As an aside to my polyester fabric wheel covers, about which I could probably write a short magazine article... I would be interested to hear how they compare to Solarfilm (polypropylene?) covers. Advantages, disadvantages and the fitting process. Is that the same as 'Solartrim'?

It appears there are advocates of hard plastic wheel discs, self-made composite wheel covers, fabric and plastic.  Perhaps more.  IF anyone would like to share opinion and advice please start an appropriate thread. (I know people have written on such topics before, if you can find, please drop a link to the info.

Solarfilm covering is a polypropylene, not as strong as a polyester film. It could slacken in a hot sun. It's also what I'd call a softer plastic whereas polyester is harder.

Solarfilm (the company) does make polyester films too, as do other companies.

Also, a cheap source of covering is/use to be Hobbyking:  https://hobbyking.com/en_us/catalogsearch/result/?q=covering" rel="nofollow - Search results for: 'covering'  A Hong Kong version of Oracover.

I'll let you look up Solartex (from Solarfilm), it's a fabric covering with a heat-sensitive glue. But, it can get ripped in use, I won't say easily but for combat wings we'd only use it occasionally. It was preferred to use ripstop nylon and dope instead, much stronger. 

None of the iron-on coverings will stick to aluminium as it was designed to be use on wood, balsa in fact. It's soft so works best on that. You need to use a glue if you want to stick it on a bike wheel. Finding the right glue is paramount. Start with Evo stick or UHU, contact adhesive, but they keep changing the glue formulas. The old stuff is better. I've tried double-sided tapes but it's not reliable. The adhesive can soften in the sun.

Anyway, plastic film covering may last just the next time out or with careful use quite a few months. I've got some wheels that have had covering on for over a year (Mylar and Hobbyking stuff). But, they still have suffered hanger rash and needed patches on, to stay operational. Still ok to use and look good.

Hope that helps.

Martin

I wrote just such an article for the magazine a few years ago after going through pretty much the same process as Martin. Sadly, without an index or a huge amount of time I won't be able to find it again.

I eventually settled on the non-adhesive Solarfilm, held in place by tucking the edges under the tyre bead, which gives a perfect smooth finish across the wheel after heat-shrinking. The biggest problem I found was providing access to the tyre valve. The best solution was to stick on back-to-back circles of gaffer tape and cut an access hole but it was a fiddly job to lock on and take off an angled valve adapter without ripping the Solarfilm, particularly under race conditions in the rain.