26mm? 27mm? I don't know, this is my first tubeless setup. Any tips greatly appreciated.
Between the rim lip (the hook) is 25.5mm. Officially the wheels are inner width 26mm (and outer width 32mm) but looking at the calipers I think they might be very slightly bigger, maybe 26.4mm internal. The wall isn't very high.
They're these wheels, hooked version with 26mm internal width and 45mm deep: https://www.lightcarbon.com/lightcarbon-mid-range-c52db-carbon-gravel-wheelset-ratchet-system-700c_p176.html
by the68thdimension
10 Comments
I run whatever the inner rim width is…in your case, 26mm.
I try to use tape that’s 2-3 mm wider than the inner width.
2-3 mm wider
If they’re 26mm inner, I’d go for 28mm tape
If the rim is not welded (joined), you have a slice through the rim, so you have to cover it entirely, get a tape that is little wider, like 27mm.
If you can do a great super tight tape job, factory level, then just the inner channel. If you cannot make the tape stretch though the curve, or have bubbles in your tape job, or other imperfections, you got to do full width.
It is always better to be slightly too wide than it is to be too narrow. The well of the rim takes a little extra width, but more importantly if the tape doesn’t fully reach the sides, it’ll often get pushed off and damaged when you change tyres.
These rims are probably pretty much on the cusp of the other option, which is to tape only the centre (well) using pvc/electric tape. This can work superbly, because the tape is completely out of the way of the tyre. The tyre sits on the rim and makes its seal there, and the tape literally just seals the holes. The big advantage is that the tyre doesn’t touch the tape- so it won’t hurt the tape when you change tyres.
If you can get away with this, it’s the best option of all. However it does need a decent width in order to make the hole seals, and tbh I think it is possibly just a little bit too small. (it also needs a fully sealed bead, which you have but which not all rims have- pinned metal rims often can’t do it)
[https://youtu.be/oUOkDCxcg_4](https://youtu.be/oUOkDCxcg_4)
28mm will work great.
It looks to be a pinned rim? It MUST be 100% edge to edge and up the sidewalls is ok, otherwise you get sealant leaking through the joint, 28mm is too narrow for 26mm internal, 30mm is next width, just get this
Go 30mm for sure.