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I still have my new bike raring to go and considering going tubeless.
It has WTB i29 rims and after deflating the tubes, spotted a narrow red tape around the rim, but only 20mm wide, running around the middle of the rim.
The rims have a deep groove around the edge and the tyres were well bedded into these (Schwalbe TCS) so much so that I had to pull the deflated tyre out of them.
Will this red strip thing provide enough seal or do I need to get tape. I think WTB suggest internal width plus 5mm?
I’ll need some valves and sealant for sure?
Asking as I’m coming from a 14yr old bike so it’s all new to me.
Pic of tape may help.
I concluded that the rim tape was a rim strip so not suitable for converting to tubeless.
WTB suggested tape 34mm wide for the I 29mm rims but all I could find in this width was Halo brand.
I tried to set this up yesterday and it has proven to be a disaster. The tape would not adhere or even stretch into the spoke bed so I’ve been left with one long air bubble all around the rim above the spoke holes and it sticking only on the flat edges near the bead.
I can get the tyres to inflate and snap into the beads but they don’t hold air long so I’m not risking adding sealant.
I suspect the taping needs to be done again but I can’t find any other 34mm wide tape.
The next option appears to be Gorilla tape, either the duct tape type stuff which is wide and can be torn to width or the clear repair version.
Does the width matter that crucially or is it enough just to cover the spoke holes and part of the rim surface....does it need to reach or even partially ride up the bead groove?
As you say, WTB recommend tape wider than the rim. Having followed that guidance, I've found it works every time, first time.
Degrease the rims with IPA or similar, and then really STRETCH the rim tape as you are fitting it. I've found it easiest to sit the wheel between my knees and pull the tape towards me, such that it naturally sits into the wheel well.
Googling found this as the 3rd hit
https://www.lordgunbicycles.co.uk/wtb-tcs-tubeless-rim-tape
The Halo tape is really good IME. As with all tubeless tape, you need to pull it *really* tight when fitting.
Right, I thought I was stretching it enough.
It did split in the spoke channel and I had to redo it which it thought was due to too much tension.
How many laps of the wheel should I do?
Yep, saw that Lordgun but they are in Italy I recall.
Might now be worth the postage wait to get the proper wtb staff.
I do one lap of the wheel, with about 20cm overlap at the end. I'm sure the Halo tape will be almost identical.
How many laps of the wheel should I do?
I usually only do one these days with a couple of inches overlap each side of the valve.
I can get the tyres to inflate and snap into the beads but they don’t hold air long so I’m not risking adding sealant.
They won't stay up without sealant.
I thought they should stay inflated, and the sealant was only for punctures?
Mine are dead flat within a few minutes so it’s not just weeping, presumably too much of a leak to expect the sealant to stop it?
They won’t stay up without sealant.
Depends.
Mine stayed up for 3 days until I got round to adding the sealant.
Depends
True, but most tubeless ready tyres I've encountered are fairly porous. Sealant can also seal any little leaks around the valve.
Tubeless ready means that the bead is suitable. The tyre is still porous, you need sealant. UST tyres on the other hand do not need sealant.
I was filled with trepidation after all the horror stories i had read but after watching this
I can safely say it is a peace of piss having just converted bike No. 3 tonight. I am now so confident I am thinking considering taking the wheel barrow tuebless!
I have i25s, and use standard Tesa 25mm tape in them. Same stuff I use in my ARC30s.
Took a couple of attempts as like above, it split when pushing it into the centre channel on the first go. But second time round I didn't stretch quite as much and it's held up find. Just rough up the rim bed with some emery cloth first, then clean and degrease with IPA, and ensure you press it all down firmly.
As an update, I’ve managed to get this set up.
I bought the WTB tape from Italy and tried again, really, really REALLY pulling the tape tight, I was convinced it was going to snap but it didn’t and it stuck down into the spoke bed.
Tyres popped up with a track pump and held air for half a day or so.
Added a bit of sealant and they’ve now not lost any air since Saturday.
Jobs a good ‘un.
👍