Check your spoke holes if you have Shimano Dura Ace WH-7850-C24-CL or WH-7850-C50-CL clincher wheels

DURA-ACE clincher tyre wheel sets WH-7850-C24-CL and WH-7850-C50-CL which have spoke plugs rather than rim tape have, say Shimano, been found to be more likely than usual to puncture. According to the company the problem can be solved by replacing the spoke and valve plugs on the affected wheels with Shimano's own high pressure rim tape. Shimano is advising anyone with the affected wheelsets to contact their local Shimano dealer or service centre where they will be provided with the correct rim tape free of charge. A guide on how to replace the spoke plugs with the relevant rim tape has been posted on Shimano's website. However, before you rush off for some rim tape it is worth checking that your wheels are affected – not all of the two wheelsets with these product codes are. It depends on when they were manufactured. So if you've never had a puncture (lucky you) how do you tell if you need to get some rim tape? Well, if the product code number, printed on the rim, is on a red background you don't have a problem, if it's on a black one you do. If your wheels have a round silver sticker near the valve hold, no, we don't know why they'd put a circular silver spot there either, but it's good news: you're in the clear. It's also good news if there is a round silver sticker next to the Dura Ace logo on the right hand side of the wheel. If you have either of the WH-7850-C24-CL or WH-7850-C50-CL wheelsets without the good news silver stickers or the red background for the product code contact your Shimano dealer or service centre for some rim tape.