Puncture protection tape for bicycles. Anti-puncture tape

Edited: 06/20/2017

Flipper or rim tape -

this is a special layer between the wheel rim and the chamber.

In the figure, this is the blue stripe number 2.

What material is the rim tape made of?

Flippers are usually made from rubber or various polymers, often polyurethane, such as those made by Schwalbe. Some types are produced with reinforcement.

Use rubber flippers for wheels with high pressure Not recommended. A chamber under pressure of more than 4-5 atmospheres squeezes it into the spoke holes of the rim.

If you have low pressure wheels, for example for mountain bikes, then rubber is usually used. For example, a simple and cheap tape in our store.

For wheels with high pressure, for example, for road bikes, polymer or even reinforced polymer belts are used.

They are sold in many bicycle and online stores. They are not expensive, much cheaper than a new camera.

The main thing when buying is to choose the right size and width.

The size of the rim tape must match the diameter of the wheel. If you don't know it, look at the rim size written on it or the tire size. It is written on the side of it, and find the landing diameter of your wheel in the tire size comparison table. And already on it look for a flipper on the wheel.

Rim tape marking

Decent manufacturers point to their products

Who is the manufacturer
Size: width and diameter of the rim in mm. Sometimes it is written in inches. For example, a 26"x22 rim tape fits a 26" wheel. The width of the tape itself is 22mm.
The maximum pressure it can withstand
Production date

What can replace the rim tape

Stripe out old camera- the good old way since childhood. They took an old camera, cut it off and pulled it over the rim. Moreover, they tried to take the camera from a wheel of a slightly smaller diameter, so that it would sit tight on the rim, but it would not stretch much and not tear. Can't say it's perfect option, but the cheapest and most affordable way. Almost all cyclists have an old leaky camera. This method will not increase friction, but it will protect against the sharp edges of the spoke holes and the ends of the spokes themselves.
Insulating tape. You can use polymer, but it is best to take fabric electrical tape with a rough outer layer. It is stronger and does not shrink. One layer is too thin, so it is wound in several layers - from 3 to 5. It will increase friction and close the knitting needles.
Scotch. Now in stationery stores you can pick up a roll of any desired width and thickness and also wind it in several layers. It is bad because it is too slippery, although it protects the camera normally.
Plain white tissue medical adhesive plaster.
Place tack tape on double sided tape. To do this, it is better to take a thick double-sided tape.

What width to choose a rim tape (flipper)

The logic of choosing the width is as follows - the main thing is that the tape covered the holes for the spokes and did not move along the rim.

You can put both narrow and the entire width of the rim.

Personally, my opinion is that it is better to take a wide flipper so that it rests against the walls of the rim and does not move.

If the rim has recesses, you can take both the width of the recess itself and the entire width so that the flipper covers the entire inner part rims.

If the tape is narrow, you can put it on double-sided tape, which, on the one hand, will be additional protection from the inside, and on the other hand, will not allow the flipper to move along the wide rim.

Although adhesive tapes are sold on the market today.

A couple more nuances.

There are quite common Michelin yellow flippers. They are very stiff and do not work well for grooved rims. its edges protrude from the groove, resting against the camera and rubbing it.
When changing the camera, inspect the tape at the same time. If you have had it long enough, it may well break or fray in some places and pose a potential danger to a new camera in the future.

Wheel sealing with rim tape

As mentioned above, you can use adhesive rim tape to seal almost any wheel and turn it into a tubeless one. This method gives a gain in weight.

The stores offer a large selection of products that protect tires from cuts and holes. One of the simplest and cheapest options is bicycle puncture tape - it's a reliable way to keep your ears free of road debris and small glass, but it's only suitable for tube tires. It is suitable for any bike, regardless of its purpose.

What it is?

To protect the wheel from small punctures, manufacturers came up with an interesting solution - latex anti-puncture tape. The principle of operation is very simple: a strip placed in the tire additionally protects the camera from descending while driving, even if it has.

