Rim Tape
Tubeless rim tape for mountain bikes, listed by UK sellers. It's the adhesive tape that seals spoke holes in the rim bed to create an airtight tubeless system — Stan's, Gorilla, DT Swiss and Muc-Off. Match the width to your rim's internal measurement.
What does rim tape actually do?
Rim tape seals the spoke holes in the rim bed so air doesn't leak out through the rim, and it's the cheapest and most overlooked part of a tubeless setup. Bad tape is the number one cause of tubeless headaches: if your tyre won't hold air, the tape is the first thing to check.
Tubeless tape or standard rim tape?
Standard rim tape (cloth or plastic strips) just protects the tube from spoke hole edges. Tubeless tape is an adhesive-backed plastic film that creates an airtight seal across the entire rim bed, and you cannot use standard rim tape for a tubeless setup — it won't seal. Most rims that come "tubeless ready" ship with factory tape that's often poorly applied, so retaping with quality tape is one of the first things to do with new wheels.
Which width do I need?
Tape width should match or very slightly exceed the internal width of your rim. Too narrow and the tape won't cover all the spoke holes; too wide and it bunches up at the rim walls, creating uneven sealing surfaces. Common MTB rim tape widths are 25mm (narrow XC rims), 27-29mm (standard trail rims) and 30-33mm (wide enduro/DH rims) — measure the inner rim width between the bead hooks and buy tape 1-2mm wider.
How do I apply it properly?
Clean the rim bed with isopropyl alcohol. Start opposite the valve hole and lay the tape under tension, pressing firmly into the rim channel, and overlap the starting point by at least 100mm. Two wraps is more reliable than one — the second layer covers any imperfections in the first. Press the tape firmly into the rim channel edges where it meets the bead hooks, poke the valve hole through with a sharp pick, install the valve, and the rim is ready for a tyre.
Which tape is worth buying?
Stan's yellow tape is the default — stretchy, adhesive and purpose-made. Gorilla Tape is a budget alternative that works surprisingly well, though it's slightly thicker and heavier, and DT Swiss and Muc-Off make their own branded tapes that perform comparably to Stan's. The tape itself isn't where you need to spend: a perfectly applied £3 Gorilla Tape job seals better than a rushed £8 Stan's tape job, so application quality matters far more than brand. Budget for a fresh roll with any wheels you buy from the wheels and tyres section.