a. an elongated catheter shaft which has a proximal catheter shaft section, a distal catheter shaft section, an inflation lumen, a guidewire receiving lumen extending along at least a portion of the distal shaft section in communication with a guidewire distal port at the distal end of the catheter, and a balloon on the distal catheter shaft section having an interior in fluid communication with the inflation lumen of the shaft, and having an inflatable section, and proximal and distal balloon skirt sections secured to the catheter shaft;

b. a distal tip member mounted on and bonded to an outer surface of the distal catheter shaft section, which has a proximal section with a proximal portion forming a lap joint over the distal end of the catheter shaft, a distal section located distal to the distal end of the shaft having a distal end defining the guidewire distal port, and an inner lumen in fluid communication with the guidewire receiving lumen of the shaft; and

c. a polymeric sleeve which has a proximal end, and a distal end, and which is disposed about and secured to the proximal section of the distal tip member so that the distal end of the sleeve is located distal to the catheter shaft distal end and proximal to the distal tip distal end, and the proximal end of the sleeve is located proximal to the catheter shaft distal end, and the sleeve extends distally without tapering so that the distal end of the sleeve has the same outer diameter as the proximal end of the sleeve.