The width of the strip allows you to enter side surfaces tires, thereby protecting it from side cuts. The main advantages are low cost, light weight and additional sidewall protection.

A correctly laid strip does not affect the wheel balance in any way, the latex base stretches well and does not allow the sharp ends of street debris to pass to the chambered rubber. If the puncture still damaged the protective element, then it is enough to heat it up to 250 degrees to restore its former properties.

Exists alternative to latex - extruded plastic, it is stronger and more durable.

Before purchasing, check that the anti-puncture tape meets the following criteria:

rough;
it has a self-adhesive layer;
the edges are smooth and rounded.

These qualities will simplify the process of mounting the element and reduce the likelihood of damage to the tire from the inside. Of course, you can use and, but they are much more expensive and their operation is more complicated.
Important! The roughness will improve contact with the tire, and the self-adhesive will securely and quickly fix the strip in the desired position.

Installation

Installing the tape is much easier than installing protective tires. To do this, you do not even need to know the wheel itself. Therefore, anti-puncture tape for a bicycle is so in demand among cyclists. Sequencing:

disassemble the tire, leaving one bead in place;
wipe her insides;
prepare the tape for installation - cut the corners, shorten if necessary;
evenly lay the protective strip and pump up the wheel to securely fix the element;
return the entire tire to the rim and, using , bring the pressure in it to the desired value.

Some cyclists stick the tape on double-sided tape, so it is well fixed and does not rub the rubber with hard edges.

Do-it-yourself installation of anti-puncture tape for a bicycle will not cause any difficulties if you have minimal skills and follow the instructions.
Important! Despite the simplicity of the product, do not try to replace it with homemade counterparts, for example, from an old camera. So you will only achieve an increase in the mass of the wheel, and the original latex tape is much stronger and lighter.

Price

Each protective strip has special color markings depending on the width. Pay attention to this parameter so that they themselves do not cause the camera to break through.

Prices for anti-puncture tapes for bicycles depend on the circumference of the wheel for which it is purchased and the width of the strip itself.

Some companies offer kits for two wheels at once, their price is slightly less compared to single options.

Properly installed anti-puncture tape can protect the bike from small punctures, thanks to the latex layer that does not allow sharp particles to pass into the wheel. The price of the product is not high, so do not try to replace it with home-made options.

A walk in the park often ends with the removal and sealing of both cameras. It is enough to cut a corner under a beautiful acacia, and a solid handful of spikes appear in the tires. And the paths between beautiful trees can add so many different thorns that it is quite possible to collect a collection.

There are several solutions to deal with punctures.

Special ones that hold small punctures well. Of the minuses - such tires are noticeably heavier than ordinary ones, and do not hold side cuts.
Special sealant is a good solution for tubeless. High-quality sealants with small punctures on tubeless tires will allow you to get to the place where you can do the installation. They practically do not work in chambered wheels, as the rubber stretches and the sealant flows out. The wheel deflates a little slower than without sealant, and in an emergency can give you a chance to go a little further.

Bicycle tires with anti-puncture properties are good for where gravity takes over all the efforts to gain speed. In all other cases, the need to carry additional kilograms is very doubtful.

Reference: Downhill - downhill, from an. Down hill - down the hill.

Another interesting option The solution to the problem of punctures is the anti-puncture tape, the modifications of which are marked with different colors depending on the width. The principle of its operation is simple. An anti-puncture latex tape is embedded in the middle of the tire, which provides additional protection against punctures when cycling on asphalt. Wide, with an approach to the side surfaces of the chamber, it also provides for the possibility of obtaining side cuts in off-road conditions. Of the benefits: low cost, the ability to protect the side surface of the camera, light weight.

Evenly laid tape does not affect the balance of the wheel. The anti-puncture properties of the polymer are not the highest, but they protect quite adequately from small thorns. The latex stretches without letting the point through to the tight rubber of the bike's inner tube.

Mounting such a tape is even easier than installing solid anti-puncture bike tires.

