Lifespan for road wheels

[Red Zone]

Just wondering what sort of lifespan one should expect from a set of wheels, whether carbon or aluminium.

 

Assuming that they are not broken from potholes or other knocks, the limiting factor has got to be the braking surface. As an average rider, weighing 70 kg what sort of distance should one get out of a set of wheels.

 

Also how do you know when a rim is too far gone to ride?

[Falco]

Ask JB, he will probably tell you the limiting factor is not the braking surface, it is usually the number of spokes the wheel has.

 

Less spokes means a lighter, but less durable wheel.

 

Personally, I have never had a wheel that has worn out it's braking surface, but I have had several that crack where the spokes attach to the rim. I like light wheels, so I accept they won't last as long.

Edited September 26, 2013 by Falco

[Andyr249]

You will really have to ride down mountain passes all the time in the Alps or Pyrenees and hold you brakes the whole way down for it to wear down. You shouldn't really have any problems with the brake surface wearing out. I have had wheels for years and haven't had it wear enough that I need to thrown them out. Most of the time people get rid of wheels because they break.

[Red Zone]

So what causes the wheel to break, metal fatigue?

[Andyr249]

Metal fatigue, spoke tensions been out could possibly cause stress on the rim, hitting rocks/potholes etc. Friend of mine broke his MTB wheel on a little rock not long ago. Get all the angles and forces right and it breaks.

[David Marshall]

Wheels are a bit like the hammer I inherited from my grandfather. Two new heads, three new handles and it's still going strong! Thinking of the wheels I have scrapped over the last while it has usually been because of fatigue (cracks around the nipple holes) or that the cost of repair exceeds the wheel value. Mostly this is when you have non standard spokes, rims or hubs or a badly worn brake surface. (I have seen a rim where the tube has burst through the worn braking surface). A well designed, built and maintained wheel will last many years.