Repair guides › Wheels & Tires
Replace rim tape
The hoop the tire mounts on and the spokes pull on. Double-wall means a box section: two walls with a hollow between them, much stiffer than a single-wall rim. Internal width (often 19–25 mm) decides which tire widths sit well. The tire beads lock under the hooks on the rim edges. A center channel lets you push the beads down to get the tire off. Rim tape covers the spoke holes so they cannot cut the tube. The internal width decides which tire widths sit well: about 1.5× to 2× the internal width (a common rule of thumb; MTB tire makers allow wider, so check the tire maker’s chart). With disc brakes the rim never wears from braking, so it lasts until it is dented or cracked.
Open this job in RideLoadout▶ Watch it done
Tools
- Floor pump with gauge: Topeak JoeBlow Sport III ($$)
- Tire levers: Pedro's Tire Levers 2.0 ($)
- Isopropyl alcohol 91%+: isopropyl alcohol 91% ($)
- Digital calipers: Clockwise Tools DCLR-0605 IP54 Digital Caliper ($$)
Compare Good, Better and Best for each tool
Steps
- Remove the tire and tube.
- Peel off the old tape. If a spoke hole edge is sharp, smooth it with fine sandpaper.
- Measure the rim's internal width. Buy tape about that wide, so it covers every spoke hole without riding up onto the bead seats.
- Clean the rim bed with isopropyl alcohol.
- Start opposite the valve hole and lay the tape down centered, covering every spoke hole completely, with a 10 cm overlap.
- Punch the valve hole cleanly, refit the tube and tire, inflate and check the bead line.
Diagram
Signs it needs doing
- Repeated flats on the inside of the tube (rim tape shifted or torn)
- Dent or flat spot after hitting a pothole
- Wobble that will not true out (bent rim)
- Cracks around spoke holes
- Tire bead will not seat evenly