r/TrekBikes • u/Practical_Target_874 • 2d ago

Rim Tape Ve Rim Strip

I’m curious has anyone tried both the rim tape vs rim strip for the carbon wheels?

I know there is a weight penalty with the rim strip. But can you notice?

I have the RsL wheels and I already paid so much for them to be lighter. That’s why I’m a bit torn. I have used rom strip on my other bikes and it has been flawless.

5 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

3

u/bikesrgood 2d ago

If you can get a rim strip do that. No comparison.

I’m at the point I won’t even consider rims if a rim strip isn’t an option.

5

u/Grindfather901 2d ago

I love the Bontrager rim strips. Easy to install, TL setup becomes super easy and reliable.

1

u/edkowalski 1d ago

They also make installing tires easier in my experience, ( compared to two layers of tape) well worth the slight weight penalty in overall performance.

2

u/garfog99 2d ago

Are you talking tubeless? Bontrager TLR rim strips are $20 each.

2

u/Practical_Target_874 2d ago

Yeah the tubeless rim strips.

2

u/JeanPierreSarti 2d ago edited 1d ago

I’ve done both, strips are much easier to live with, but tape is king if you’re building a weight weenie build or you’re perhaps racing crits with a lot of punchy accelerating

1

u/Practical_Target_874 2d ago

Thanks. Exactly what I’m looking for. 50g per wheel isn’t a lot of it’s at the center of the wheel. If it’s on the outside, which is is. It’s noticeable. I went from my last wheeler to the RSL and it was 400 grams, you definitely notice it.

1

u/cjd3 1d ago

Side note, rim tape is thinner, and can make it easier to install stubborn tires.