Gump Posted August 14, 2018 Share #1 Posted August 14, 2018 Can I use electric tape in place of rim tape? When I overheated the brakes the rim tape sort of rolled up from the heat. I was able to get it back fairly smooth but now I’ve had two flats in a row from small cuts on the tape side of the tube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmaxx ★ Posted August 14, 2018 Share #2 Posted August 14, 2018 You can use it but it may not last long. It will get pushed through the spoke hole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisL Posted August 14, 2018 Share #3 Posted August 14, 2018 3 minutes ago, Zackny said: Can I use electric tape in place of rim tape? When I overheated the brakes the rim tape sort of rolled up from the heat. I was able to get it back fairly smooth but now I’ve had two flats in a row from small cuts on the tape side of the tube. I suppose you could as it's only protecting the tube from the spokes but I prefer to use rim tape designed for the job. It's the proper demension, strong but not too thick and reletively inexpensive. My fear would be the spokes could wear through the tape & cause punctures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 14, 2018 Share #4 Posted August 14, 2018 I’d prefer to use regular rim tape but the LBS is an hour and a half away and online would take 3-5 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Further Posted August 14, 2018 Share #5 Posted August 14, 2018 Duct tape might have more puncture resistance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted August 14, 2018 Share #6 Posted August 14, 2018 The wheels that came with the Hill Topper kit had crappy rim tape (it was actually a big rubber band with a hole for the valve stem). My SIL’s wheel had a flat and it was the rim “tape” failure. My wife’s wheel about six weeks later had the same thing. I fixed both with electrical tape, so far, so good. While I was in the LBS buying a couple bikes for my granddaughters I remembered that I needed rim tape just after the owner had rung up the sale. He threw in the rim tape. It was marked $5.99. Both bikes are still riding on electrical tape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted August 14, 2018 Share #7 Posted August 14, 2018 I use 3M to tape and set up my rims tubeless. Gorilla tape can work too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheep_herder ★ Posted August 14, 2018 Share #8 Posted August 14, 2018 How long would it take and how much would it cost to have the LBS put them in a padded envelope and mail it to you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR46 Posted August 14, 2018 Share #9 Posted August 14, 2018 59 minutes ago, Zackny said: I’d prefer to use regular rim tape but the LBS is an hour and a half away and online would take 3-5 days. Where do you live that the only place that you can buy rim tape is a hour and a half away? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 14, 2018 Share #10 Posted August 14, 2018 3 minutes ago, BR46 said: Where do you live that the only place that you can buy rim tape is a hour and a half away? Welcome to northern NY? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeman564™ Posted August 15, 2018 Share #11 Posted August 15, 2018 gorilla tape Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtyhip Posted August 15, 2018 Share #12 Posted August 15, 2018 You can, but it will not be as strong as real rim stuff. Maybe that nicer tape. Chimp tape. ?♀️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Page Turner Posted August 15, 2018 Share #13 Posted August 15, 2018 Gorilla Tape and Duct tape....works OK, but not as good as fiberglass strapping tape. All of these are a bear to remove once they've been on a while, because the adhesive hardens. Regular cloth rim tape....works OK, easliy removed and is reusable if the adhesive is not too far gone. One piece, plastic rim strips....work sort of OK, but some of them work better than others. I think the ones that work best are made from some kind of hard nylon. Kapton tape...is the newest trendy rim tape. Works well, , comes in a variety of widths, much cheaper to buy than overpriced Velox cloth rim tape, easy to remove, and very lightweight, so you can use two layers. If you're stuck in the boonies, find some of that fiberglass strapping tape they sell to wrap packages, and rip it down to the size you need by starting a cut at one end and just tearing it. Electrical tape made from vinyl or rubber does not work worth a damn. You're already protected from lightning strikes by your rubber tyres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsharr ★ Posted August 15, 2018 Share #14 Posted August 15, 2018 strapping tape would be my first choice, then duct tape or electrical tape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattlecan ★ Posted August 15, 2018 Share #15 Posted August 15, 2018 I've never used it myself, but working in a shop, I've worked on bikes that had electrical tape used as rim tape. Mostly on single wall rims where the tape just covers the nipple heads. Does the job I guess, but it's almost always a gooey mess to remove. I'm sure it would take more than one layer on a double wall rim with any sort of pressure in the tube. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisL Posted August 15, 2018 Share #16 Posted August 15, 2018 2 hours ago, Zackny said: Welcome to northern NY? Hey I have 5 Bike shops within 10 miles from me and they are often an hour & half away! 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donkpow Posted August 15, 2018 Share #17 Posted August 15, 2018 For double wall rims, maybe some medical tape? It's cloth and the adhesive is not as robust. When I went to the local bike shops to get tape, they all tried to sell me 16 mm tape. It was the smallest they had in stock. My well is 11 mm wide. They all say they put 16 mm tape in there. I don't understand that. AFAIK, you need tape that is as wide as your well and no wider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedalphile Posted August 15, 2018 Share #18 Posted August 15, 2018 Use the electrical tape if you wish to keep mending those flats, otherwise buy a rim tape, they're cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 15, 2018 Share #19 Posted August 15, 2018 17 minutes ago, pedalphile said: Use the electrical tape if you wish to keep mending those flats, otherwise buy a rim tape, they're cheap. It’s not the cost, it’s the time to get it. New tape will be here Friday so only a few days of no riding. Guess I can catch up on some chores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedalphile Posted August 15, 2018 Share #20 Posted August 15, 2018 1 hour ago, Zackny said: It’s not the cost, it’s the time to get it. New tape will be here Friday so only a few days of no riding. Guess I can catch up on some chores. Fair play, in that sitch, I'd go with something stronger than electrical, what about duct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsharr ★ Posted August 15, 2018 Share #21 Posted August 15, 2018 14 hours ago, Zackny said: Welcome to northern NY? And I have one of the best bike shops in the world within very easy riding distance from my house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheep_herder ★ Posted August 15, 2018 Share #22 Posted August 15, 2018 20 minutes ago, jsharr said: And I have one of the best bike shops in the world within very easy riding distance from my house. Yes, but look at what else you have to endure.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsharr ★ Posted August 15, 2018 Share #23 Posted August 15, 2018 2 minutes ago, sheep_herder said: Yes, but look at what else you have to endure.? Yeah, I am surrounded by assholes, but they are Texas assholes, so there is that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Page Turner Posted August 15, 2018 Share #24 Posted August 15, 2018 1 hour ago, jsharr said: Yeah, I am surrounded by assholes, but they are Texas assholes... ...rim tape will work on them, too. Apply as needed, strategically placed around the mouth, hands, and ankles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsharr ★ Posted August 15, 2018 Share #25 Posted August 15, 2018 Just now, Page Turner said: ...rim tape will work on them, too. Apply as needed, strategically placed around the mouth, hands, and ankles silence is golden. duct tape is silver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zealot Posted August 15, 2018 Share #26 Posted August 15, 2018 Have used electrical tape in place of rim tape several times through the years. Still have at least one rim sporting it. Never had an issue with it. Always doubled it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickinMD ★ Posted August 15, 2018 Share #27 Posted August 15, 2018 The mountain bike I have originally had a cheap wide-rubber-band that circled the inside of the rim and, around 2012, I got a a flat as a tube pinched in a spoke well when the cheap rim band shifted a little. So I had my local LBS install Velox rim tape and have been riding happy ever since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now