1"-6" Oralite V98 "RED" Conformable Prismatic Reflective Tape

RED V98 — Oralite Conformable Prismatic Reflective Tape

Red Oralite V98 is the red color of the V98 conformable prismatic reflective tape family — Oralite's flagship conformable film, designed to mold around rivets, weld lines, mild treadplate, curves, and other surface irregularities that rigid reflective films can't handle. With brightness equivalent to ASTM D4956 Type 4 (high-intensity) but not itself ASTM-typed, V98 Red is the standard red conformable prismatic used on fire-apparatus and emergency-vehicle bodies where the surface has rivets, weld lines, or curves.

Available in eight roll combinations — four widths (1", 2", 4", 6") in two lengths each (30' and 150').

Pricing

Specifications

• Standard: Brightness equivalent to ASTM D4956 Type 4 (high-intensity), but is not itself ASTM-typed
• Technology: Micro-cube conformable prismatic film
• Construction: Single-layer film — does not delaminate like multilayer reflective films tend to do over time or when impacted
• Outdoor rating: 5 years
• Adhesive: Pressure-sensitive repositionable adhesive — allows reposition during initial install; bond strength builds over time. Full bond at 72 hours.
• Surface compatibility: Conformable to complex curves, rivets, weld lines, mild treadplate, and textured surfaces — the flagship V98 capability. Bridges directional surface changes that rigid films (V82, V92, HI) cannot. For compound-curve surfaces (helmet domes, marine bumper balls), use the flexible-stretchable HI line.
• Brightness: Approximately 7× engineer grade; brightness class comparable to high-intensity Type 3-4
• Manufacturer: Oralite (formerly Reflexite — same company, rebranded)
• Color: Red (deep saturated reflective red; standard color for NFPA 1901 chevron lower stripe when applied directly to fire-apparatus body)

Typical Applications

V98 Red is the go-to red conformable reflective film for emergency-apparatus and fleet marking on bodies with rivets or curves:

• Fire/emergency apparatus chevron applied directly to truck body — when the truck side or rear has rivets, weld lines, or mild treadplate, V98 conforms without lifting. For chevron on flat aluminum pre-fab chevron panels, V82 Red is brighter (see comparison below).
• Truck cab side and door striping — cab-over-engine fronts, door panels with rivets, B-pillar wraps.
• Hard hat brim and curved sections — V98 conforms to the brim curve without lifting. For flat panels, V82 is brighter.
• Mild treadplate / diamond-plate surfaces — V98's conformability holds on the raised pattern.
• Hazard and safety marking on riveted equipment — gates, frames, dumpster sides, equipment housings.

Surface Prep and Installation

V98 requires a clean, dry, smooth (or moderately textured) surface:

1. Clean with isopropyl alcohol or solvent-based cleaner; remove all wax, oil, and silicone residue.
2. Dry completely; ambient temperature should be above 50°F (10°C) at the time of application.
3. Position — V98's repositionable adhesive allows you to lift and reposition during the first few minutes. Set final position before the bond builds.
4. Conform around rivets, weld lines, or treadplate by pressing the film into the surface contour with firm thumb or roller pressure. Use moderate heat from a heat gun on tight rivets if needed to help the film mold around the head.
5. Smooth with a soft cloth or squeegee from the center outward to push air toward the edges.
6. Cure — initial bond is immediate; near-final bond at 24 hours; full bond at 72 hours. Avoid washing or exposing to heavy rain for the first 24 hours after application.

For full application guidelines, see our installation page.

