Why don't all rim brake rims have wear indicator grooves?
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 244
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 206 Post(s)
Liked 38 Times
in
27 Posts
Why don't all rim brake rims have wear indicator grooves?
Both my Giant Cypress and my Trek Verve came with rims with wear indicator grooves. However of the aftermarket rims I've been looking at, I don't think I've seen any that have them. Anyone have insight into why this is?
Likes For MyRedTrek:
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,056
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4195 Post(s)
Liked 3,837 Times
in
2,295 Posts
Because for decades the risk of blowing out a rim due to pad wear has been thought to be the rider's responsibility. Maintenance and precaution stuff. It wasn't the job of the rim manufacturer to tell you when you wore out your rim. Andy
__________________
AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
#3
n00b
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,397
Bikes: Surly Karate Monkey, Twin Six Standard Rando
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 428 Post(s)
Liked 466 Times
in
273 Posts
are the aftermarket rims you're looking at nicer or cheaper than the rims that came on your bike? a wear indicator seems like more of a luxury thing.
more importantly, most people don't know what a rim wear indicator is, so I would not be surprised if most companies don't bother with a feature that everyone will ignore.
more importantly, most people don't know what a rim wear indicator is, so I would not be surprised if most companies don't bother with a feature that everyone will ignore.
Likes For mack_turtle:
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,319
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,092 Times
in
723 Posts
Check carefully for some small drilled divots instead of the grooves; there may only be one or two per side.
Likes For dsbrantjr:
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2,191
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 114 Post(s)
Liked 119 Times
in
92 Posts
I have them on my Bontrager rims and the divots do give peace of mind. I have over 40,000 miles on the rims and divots are still there. For the relatively small effort to create the divots, it offers much more in safety and peace of mind.
Same with tires. My Continental Gatorskins and Specialized Armadillo All Condition tires have wear divots. It's a great visual indicator.
Same with tires. My Continental Gatorskins and Specialized Armadillo All Condition tires have wear divots. It's a great visual indicator.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,895
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2598 Post(s)
Liked 1,924 Times
in
1,208 Posts
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,379
Bikes: 1982 Bianchi Sport SX, Rayleigh Tamland 1, Rans V-Rex recumbent, Fuji MTB, 80's Cannondale MTB with BBSHD ebike motor
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 667 Post(s)
Liked 529 Times
in
355 Posts
Because most rims are replaced due to an accident long before they wear out?
#9
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
This is the greatest pro disc brake argument there is. Disc brakes do not in the end destroy high priced rims.
Likes For rydabent:
#10
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 244
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 206 Post(s)
Liked 38 Times
in
27 Posts
are the aftermarket rims you're looking at nicer or cheaper than the rims that came on your bike? a wear indicator seems like more of a luxury thing.
more importantly, most people don't know what a rim wear indicator is, so I would not be surprised if most companies don't bother with a feature that everyone will ignore.
more importantly, most people don't know what a rim wear indicator is, so I would not be surprised if most companies don't bother with a feature that everyone will ignore.
#11
Newbie
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Corn Field County, Illinois
Posts: 57
Bikes: 2023 Cervelo Soloist 2007 Specialized Tricross 2017 Colnago CRS 2001 Schwinn Homegrown
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 65 Times
in
22 Posts
Ride or Pie?!: Measuring rim sidewall thickness
I've measured mine using the caliper and bent spoke method.
I've measured mine using the caliper and bent spoke method.
Likes For crowbike:
#12
Used to be Conspiratemus
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hamilton ON Canada
Posts: 1,512
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 297 Post(s)
Liked 245 Times
in
163 Posts
When I do discard the threadbare rear, I move the front to the rear (thus getting yet another 50% of tire life) and buying one new tire (for the front.)
#13
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,777
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3582 Post(s)
Liked 3,394 Times
in
1,928 Posts
I never saw rim wear indicators before machined brake tracks became fashionable. Machining the brake track removes material from the rim, shortening the useful life. Maybe the wear indicators are a CYA type of thing?
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mountain View, CA USA and Golden, CO USA
Posts: 6,341
Bikes: 97 Litespeed, 50-39-30x13-26 10 cogs, Campagnolo Ultrashift, retroreflective rims on SON28/PowerTap hubs
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 550 Post(s)
Liked 325 Times
in
226 Posts
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: San Jose, California
Posts: 3,504
Bikes: 2001 Tommasini Sintesi w/ Campagnolo Daytona 10 Speed
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 145 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 35 Times
in
30 Posts
. . . so long as sidewall thickness is .5 mm or more, there's some life left.
Most rims start at 1.4 to 1.6mm
=8-)
__________________
5000+ wheels built since 1984...
Disclaimer:
1. I do not claim to be an expert in bicycle mechanics despite my experience.
2. I like anyone will comment in other areas.
3. I do not own the preexisting concepts of DISH and ERD.
4. I will provide information as I always have to others that I believe will help them protect themselves from unscrupulous mechanics.
5. My all time favorite book is:
Kahane, Howard. Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric: The Use of Reason in Everyday Life
5000+ wheels built since 1984...
Disclaimer:
1. I do not claim to be an expert in bicycle mechanics despite my experience.
2. I like anyone will comment in other areas.
3. I do not own the preexisting concepts of DISH and ERD.
4. I will provide information as I always have to others that I believe will help them protect themselves from unscrupulous mechanics.
5. My all time favorite book is:
Kahane, Howard. Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric: The Use of Reason in Everyday Life
Likes For mrrabbit:
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicago area
Posts: 2,546
Bikes: Airborne "Carpe Diem", Motobecane "Mirage", Trek 6000, Strida 2, Dahon "Helios XL", Dahon "Mu XL", Tern "Verge S11i"
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 980 Post(s)
Liked 580 Times
in
398 Posts
This is consistent with my observations on several new rims and several worn-out rims. The dental thickness gauge, known also as a "crown thickness" or "Iwanson" gauge, is good for rim wear measurements.