jobsworth. The Jobsworth blue looks like the stuff that was double wrapped onto the other wheel, but seems difficult to source. The Orange Seal stuff looks good, but pricey. Has anyone used it, at any width? Is the extra expense worth it? I like their endurance seal, it was in the bike when set up for me and I have continued to use it.

oceandweller wrote:

Katche - do you definitely *need* tape that wide? My understanding is it's only necessary to cover the central groove + a bit either side to airproof the spoke holes? 

Yes you do need tape that wide because high pressure air will go under an exposed edge of tape and find a way out. You want the impermeable surface of the tape to cover the rim bed and go under the bead of the tyre, so that the bead sits on the tape. 

Gorilla tape will work to begin with however it becomes a horrible sticky mess some months down the line. Only use it as a last resort. Electrical tape I would say do not use at all because it lacks mechanical strength and will give way under air pressure. It might be ok on Ktache's fat bike rim because the required air pressure is so low but for higher pressures, do not use.

Please. Less Fat, more Plus...

But you are right on the less pressure, 10 to 11 on the front, 14 or 15 on the rear, max.

Tesa 4289, a tape made for packaging, is "very similar" to the branded yellow tubeless tape. It comes in long rolls (66m?) and is quite cheap.

Quick googling hasn't turned up any in 45mm , only 50mm, but when I bought a roll from a tape supplier (Viking maybe, I can't remember) they told me that it was made to order by cutting a slice off a much wider "log" of material. 

So it might be worth calling a supplier and asking if they can cut a 45mm slice specially for you. I imagine one roll would be more or less a lifetime's supply...

It's not too difficult to cut your own slice if, eg, trimming 50mm tape (seriously?!) to 45mm. Put tape roll on a nice flat surface. Support a sharp craft knife such that the blade is 5mm off the surface. Hold the knife firmly in that position and with the other hand, carefully turn the roll against the knife. You'll soon be trimming into the roll and will be able to peel off a 45mm width to seal your fat bike (I assume) rim.

Would 42mm suffice do you think?

I really like the black DTSwiss stuff for road wheels. I've only used the twenty-something mm stuff, but it does come in up to 42mm apparently.

Like all things tubeless, it benefits from being warmed up before application. I tend to pop it in a low oven, whilst blasting the rim bed with the wife's hairdryer.

Then the tape is super tacky and complies with the rim bed beautifully.