Which V98 Color to Pick

V98 is available in our catalog in seven colors:

• White — general conspicuity, sign backgrounds, reflective marking on curved or riveted bodies
• Red (this product) — NFPA 1901 chevron lower stripe on rivet bodies, emergency apparatus
• School Bus Yellow — school bus bodywork where the body has rivets or curves
• Blue — accessibility marking, hazmat, fleet branding on curved surfaces
• Green — emergency exit, first aid, hazmat marking on curved surfaces
• Fluorescent Lime — NFPA 1901 chevron upper stripe; bright daytime fluorescent green-yellow
• Fluorescent Orange — work zone, hazard marking with daytime fluorescence

V98 vs Other Reflective Films

• V98 vs V82 (Type 5 rigid metallized) — V82 is about 3× brighter and has 10-year outdoor life, but is rigid (flat or single-curve only). V98 is conformable (rivets, weld lines, complex curves) but less bright and has 5-year outdoor life. Rule of thumb: flat aluminum panel = V82; truck body with rivets = V98.
• V98 vs Flexible HI Stretchable — V98 conforms to single curves and rivets but does not stretch. Flexible HI Stretchable stretches and works on compound curves (helmet domes, marine bumper balls). For compound curves, pick Flexible HI; for rivets/weld lines/single curves, pick V98.
• V98 vs 5650 Rapid Air engineer grade — 5650 is an air-release engineer-grade film with lower brightness, designed for large flat-panel installs where air must escape during application. V98 is brighter and conforms over rivets, but lacks the air-release feature. Use 5650 for large flat panels; V98 for riveted or curved surfaces.
• V98 vs Engineer Grade Flexible (Type 1) — flexible engineer grade is more bendable but significantly less bright. V98 is brighter with similar conformability.

For a full reflective material comparison, see our FAQ.

Durability and Outdoor Life

V98 carries a 5-year outdoor rating from Oralite. In real-world fire-apparatus and fleet use:

• Typical service life is 4–5 years before noticeable fade.
• Marine and high-salt environments may see shorter service life.
• For longer outdoor life on flat-panel applications, V82 Type 5 metallized prismatic offers a 10-year rating but does not conform.

Compliance and Standards

• ASTM D4956: V98 is not formally typed. Brightness performance is comparable to Type 4 (high-intensity).
• MUTCD: V98 is not intended for sign-sheeting where a specific ASTM Type is required. Use ASTM-typed sheeting (V82 Type 5, 3M Diamond Grade XI, or HI Type 3) for sign applications.
• NFPA 1901 chevron: Red is one of the approved colors for the lower half of the rear chevron when paired with yellow, lime, or fluorescent lime for the upper half. V98 Red is the preferred choice when the chevron is applied directly to a fire-apparatus body with rivets or weld lines.

Related Products and Resources

• V98 Spec Sheet (PDF)
• V98 Fluorescent Lime (NFPA 1901 chevron upper half)
• V98 White
• Full V98 Color Collection
• V82 Type 5 Red (brighter, rigid)
• Application Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

Will V98 conform to rivets, weld lines, and curves?

Yes — that's the V98 specialty. V98 molds around rivet heads, conforms across weld lines without lifting, and bends around single curves and complex curves where rigid films would tent or peel. V98 does NOT stretch to fit compound-curve surfaces (helmet domes, marine bumper balls); for those, use the flexible-stretchable HI line.

What's the difference between V82 and V98?

V98 is thicker, softer, and more conformable than V82. V98 is incredibly bright, but not as bright as V82. V82 is rated a Type 5 sheeting and can be used for traffic delineation, while V98 is used more for vehicle conspicuity.

Is V98 Red the right material for the lower half of an NFPA 1901 chevron?

Yes if the chevron is applied directly to the fire-apparatus body (where the surface has rivets, weld lines, or curves). V98 Red conforms over these surface features without lifting.

Does V98 require a primer?

No. V98's repositionable adhesive bonds to any clean, dry, smooth or moderately textured surface above 50°F. No primer is needed — just clean the surface of wax, oil, silicone, and dust.

How long does V98 take to reach full adhesive bond?

Initial bond is immediate and the film can be repositioned for the first few minutes; near-final bond at 24 hours; full bond at 72 hours. Avoid washing or exposing to heavy rain for the first 24 hours after application.