#1 Rim Tape and Inner Tube Sizes
Posted: Mon May 06, 2024 10:39 am
There was a promising thread here
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18319&p=148960&hili ... pe#p148960
that got side-tracked into a debate about tubeless vs tubed, which I don't want to stir up again, hence the new post.
I can't find any specific reference to rim-tapes that is much help in sourcing them, and think it would be useful to have a post where this info was all in one place.
The people who seem to have the most experience with our kind of cars, and who regularly engage with us, are Longstone, which is where my last set were fitted, but as I'm now in the land of Michelin tyres I'm getting the tyres fitted here, and having to feel my way a bit.
I'm using XVS Michelin 185/80 x 15 tyres with Michelin inner tubes, reference 15 F 13 which is a) the right size, and b) has the oblique-exit valve.
Dougal at Longstone confirmed the tube reference, and confirmed that they did NOT use any tape up on the outer shoulder of the rim, but DID use one in the well in the centre.
I found Heidenauer 15" x 38mm wide rim-tapes easily enough, BUT in fact the inner well is more like 12" - 13" in diameter so the 15" are way too slack and I will have to find smaller ones.
I'm intrigued by the fact that if there's no rim-tape used on the shoulder, where most of the spoke-heads lie, why bother with one in the wheel-well - where there are so few, especially as the exit-hole for the valve is not protected or cushioned by the rim tape either ?
I'm hoping these questions will attract a reply from Dougal to lay some of the myths to rest once and for all.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18319&p=148960&hili ... pe#p148960
that got side-tracked into a debate about tubeless vs tubed, which I don't want to stir up again, hence the new post.
I can't find any specific reference to rim-tapes that is much help in sourcing them, and think it would be useful to have a post where this info was all in one place.
The people who seem to have the most experience with our kind of cars, and who regularly engage with us, are Longstone, which is where my last set were fitted, but as I'm now in the land of Michelin tyres I'm getting the tyres fitted here, and having to feel my way a bit.
I'm using XVS Michelin 185/80 x 15 tyres with Michelin inner tubes, reference 15 F 13 which is a) the right size, and b) has the oblique-exit valve.
Dougal at Longstone confirmed the tube reference, and confirmed that they did NOT use any tape up on the outer shoulder of the rim, but DID use one in the well in the centre.
I found Heidenauer 15" x 38mm wide rim-tapes easily enough, BUT in fact the inner well is more like 12" - 13" in diameter so the 15" are way too slack and I will have to find smaller ones.
I'm intrigued by the fact that if there's no rim-tape used on the shoulder, where most of the spoke-heads lie, why bother with one in the wheel-well - where there are so few, especially as the exit-hole for the valve is not protected or cushioned by the rim tape either ?
I'm hoping these questions will attract a reply from Dougal to lay some of the myths to rest once and for all.