In this article I will share the use of Muc-Off Tubeless Rim Tape on the a-symmetrical DT Swiss RR411 rim of the FFWD F2A rear wheel that is build around DT Swiss 240s hubs. I’ve purchased the FFWD F2A wheels for a bargain price point. Velox Cotton Textile rim tape and the Schwalbe High Pressure rim tape didn’t do the trick.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Muc-Off Tubeless Rim Tape – Key Features
On the Muc-Off product page of the Tubeless Rim Tape you can read the following description:
The Muc-Off Tubeless Rim Tape is made from our own proprietary performance material with a pressure-sensitive adhesive to provide just the right amount of stretch whilst maintaining the durability and strength needed to create a lasting airtight seal. It’s semi-transparent material makes locating the valve hole easy.
- Infamous Muc-Off pink so even the inside of your rims stay looking fresh AF
- Comes with four seal patches, so you’re never caught short
- Comes in 6 different widths to suit most Road, CX, Gravel, MTB and Plus-sized rims
- Extreme strength and durability
- Pressure sensitive adhesive ensures the ultimate air-tight seal
- Engineered to stretch to fit perfectly in the contour of your rim
- Comes as 10m roll – allowing for 4 applications
I did measure the internal width of the FFWD branded DT Swiss RR411 rim of the rear wheel, which was 16,5 mm. and thus the required 17 mm. version of the Muc-Off Tubeless Rim Tape is needed.
Installation Muc-Off Tubeless Rim Tape
For me this was the first time installing tubeless ready rim tape on an a-symmetrical FFWD branded DT Swiss RR411 road rim. The FFWD F2A front wheel has a symmetrical version of the DT Swiss RR411 rim and doesn’t result in issues of deforming the rim tape and puncturing the inner tube).
Before installing the rim tape I wanted to refresh the good insights and tips from pro mechanics. For reference just have a look at these below:
- YouTube video: “Muc-Off – The only tubeless tape you need and how to install it”
- YouTube video: “David Arthur – How To Fit Tubeless Tyres: Top Tips from a Pro Bike Mechanic”
Just like with the DT Swiss Tubeless Ready Rim Tape, I’ve followed the instruction of David Arthur mostly.
- Remove the old rim tape, in this case Velox Cotton Textile rim tape;
- Clean the FFWD branded DT Swiss RR411 rim from old glue;
- Find the valve hole in the rim and start roughly 1,5-2 spokes before the hole;
- Stretch the Muc-Off Tubeless rim tape so it will go into the ridge of the rim;
- Go with your thumb (and a piece of cloth) over it to push out the air when applying the tape;
- Steps 4 and 5 go hand in hand until you go round 2 times (so 2 layers of rim tape);
- Stop roughly 1,5-2 spokes after the valve hole so this area has gotten some additional protection;
- Punch a small hole in the rim tape with PB Swiss Tools Straight Picktool (make sure the diameter is smaller than the valve diameter;
And than the installation of a normal road tire in combination with a TPU Inner Tube:
- Install the Specialized S-Works Turbo road tire on 1 half of the DT Swiss RR411 rim;
- Install the RideNow Tech TPU inner tube, in the outer tire and make sure the TPU inner tube is not pinched between rim and steel thread or the S-works Turbo road tire;
- Install the second half of the Specialized S-Works Turbo road tire (be careful when some help from the Schwalbe Tire levers with rim clip is needed)
All in all it is not a super hard process, but you need to get the feeling of stretching the tubeless rim tape in a good way. I’ve also installed the Muc-Off Tubeless Rim Tape on the FFWD F2A front wheel using a symmetrical version of the RR411 road rim (despite the fact that I didn’t have any rim tape issues with the front wheel). The DT Swiss Tubeless Ready Rim Tape feels less elastic.
Concluding thoughts and wrap-up
The price point of the 17 mm wide Muc-Off Tubeless Rim Tape is around € 18,00 (where 10m. should be good for 4 rims). For me it is worth the investment, because it resolved the issue of deformed rim tapes from Velox and Schwalbe resulting in punctured inner tires. Normal rim tape will cost € 5,00 and a new TPU inner tube costs € 7,00 as well.
Muc-Off has a very cool package, with a VHS Video Cassette Tape graphic on it. It also states the width of the Muc-Off Tubeless Rim Tape (both 17 mm. and 28 mm.), there are 4 seal patches included (not with the DT Swiss Tubeless Ready Rim Tape) and on the backside you can read through the key features, of use the QR-code to watch an installation video.
Please check out the Muc-Off X3 Dirty Chain Machine that has been my preferred tool to clean the chains of all my bikes.
