Tesa 4289 as rim tape and a leaky wheel - air coming from spokes -grr

mooby77

Alchemist
Jun 28, 2020
128
132
Snowdonia
Anyone have experience using TESA 4289 as rim tape, thinking of trying this as I have some, or recommendations on rim tape , i use muc off usually , 32mm for my 30mm rim.


I am having a problem with my 27.5 WTB I30 rear wheel with existing muc off tape , new rear tyre Maxxis shorty, replaced tyre inflated and popped the bead , no sealant but left tire overnight at in the morning flat , leaking through a number of spoke holes so guess I am going to have to remove and re-tape ?

Did not have any issues with the original tyre DHR II and muc off sealant combo.

Normally don't have a issue with tubeless either , first time I have experienced leakage through spokes , the sidewalls and valves appear to be airtight .

Cheers,
 

Amber Valley Guy

Active member
Oct 15, 2023
229
245
Alfreton
Did you fit a tube before leaving overnight? Spoke leakage could still be air from the valve area and not necessarily the tape over the spoke holes. Take the tyre off and check for loose tape or the tell tale 'tunnels' in the tape. If non detected, remove the valve, add more tape over the valve hole and only pierce the tape with something pointy at the valve position. Remove valve and install a tube, refit tyre and inflate to 40psi and leave for a few hours or overnight. The tube will squish the tape down firmly onto the rim and ensure good adhesion.
 

irie

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Subscriber
May 2, 2022
3,179
3,298
Chichester, W.Sussex, UK
Had much the same when fitted Maxxis High Roller 3 front tyre few weeks ago. Tyre deflated overnight (existing DT Swiss rim tape with Muc-Off sealant).

Looked like leaking between rim and tyre sidewall but pumped it up again just before going out, then after getting back it again deflated overnight.

Couldn't be arsed to take the tyre off and reseal it etc. so before going out next time put another 50mml sealant in the tyre and it's ever since remained inflated. Don't know why and don't care.

Next time before putting a front on will give the rim a really good clean and replace rim tape (with DT Swiss tape).
 

steve_sordy

Wedding Crasher
Nov 5, 2018
9,358
9,923
Lincolnshire, UK
I had a brand-new bike where the supplier had done the rim tape. The tyre would not stay up, sealant leaking from the spoke holes. I removed the tyre for a look and the tape was poorly applied. Not smooth, had ripples that spread around the rim, allowing the sealant to move around inside the layers of tape. I guess that eventually they found their way to the valve holes. Why didn't the sealant seal the gaps, like it did for @irie? He was lucky, and I (and @mooby77) were not.
 

irie

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Subscriber
May 2, 2022
3,179
3,298
Chichester, W.Sussex, UK
I had a brand-new bike where the supplier had done the rim tape. The tyre would not stay up, sealant leaking from the spoke holes. I removed the tyre for a look and the tape was poorly applied. Not smooth, had ripples that spread around the rim, allowing the sealant to move around inside the layers of tape. I guess that eventually they found their way to the valve holes. Why didn't the sealant seal the gaps, like it did for @irie? He was lucky, and I (and @mooby77) were not.
I certainly was lucky to avoid having to take the tyre off and start again. Long as it stays inflated while riding then fine. But if not then it's take the tyre off, clean everything and start again ... which I'd have to do either outside or in an unheated garage. Brrr 🥶
 

mooby77

Alchemist
Jun 28, 2020
128
132
Snowdonia
Did you fit a tube before leaving overnight? Spoke leakage could still be air from the valve area and not necessarily the tape over the spoke holes. Take the tyre off and check for loose tape or the tell tale 'tunnels' in the tape. If non detected, remove the valve, add more tape over the valve hole and only pierce the tape with something pointy at the valve position. Remove valve and install a tube, refit tyre and inflate to 40psi and leave for a few hours or overnight. The tube will squish the tape down firmly onto the rim and ensure good adhesion.
just to be clear , I prob wasn't , I did not put sealant in , just seated new tyre onto existing wheel with the original tape , normally do this first , then if ok , then I put the sealant in , give it a shake and then good to go.
Being tight , i don't use the sealant until I know I have a good seal , but maybe the sealant will fix the problem. ?
I'll re-check the tape tomorrow , it did look ok , and like I said with the old tyre with the same taped wheel , no issues, I'll fire in a tube overnight too.
I am going to be close to the specialized store in Bristol tomorrow, and they have this bliss rim strip last one , might give that a go
 

RustyMTB

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Jul 22, 2020
3,012
7,284
UK
It's a pain but if you're sure there's no gross taping error, I'd throw the sealant in & let it er...seal. IME if it leaks through the spokes, generally it's a taping mistake, if it leaks through the wheel sideall vents or anywhere near the valve, it's always the valve & counter intuitively, tightening the valve often doesn't work, it just distorts the valve bung.

You can also recover just about all the sealant with the lid from a rattle can, use it like a scoop.
 

irie

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Subscriber
May 2, 2022
3,179
3,298
Chichester, W.Sussex, UK
just to be clear , I prob wasn't , I did not put sealant in , just seated new tyre onto existing wheel with the original tape , normally do this first , then if ok , then I put the sealant in , give it a shake and then good to go.
Being tight , i don't use the sealant until I know I have a good seal , but maybe the sealant will fix the problem. ?
I'll re-check the tape tomorrow , it did look ok , and like I said with the old tyre with the same taped wheel , no issues, I'll fire in a tube overnight too.
I am going to be close to the specialized store in Bristol tomorrow, and they have this bliss rim strip last one , might give that a go
Would never expect a tyre not to leak without sealant in.
 

timo2824

Active member
Dec 27, 2023
92
122
USA
I don't mess with this anymore, with modern tires having so much better puncture protection I don't even have slime in one of my tubes. I also run relatively low air pressure, 18-22 psi, and I've not had a pinch flat in years. I'd ditch the messy tubeless setup and ride your bike.
 

