Rim Tape / Wheel Help Please

ibr17xvii
ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
in Workshop
I was cleaning & putting my bike away for winter & came across this on my rear wheel & just wondered what it is? Looks like rust on the underside of the rim tape? This is on every bit where the spokes are the whole way round the wheel. There were just 1 or 2 like this on the front as well.

Should I be replacing the tape? Doesn't feel like the spokes are going to poke through but would rather not risk it.

I've got 2 sets of DT Swiss wheels that come with this tape & TBH it isn't the 1st time I've seen this.






Comments

  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    Not seen that before - how can rust get through plastic ?

    TBH I've used a couple of wraps of insulation tape when I didn't have rim tape. Worked just as well for me.
  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    edited April 2020
    fenix said:

    Not seen that before - how can rust get through plastic ?

    TBH I've used a couple of wraps of insulation tape when I didn't have rim tape. Worked just as well for me.


    These are a disc set that came with my Canyon & I've also got a pair of DT Swiss wheels on my rim brake bike. Both come with this tape as standard & it's happened with both. They're only 18 months old & only ridden September - April ish.

    This is far worse though presumably cos these are ridden through the winter but I still don't get it.
  • joe_totale-2
    joe_totale-2 Posts: 1,333
    edited April 2020
    I've used DT Swiss rim tape before and mine did the same thing.
    I removed the tape and the wheel rim was fine underneath.
  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    joe_totale-2 said:

    I've used DT Swiss rim tape before and mine did the same thing.
    I removed the tape and the wheel rim was fine underneath.


    Nice to know it's not just me.

    Would like to know what causes it though & a bit concerned it will only get worse & I'll start getting punctures with spokes poking through so might be best replacing it.
  • photonic69
    photonic69 Posts: 2,976
    Spokes are never going to poke through the hole or rim tape, well not unless you have a catastrophic wheel failure and then a puncture would be the least of your worries. The spoke nipples are quite recessed down the holes and the holes are only to access that side when installing. The rim tape is to stop your inner tube from being squashed into the holes and puncturing on the sharp edges; or if tubeless, to keep the air in the tyre/rim combo.

    Don't worry about it unless you are OCD.


    Sometimes. Maybe. Possibly.

  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    photonic69 said:

    Spokes are never going to poke through the hole or rim tape, well not unless you have a catastrophic wheel failure and then a puncture would be the least of your worries. The spoke nipples are quite recessed down the holes and the holes are only to access that side when installing. The rim tape is to stop your inner tube from being squashed into the holes and puncturing on the sharp edges; or if tubeless, to keep the air in the tyre/rim combo.

    Don't worry about it unless you are OCD.


    On my other wheel the rim tape did fail at one of the holes & it did puncture the inner tube probably on a sharpish edge round the hole. At least I'm pretty sure that's what happened, I renewed the tape & it didn't happen again.

    I think I might put some more on.

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