JPH05342538

PURPOSE:To provide a magnetic tape having a stable high output at all times by imparting head cleaning ability to a part of a magnetic tape and carrying out recording and reproduction while cleaning a head. CONSTITUTION:A magnetic layer contg. magnetic powder and an abrasive material dispersed in a high-molecular binder is formed on one principal face of a nonmagnetic base film to obtain the objective magnetic tape. The magnetic layer has distribution of surface roughness expressed by the square mean in the transverse direction, at least one edge has the peak of surface roughness and the height of the peak is >=1.2 times as large as the height at the central part. The rough surface part cleans a head by contact with the head at the time of recording and reproduction.