Bear-uk

E*POWAH Elite
Subscriber
Apr 3, 2020
984
1,332
Harrogate
I don't mess with this anymore, with modern tires having so much better puncture protection I don't even have slime in one of my tubes. I also run relatively low air pressure, 18-22 psi, and I've not had a pinch flat in years. I'd ditch the messy tubeless setup and ride your bike.
Your way of doing things won't work in the UK where it's full of hawthorn bushes that are used as boundary walls.
Then generally cut back with a tractor and flail mower that scatters the thorns everywhere!
Puncher heaven.
 

E-MAD MALC

Well-known member
Nov 16, 2021
445
273
EAST SUSSEX
Anyone have experience using TESA 4289 as rim tape, thinking of trying this as I have some, or recommendations on rim tape , i use muc off usually , 32mm for my 30mm rim.


I am having a problem with my 27.5 WTB I30 rear wheel with existing muc off tape , new rear tyre Maxxis shorty, replaced tyre inflated and popped the bead , no sealant but left tire overnight at in the morning flat , leaking through a number of spoke holes so guess I am going to have to remove and re-tape ?

Did not have any issues with the original tyre DHR II and muc off sealant combo.

Normally don't have a issue with tubeless either , first time I have experienced leakage through spokes , the sidewalls and valves appear to be airtight .

Cheers,
Got
Anyone have experience using TESA 4289 as rim tape, thinking of trying this as I have some, or recommendations on rim tape , i use muc off usually , 32mm for my 30mm rim.


I am having a problem with my 27.5 WTB I30 rear wheel with existing muc off tape , new rear tyre Maxxis shorty, replaced tyre inflated and popped the bead , no sealant but left tire overnight at in the morning flat , leaking through a number of spoke holes so guess I am going to have to remove and re-tape ?

Did not have any issues with the original tyre DHR II and muc off sealant combo.

Normally don't have a issue with tubeless either , first time I have experienced leakage through spokes , the sidewalls and valves appear to be airtight .

Cheers,
Got a Roll myself last year from Viking
Jus so happens I use the company for stationary anyway
I Bought it on the strength that people were saying that it appears to be identical to STANS and maybe they were sourcing it from TESA
Anyway it does the job OK, I run round the rim three times with it
 

mooby77

Alchemist
Jun 28, 2020
128
132
Snowdonia
Got

Got a Roll myself last year from Viking
Jus so happens I use the company for stationary anyway
I Bought it on the strength that people were saying that it appears to be identical to STANS and maybe they were sourcing it from TESA
Anyway it does the job OK, I run round the rim three times with it
All sorted , removed the old muc off tape and replaced with TESA 4288 which I got from RS for £6.00 for 66 metres :)

It is the black variant , it has a bit of give and went on nice keeping a bit of tension.

2 layers x 2 on my 30mm rim around is what I used.

So it was the tape after all and my application of it ,

New sealant , used for the first time OKO magic milk , £15.99 for 1 litre from , seems good as all the others I have used.

Thanks for all the comments and advice
 

irie

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Subscriber
May 2, 2022
3,179
3,298
Chichester, W.Sussex, UK
New sealant , used for the first time OKO magic milk , £15.99 for 1 litre from , seems good as all the others I have used.
That OKO Magi Milk looks interesting. Says no latex allergen problems in spite of the facts that it's latex based (synthetic latex?).
 

luna87824

E*POWAH Master
Subscriber
Jan 19, 2019
460
1,191
Just South of The Grand Canyon
Got

Got a Roll myself last year from Viking
Jus so happens I use the company for stationary anyway
I Bought it on the strength that people were saying that it appears to be identical to STANS and maybe they were sourcing it from TESA
Anyway it does the job OK, I run round the rim three times with it
I can confirm that Tesa 4289 is what Stan calls, "Yellow Spoke Tape". I was selling 4289 to Dave Thomas "Dave's Speed Dream Wheels" starting late 90s. Dave showed it to Stan, Stan contacted me and I started selling it to him. We started using it on wheels at our bike shop as light weight rim tape starting around 1992. I have a friend who was in the sand sports business and he was buying paddle tires from Skat-Trak in Calimesa California around 1991. The tires were shipped with 4289 to compress them down to a smaller size to save on shipping. That's how I found the tape in the beginning. I sold the tape to Stan for about one year before he found out what it was, and stopped buying from me....
 

mooby77

Alchemist
Jun 28, 2020
128
132
Snowdonia
I can confirm that Tesa 4289 is what Stan calls, "Yellow Spoke Tape". I was selling 4289 to Dave Thomas "Dave's Speed Dream Wheels" starting late 90s. Dave showed it to Stan, Stan contacted me and I started selling it to him. We started using it on wheels at our bike shop as light weight rim tape starting around 1992. I have a friend who was in the sand sports business and he was buying paddle tires from Skat-Trak in Calimesa California around 1991. The tires were shipped with 4289 to compress them down to a smaller size to save on shipping. That's how I found the tape in the beginning. I sold the tape to Stan for about one year before he found out what it was, and stopped buying from me....
great info , thanks for the reply ,
 

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