ENVE unveils a tubeless tape installation tool for a professional finish

ENVE has just introduced a rather unique tool for maintaining tubeless wheels. It's called the Tubeless Tape Gun and it is a gun very similar to the one used to seal cardboard boxes with tape but designed to apply the rim tape evenly, centered, and without wrinkles. Its price is 135.62 euros and we still don't know if we want it or need it.

ENVE launches a gun to install tubeless rim tape without wrinkles and with precision

Although installing tubeless rim tape is not an especially complicated operation, doing it correctly requires some practice. You need to keep the tape centered, apply enough tension, and ensure it adheres to the entire surface without forming folds or leaving poorly sealed areas.

ENVE knows this process well after manufacturing and assembling thousands of wheels, and now it has developed a specific tool to simplify it. The new Tubeless Tape Gun is a tape applicator with a guiding system and a roller that presses the rim tape while it is being installed.

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Its operation is simple. First, manually secure the end of the tape to the inside of the rim and then place the gun over the central channel. From there, just push the tool while spinning the wheel.

The roller keeps the tape centered and presses it against the surface. When the rotation is complete and the necessary overlap is left, an integrated metal blade allows you to cut the tape without using scissors or other tools.

The gun is constructed with an aluminum structure, rubber grip, and plastic guides. It accommodates tubeless tapes ranging from 25 to 40 mm in width, as long as the roll has a core diameter of 75 mm. Additionally, it is not limited to ENVE wheels and can be used with rims from any other brand, whether for road, gravel, or MTB.

A damaged rim tape can explain why your wheels lose air overnight

Recently, we reviewed at Brújula Bike all the possible reasons why a tubeless wheel loses air overnight and how to fix them. Among the problems we pointed out was precisely the deterioration or poor placement of the rim tape.

With use and over time, the tape can peel off at the edges, lift at the overlapping areas, or suffer small damages that allow air to reach the spoke holes.

When this happens, changing the sealant or checking the valves may not be enough. Sometimes, the solution involves disassembling the tire, completely removing the old tape, cleaning the rim, and applying a new tape.

And it is precisely in this last step where ENVE's tool comes into play. Its guiding system aims to reduce placement errors and achieve a more uniform result, especially when preparing multiple wheels.

However, the gun does not replace the prior preparation of the surface nor does it guarantee a watertight assembly by itself. Using an appropriate tape, properly cleaning the rim channel, and achieving a good overlap remain essential.

A 135 euro tool that makes more sense in a workshop

The price is probably the most striking aspect of this novelty. ENVE sells its Tubeless Tape Gun for 125 dollars in the United States, while in its European store it appears for 135.62 euros.

It may be difficult to justify that investment for a cyclist who changes the rim tape once or twice a year. However, the situation is different for workshops, wheel builders, and competition mechanics who perform this operation constantly.

In any case, ENVE has not invented a new way to seal tubeless wheels, but a tool to make a job that has traditionally been done by hand easier and more repeatable. And, for its price, it seems especially interesting for those who have to repeat it many times.