So my Rim Tape keeps sliding to the side, causing the air nozzle to be pinched between the tape and rim, which is cutting the side of the air nozzle and causing flats.
Any fix for this, or a fix for punctures / tears along the valve stem ?
by MeatyMagician
19 Comments
replace the rim tape
go tubeless
Remove the tape, clean the rim with cleaning alcohol. Look for sharp metal, if you find sharp metal sand it off with appropriate sand paper. Cover in better and more durable rim tape. At valve hole make sure some rim tape is covering the edges of the valve hole. Put in new inner tube and inflate and test the tyre in a safe environment. Ride bike.
i put electrical tape or gaffers tape just around the edge of the cutaway in the rim for the valve stem.
Presta valves or replacing the tim tape.
*lack of rim tape is causing flats
New tape, as others have said .
Also debur the valve hole inside and out. Easiest is a deburring tool, but a round file, or a countersink bit driven by hand will do the job fine
Replace the rim tape.
Also, do you keep cycling once your tire goes flat? If so, it’s HIGHLY likely the innertube ripping around the valve stem is not the cause of the leak; cycling with a flat innertube will often result in a torn out valve as the innertube shifts around inside the tire.
Yea had the same problem on a new build, I’m no bike mechanic but I figured out it was that. First I tried taping some reinforcements where that tape was folding. That didn’t work and decided to take it to the lbs and asked them for the widest rim tape they had, haven’t had a problem since.
You sure it’s the rim tape and not a spoke poking up just slightly too far? Even if it’s under the rim tape a tiny little bump of metal anywhere especially if it’s a spoke poking above the hole even just the slightest bit will cause flats. You’ll be buying so many inner tubes. Either replace it with a shorter spoke if so or if it’s not poking up too far try electrical tape go around the rim like 3 times with it. Makes a good softer protective barrier in case you don’t have a larger spoke to replace it with. If it’s a bump somewhere or a spiky bit sandpaper but super carefully or a nail file works great and probably the safer way to go
Electrical tape trick around your rim tape would probably fix ur issue too if it’s not a something poking out
Ok first question. How are you pumping air in your tires? Hand pump?
I’ve had splits in my tubes in the same area and I believe it’s caused by aggressively pumping with a hand pump.
Be sure to keep the hand pump stays completely still, pumping slower or at least focusing on keeping it still when you’re pumping helps.
Bending the pump while you’re pumping is the cause of that problem I’m guessing.
Now this is just my opinion. Hope this helps.
Replace rim tape, check for burrs.
Everyone has said replace the rim tape but no one has said with what. Velox makes cloth rim tape with an adhesive back and it’s the only thing I recommend.
Do as others have said, but also consider buying a nicer tube, like the Schwalbe tubes. They have a metal, threaded Schrader valve. You screw a nut over the stem just like a presta and it really helps hold it in place.
*rim is causing flats. new rim tape 🙂
Just sell it bro, I had the same problem and couldn’t fix it, I used sand paper, double inner tube, extra plastic between the inner tube and the rim, none worked
Bruh you literally state that your rim tape is causing flats and you ask us what to do? Just replace it.
I have had this happen with modern tubes in old rims (early 90’s aero rims). My hypothesis is that tubes of old had double thick tube at the base of the valve stem. At some point the manufacturers developed a “better” process…. This “better” process allows the tube to expand into that void whereas the old tubes did not. New rim tape may stop it but the size of the hole on the tube side of the rim may be just big enough to cause problems with the modern tubes.
I think you have that a little bit backwards. The tire and tube are slipping and dragging the rim strip. Run closer to the max pressure and replace that plastic rim strip with some cloth tape like Velox. Sometimes, that won’t be a 100% fix– some less supple tires might slip regardless. A plastic rim strip can damage a tube, but the sliding is the fault of the tire.