Purpose of Rim Strip?

[airborneranger]

Is rim strip only needed for going tubeless on non UST rims or is needed regardless? What's its purpose other than sealing the spoke holes on the rim of standard rims?

 

[DHmental]

The rim strip keeps your tube from being punctured by the sharp edges on the spoke holes and is needed when using tubes. You can also use electric tape or packing tape. hope that helps!

 

[Kish Me]

The spokeholes are sharp and will pop tubes. Basic cloth tape is good with tubes, or use special tape (like Stans yellow) for tubless.

^^^

Missed it by that much...

 

[airborneranger]

Is it needed for a tubeless ready rim and running stan's tubeless?

 

[dstepper]

Is it needed for a tubeless ready rim and running stan's tubeless?

Depends on the rim, some tubeless rims need the tape to seal the spoke holes others like Mavic can be run without tape.

Dean

 

[airborneranger]

The Bontrager Rhythm Comp Disc 29 that came with my bike has no holes in the rim except for the valve stem. So the tape is not needed to run a tubeless setup then?

 

[dstepper]

The Bontrager Rhythm Comp Disc 29 that came with my bike has no holes in the rim except for the valve stem. So the tape is not needed to run a tubeless setup then?

Correct!

 

[airborneranger]

Cool, thanks! Does rim tape have anything to do with making a tire seat better against the rim or it just for the aforementioned applications?

 

[2wheel_lee]

The rim strip keeps your tube from being punctured by the sharp edges on the spoke holes and is needed when using tubes. You can also use electric tape or packing tape. hope that helps!

Never use electric tape as a rim strip! It may work for a period of time, but a failure is eminent. The pressure from the tube causes the tape to bulge and eventually rupture. Warmer climates will cause this to occur sooner. I've seen many failures from this. And actually, the way the tube ruptures also indicates this as the cause. While it may work in a pinch, plan to replace it ASAP.

As for packing tape, only use the reinforced kind.

 

[2wheel_lee]

Cool, thanks! Does rim tape have anything to do with making a tire seat better against the rim or it just for the aforementioned applications?

For some tubeless applications, the rim strip is used to creat a better seal for the tire and rim. The best example of this is the DT Swiss rim strips.

For some UST rims, Stans recommends using their strips when using non-UST tires in an attempt to create a better seal.

 

[airborneranger]

That's where I'm confused. How do rim strips create a better seal? What's the theory behind it?

 

[UPSed]

That's where I'm confused. How do rim strips create a better seal? What's the theory behind it?

Some tires fit loosely on the rim. Using rim strips essentially builds up the rim making the tires fit better therefore creating a better seal.

 

[RustyIron]

For some tubeless applications, the rim strip is used to creat a better seal for the tire and rim. The best example of this is the DT Swiss rim strips.

On my DT rims, I originally used Stan's strips. All was good, but after a couple thousand miles, the valve stem on Stan's strips starts to tear. I tried the DT rim strips. The DT strips take up so much room in the rim, that putting a tire on becomes a bloody nightmare. Don't dare leave home without tire levers.

On Bike #1, I'm now running Stan's rims, which only require yellow tape, and they perform nicely. So the question that is in my mind is, on the DT rims, can I get by with only tape?

Next time I tear that wheel down, I'm going to give it a try.

 

[UPSed]

So the question that is in my mind is, on the DT rims, can I get by with only tape?

Next time I tear that wheel down, I'm going to give it a try.

I would say yes on the tape. I've been running one layer of Gorilla tape on DT rims with UST tires for a while now. Like you said it's much easier to change tires.

 

[mfoga]

On my DT rims, I originally used Stan's strips. All was good, but after a couple thousand miles, the valve stem on Stan's strips starts to tear. I tried the DT rim strips. The DT strips take up so much room in the rim, that putting a tire on becomes a bloody nightmare. Don't dare leave home without tire levers.

On Bike #1, I'm now running Stan's rims, which only require yellow tape, and they perform nicely. So the question that is in my mind is, on the DT rims, can I get by with only tape?

Next time I tear that wheel down, I'm going to give it a try.

I really like the DT swiss strips, they are a little hard to get some tires on but they also the strip makes the tire so much more secure on the bead from what i found.

 

[2wheel_lee]

I really like the DT swiss strips, they are a little hard to get some tires on but they also the strip makes the tire so much more secure on the bead from what i found.

Exactly.

If you don't mind the risk of the tire occasionally burping, the yellow Stans tape can work fine with DT rims - it can be no worse than using it on Stans rims, which are also prone to tire burping since they lack sufficient tire sidewall support.

The DT rim strips do a great job of holding the tire in place, event at very low air pressures. I have the DT strips on a few of my bikes with the 4.2D and 5.1D rims. Yes, it is a little bit more of a challenge than a sloppy fitting tire/rim combo, but it's well worth it. On one of the setups, I often run it with non-UST tires and tubes, and when I do flat on trail, it's not that big of deal to swap tubes using standard plastic tire levers. The trick is to push the tire bead to the middle of the rim strip all the way around.