Tubeless Road Rims

Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!

Moderator: robbosmans

JBV
Posts: 175
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2007 12:18 am

by JBV

Is anyone aware of more tubeless road rims (not complete wheels, just rims) than the Velocity A23 and the Stan's products? Anyone have a complete list?

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
FIJIGabe
Posts: 2241
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2012 6:07 pm
Location: The Lone Star State

by FIJIGabe

Most clincher rims can be converted to tubeless. I have personally run my Reynolds DV3K's and 2010 Bontrager RXL's (non-TLR) using Stan's base tape to seal off the nipples. Neither of those wheels are listed as being "tubeless" or tubeless compatible.

User avatar
btompkins0112
Posts: 2635
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:04 am
Location: Mississippi

by btompkins0112

^ this.....you'll have many, many more options if you don't limit yourself to off-the-shelf tubeless offerings.

User avatar
FIJIGabe
Posts: 2241
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2012 6:07 pm
Location: The Lone Star State

by FIJIGabe

heck, even with Stans, you have to use their tape!

One thing i forgot to mention is that although most clinchers can be converted, not all clinchers can run sealant (at least Stan's). Shimano, for one, recommends that you not run sealant. This is because the old-school (Stan's) sealants use ammonia in their blend, which will corrode the non-anodized aluminum rims. Three solutions: get a CF wheel (no issue with corroded aluminum), use an annodized aluminum wheel or run a sealant that doesn't use ammonia (Caffelatex comes to mind).

personally, i run options 1 & 2, and have a home-brew sealant i've started using. so far, so good on that front.

grover
Posts: 1302
Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2004 1:06 pm

by grover

Pacenti SL23 - http://fairwheelbikes.com/pacenti-sl23-rim-p-5634.html
or the new HED Belgium rim.

User avatar
Zen Cyclery
Shop Owner
Posts: 1244
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:27 am
Location: McCall, ID
Contact:

by Zen Cyclery

As mentioned almost any rim can be setup tubeless. Id throw in a second vote for the SL23 though. That is a stiff hoop that is light for its profile.

Regarding which method, go with Gorilla tape. It's much more durable than Stans tape and it can be cut to fit the exact inside width of the rim. Just make sure you do one layer that overlaps at the valve hole.

User avatar
btompkins0112
Posts: 2635
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:04 am
Location: Mississippi

by btompkins0112

Gorilla tape? Do tell.....is it lighter than Stan's?

User avatar
eurperg
Posts: 936
Joined: Mon May 14, 2007 10:32 am
Location: Finland

by eurperg

Gorilla tape is heavier

User avatar
FIJIGabe
Posts: 2241
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2012 6:07 pm
Location: The Lone Star State

by FIJIGabe

However, Stan's recommends you wrap the rim twice.

User avatar
Zen Cyclery
Shop Owner
Posts: 1244
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:27 am
Location: McCall, ID
Contact:

by Zen Cyclery

@btompkins- It is a bit heavier than Stans, but I think the abrasion resistance and durability make it well worth it. That and the fact that it's easy to customize the perfect width for your rim makes it superior to the Stans tape.

Oh and the best part is that it's available at any local hardware store.

User avatar
WMW
in the industry
Posts: 893
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 2:59 pm
Location: Ruidoso, NM

by WMW

Have you weighed it?

It works, but I suspect it is very heavy. Stan's is very light even with two layers.
formerly rruff...

User avatar
Zen Cyclery
Shop Owner
Posts: 1244
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:27 am
Location: McCall, ID
Contact:

by Zen Cyclery

I haven't weighed it but I will in the next couple of days. I'm going to redo the tubeless setup on my mountain bike and when I do I'll definitely weigh the Gorilla tape that's on there.

typ993
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2013 4:10 am

by typ993

Effetto Mariposa also makes a fiber-reinforced rim tape that they claim only needs one layer. Not sure how the weight compares to Stan's or Gorilla, though.

Wookieopolis
Posts: 118
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 4:28 am
Location: Berkeley, CA

by Wookieopolis

People love to use Gorilla tape for all the wrong purposes, then again, I'm not sure what the right purpose would ever be. Keep in mind that it almost invariably leaves residue, particularly on anything that gets warm, like say a rim in the sun.

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
prendrefeu
Posts: 8580
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:32 pm
Location: Glendale / Los Angeles, California
Contact:

by prendrefeu

typ993 wrote:Effetto Mariposa also makes a fiber-reinforced rim tape that they claim only needs one layer. Not sure how the weight compares to Stan's or Gorilla, though.


Would something like this work? 3M's 899 tape.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-3M-Scotch-F ... 0733339996

The 894 might also work. But it's black, so you don't get the extra watts that you do with red. :wink:
Exp001 || Other projects in the works.

Post Reply