Latex is used as an adhesive to hold the base tape to the tire.
It is not temperature sensitive like ordinary sew-up glue, so the
tape will not come off when the wheel gets hot. The tire may
come off the rim, though. -- Jay Beattie.


wrote in message
oups.com...
Without getting into a discussion on merits/disadvantages to
tubular
tires, can anyone explain why there is a layer of latex on the
base
tape of some tubular tires?

Thanks.

Richard