It is necessary to disassemble the tire without removing one bead.
Wipe the tire inside.
Process the factory tape - cut to length (according to the instructions, end-to-end or overlap), cut off the corners at the ends.
Insert the tape into the tire without distortions and slightly pump up the tube to fix it.
Install the tire completely on the rim and inflate the wheel to the correct pressure.

Tip: For easier fixing of the tape, you can use double-sided tape. It is important that the tape does not warp in the tire, otherwise its hard edge will quickly fray the tube.

If you have experience mounting the wheel with your own hands, installing the tape does not cause any difficulties.

Many cyclists, considering all the ingenious simplicity of the idea of an anti-puncture tape, show remarkable ingenuity and try to produce an analog in artisanal ways. However, attempts to replace the purchased tape with home-made options from the old chamber did not lead to anything other than making the wheel heavier. The anti-puncture properties of latex are much higher, and the weight of the factory tape is noticeably less.

Edited: 06/20/2017

Flipper or rim tape - this is a special layer between the wheel rim and the chamber.

In the figure, this is the blue stripe number 2.

Flipper is needed for:

What material is the rim tape made of?

Flippers are usually made from rubber or various polymers, often polyurethane, such as those made by Schwalbe. Some types are produced with reinforcement.

The use of rubber flippers for high pressure wheels is not recommended. A chamber under pressure of more than 4-5 atmospheres squeezes it into the spoke holes of the rim.

For wheels with high pressure, for example, for road bikes, polymer or even reinforced polymer belts are used.

They are sold in many bicycle and online stores. They are not expensive, much cheaper than a new camera.

The main thing when buying is to choose the right size and width.

The size of the rim tape must match. If you do not know it, look at the rim size written on it or on. It is written on the side of it, and find the landing diameter of your wheel in the tire size comparison table. And already on it look for a flipper on the wheel.

Rim tape marking

Decent manufacturers point to their products

Who is the manufacturer
Size: width and diameter of the rim in mm. Sometimes it is written in inches. For example, a 26”x22 rim tape fits a 26” wheel. The width of the tape itself is 22 mm.
The maximum pressure it can withstand
Production date

What can replace the rim tape

Stripe out old camera- the good old way since childhood. They took an old camera, cut it off and pulled it over the rim. Moreover, they tried to take the camera from a wheel of a slightly smaller diameter, so that it would sit tight on the rim, but it would not stretch much and not tear. This is not to say that this is an ideal option, but the cheapest and most affordable way. Almost all cyclists have an old leaky camera. This method will not increase friction, but it will protect against the sharp edges of the spoke holes and the ends of the spokes themselves.
Insulating tape. You can use polymer, but it is best to take fabric electrical tape with a rough outer layer. It is stronger and does not shrink. One layer is too thin, so it is wound in several layers - from 3 to 5. It will increase friction and close the knitting needles.
Scotch. Now in stationery stores you can pick up a roll of any desired width and thickness and also wind it in several layers. It is bad because it is too slippery, although it protects the camera normally.
Plain white tissue medical adhesive plaster.
Place tack tape on double sided tape. To do this, it is better to take a thick double-sided tape.

What width to choose a rim tape (flipper)

The logic for choosing the width is as follows - the main thing is that the tape covered the holes for the spokes and did not move along the rim.

You can put both narrow and the entire width of the rim.

Personally, my opinion is that it is better to take a wide flipper so that it rests against the walls of the rim and does not move.

If the rim is recessed, you can take both the width of the recess itself and the entire width so that the flipper covers the entire inner part of the rim.

Although adhesive tapes are sold on the market today.

A couple more nuances.

There are quite common Michelin yellow flippers. They are very stiff and do not work well for grooved rims. its edges protrude from the groove, resting against the camera and rubbing it.
When changing the camera, inspect the tape at the same time. If you have had it long enough, it may well break or fray in some places and pose a potential danger to a new camera in the future.

Wheel sealing with rim tape

As mentioned above, you can use adhesive rim tape to seal almost any wheel and turn it into a tubeless one. This method gives a gain in weight.