Quick tubeless tape question

[Kermit power]

Morning all,

I quite happily converted my hardtail to tubeless using 25mm gator tape, and get as near as matters no air leakage.

I'm now looking at doing the same with my commuter, which runs Kinesis Crosslight CX Discs.

I read somewhere that you need to run a double run of tape for road wheels, but I'm not sure where the cut off point is, as I run 35c tyres at around 75psi. Would that require double taping, do we think?

[richardxjr]

Sorry K, Crosslights can not handle that psi. Numerous accounts on t'web.

I also advocate changing the rubbish alu nipples they use for brass in all V3s and the standard (non HD) V4s. This may help with higher pressures but I wouldn't personally run tubeless on anything over 50psi.

Anyway, I would expect 35c to be run around 40-45psi. Crosslights will run fine under 50psi and I've successfully converted both V3 and V4 HD versions with a single wrap of gorilla tape and non tubeless tyres.

Edited by richardxjr on Friday 27th May 08:19

[Kermit power]

richardxjr said:

Sorry K, Crosslights can not handle that psi. Numerous accounts on t'web.

I assume you mean they can't handle it tubeless? They've been handling it perfectly well with inner tubes for the last 18 months!

richardxjr said:

I also advocate changing the rubbish alu nipples they use for brass in all V3s and the standard (non HD) V4s.

This will be happening one nipple at a time, as and when I break spokes, as happened last week! I have neither the time and patience to systematically swap them myself, nor the desire to pay someone else to do it for me!

richardxjr said:

I wouldn't personally run tubeless on anything over 50psi.

Anyway, I would expect 35c to be run around 40-45psi. Crosslights will run fine under 50psi and I've successfully converted both V3 and V4 HD versions with a single wrap of gorilla tape and non tubeless tyres.

I've just been out to the garage and dropped them from 70 to 45. Based on the feeling going over the 1" drop at the end of our drive, I'm not sure I'd want to try them at that pressure on London roads once I've loaded on my panniers (and the larger bulk that is me myself!), but obviously Tubeless gets round that issue.

I don't have any issue with running below manufacturer pressures per se - I'm happily running tubeless at 25 PSI on my MTBs despite being 17.5 stone and have had no problems - but I'd assumed something as small as a 35c would have to run much closer to manufacturer max.

Did you really mean to say you'd set Crosslights up running tubeless on non-tubeless tyres? If so, I might well have to try converting my Vittoria Randonneurs at the weekend, as that would make it practically free to do, as I've got spare valves kicking around already!

[Kermit power]

Kermit power said:

richardxjr said:

Sorry K, Crosslights can not handle that psi. Numerous accounts on t'web.

I assume you mean they can't handle it tubeless? They've been handling it perfectly well with inner tubes for the last 18 months! When I say 75psi, btw, that's just what I go up to on my track pump, but I know from checking with a digital gauge that that overreads by about 10psi, so more like 65psi in reality.

richardxjr said:

I also advocate changing the rubbish alu nipples they use for brass in all V3s and the standard (non HD) V4s.

This will be happening one nipple at a time, as and when I break spokes, as happened last week! I have neither the time and patience to systematically swap them myself, nor the desire to pay someone else to do it for me!

richardxjr said:

I wouldn't personally run tubeless on anything over 50psi.

Anyway, I would expect 35c to be run around 40-45psi. Crosslights will run fine under 50psi and I've successfully converted both V3 and V4 HD versions with a single wrap of gorilla tape and non tubeless tyres.

I've just been out to the garage and dropped them from 70 to 45. Based on the feeling going over the 1" drop at the end of our drive, I'm not sure I'd want to try them at that pressure on London roads once I've loaded on my panniers (and the larger bulk that is me myself!), but obviously Tubeless gets round that issue.

I don't have any issue with running below manufacturer pressures per se - I'm happily running tubeless at 25 PSI on my MTBs despite being 17.5 stone and have had no problems - but I'd assumed something as small as a 35c would have to run much closer to manufacturer max.

Did you really mean to say you'd set Crosslights up running tubeless on non-tubeless tyres? If so, I might well have to try converting my Vittoria Randonneurs at the weekend, as that would make it practically free to do, as I've got spare valves kicking around already!

[richardxjr]

Kermit power said:

Did you really mean to say you'd set Crosslights up running tubeless on non-tubeless tyres?

Yes

[richardxjr]

And your spoke breakage will be down to running high road pressures on a cx designed rim.

[matt-ITR]

Double taping is nothing to do with road rims specifically (ie. pressure), it is to build up the height of a rim to make it easier to seal. Some MTB and cyclocross rims require it as well.

Although some tubeless tapes have a pressure limit I guess, but I have not come across it personally.

[Kermit power]

richardxjr said:

And your spoke breakage will be down to running high road pressures on a cx designed rim.

I suspect it's more to do with 110kg of me, plus panniers, plus London potholes, to be honest!