Stewart Campbell

So I finally started riding tubular tires for races this year.  I reglued a used wheel that I bought, and yes it was messy for my first time, but I figured it out.  Then a few people recommended Tufo tape and Bike Tires Direct, that is their #1 selling "tubular accessory" with high reviews.

I love it! And yes, it does hold very well.  There are complaints about getting the tape off but there is an easy trick.  Pull the tire off and the white tape but leave on the clear thin tape, heat that with a hair dryer and then slowly pull the tape and the glue residue will come off with the tape.  If you pull the clear tape off first (like I did) then it's about as hard to get the residue off as regular Mastik glue.

Anyhow my question is Tufo tape recommends Tufo tires because their cloth.  Vittorias have some coating that does not adhere to the tape as well (according to various forums.)  Conti's will work...however (and this is my question)...conti's have a bit of a thicker bead where the stitching is and once mounted over a few weeks the tire will "twist" evenly all the way around.  Meaning that you will see about 2mm more base tape on one side vs the other.  So the whole tire is about 1-2mm off center.  I do not notice any ride difference nor have I rolled a tire, but I have also not pushed any hard turns yet, turns like the down hill at Mt.Tabor circuit race.  I'm a bit anal about building my bikes and having everything perfect.

Anyone else tried the tufo tape and conti tire and have this problem?

-Stewart