Originally Posted by
Rolla
Of course they don't "usually" crack, but a wheel's lifespan depends on more factors than the brake type.
The sidewall of a disc brake wheel can outlast that of a rim brake wheel, but that's not the only place that a wheel deteriorates.
I agree everything has stresses that will take a toll over time, but I’ve had to replace an otherwise perfectly good set of mtb rims because of wear on the braking surface.
Some mfg’s have hard anodized the braking surface, to slow this down, but that has braking trade-offs.
People will always find a reason for rims to fail, but in the future it won’t be due to a worn through brake surface.
Disc brakes are here to stay.
John