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Ribinrobin

Well-known member
Subscriber
Apr 16, 2021
379
374
Berkshire, UK
Finally giving up on the stock tyres, i have a mary/betty to go on. A friend said the bontrager carbon wheels are a nightmare to get tyres seated on and you have to change rim tape? can anyone confirm this?
 

Magnacus

Member
May 11, 2023
29
25
Munich, Germany
Finally giving up on the stock tyres, i have a mary/betty to go on. A friend said the bontrager carbon wheels are a nightmare to get tyres seated on and you have to change rim tape? can anyone confirm this?
There is a rubber "rim tape" in the rim bed. You have to take it out and replace it with a tubeless rim tape. Changing the tires with the rubber tape installed is very, very difficult.

Edit:
If you can't get the old tires off the rim, you can also cut them. For the wire in the bead, you might need a bowden cable cutter. Be careful. But it's probably better than using a tire lever.
 
Last edited:

Ribinrobin

Well-known member
Subscriber
Apr 16, 2021
379
374
Berkshire, UK
There is a rubber "rim tape" in the rim bed. You have to take it out and replace it with a tubeless rim tape. Changing the tires with the rubber tape installed is very, very difficult.

Edit:
If you can't get the old tires off the rim, you can also cut them. For the wire in the bead, you might need a bowden cable cutter. Be careful. But it's probably better than using a tire lever.
thanks mate that saves some hassle. Do you know what size rim tape it needs?
 

njatherton

Member
Dec 1, 2022
79
34
PA USA
The rim is 30mm wide on the inside. Then a 31 or 32mm wide rim tape should fit well.
Finally giving up on the stock tyres, i have a mary/betty to go on. A friend said the bontrager carbon wheels are a nightmare to get tyres seated on and you have to change rim tape? can anyone confirm this?
A great tip I have used when I originally struggled to replace the tires/tyres is to warm up the beads with, eg, a hairdryer. This makes them more flexible. I fitted an Assegai F & a Kryptotal R no problem using this method without replacing the rim tape.
 

Stihldog

Handheld Power Tool
Subscriber
Jun 10, 2020
3,881
5,496
Coquitlam, BC
Using a specific width rim tape for your rim is helpful. (30mm tape for a 30mm rim.) Don’t tape up the walls of your rim. This could cause some problems.

Learn how to apply rim tape correctly. Do not use your fingers to press the tape into the valley or channel of your rim. Use and press/chase with a soft cloth instead. Push out any trapped air bubbles.

Spoke holes can slice or cut rim tape …especially alloy rims. Sometimes a small burr is left during the manufacture process. A small round slice, in the plastic insert or rim tape, can act like a flap to release air. Psi can slowly escape through the spoke holes or small rim vents. ( Very difficult to seal, detect or see).

I discard the Bontrager rim insert when I install a new tire and use a correct width rim tape instead. I’ve had two Bontrager plastic rim inserts fail.
 

Ribinrobin

Well-known member
Subscriber
Apr 16, 2021
379
374
Berkshire, UK
Using a specific width rim tape for your rim is helpful. (30mm tape for a 30mm rim.) Don’t tape up the walls of your rim. This could cause some problems.

Learn how to apply rim tape correctly. Do not use your fingers to press the tape into the valley or channel of your rim. Use and press/chase with a soft cloth instead. Push out any trapped air bubbles.

Spoke holes can slice or cut rim tape …especially alloy rims. Sometimes a small burr is left during the manufacture process. A small round slice, in the plastic insert or rim tape, can act like a flap to release air. Psi can slowly escape through the spoke holes or small rim vents. ( Very difficult to seal, detect or see).

I discard the Bontrager rim insert when I install a new tire and use a correct width rim tape instead. I’ve had two Bontrager plastic rim inserts fail.

Thanks for the detailed response!
 

EnduroIntern

New Member
Feb 6, 2024
56
39
Israel
Finally giving up on the stock tyres, i have a mary/betty to go on. A friend said the bontrager carbon wheels are a nightmare to get tyres seated on and you have to change rim tape? can anyone confirm this?
I don't mind the bonti rim tape.
It is harder to sit some tyres.
Exo+ is fine to take on or off. DH casing is impossible and would not reccomend
 

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