The wheels are one of the bicycle components most exposed to wear due to the use and accumulation of kilometers. Many cyclists mistakenly believe that they are eternal and only care about replacing the covers when they are fully worn, without considering other elements that are also subject to wear such as the radios or the hoop of the tire.
To neglect a correct steak of the wheels causes several of its components to accuse the fatigue long before reaching the end of the useful life for which they were designed, causing very negative effects on the pedaling or handling of the entire bike. Even in the cyclist's own safety, since some wheels in poor condition constitute one of the main accident risks when we go by bicycle, both by road and by mountain.
Indications that your wheels need a change
Knowing how to identify the status of your wheels and all its elements is very important to keep your bicycle in perfect condition and avoid scares. By looking at these five aspects that we explain below you can know if they are in good condition, if a repair or replacement of any component is needed or if, directly, you need to change your wheels for new ones.
1. The braking track is deformed
This is a problem facing cyclists with road bike and bridge brakes. The braking track of the side of the tire is exposed to the constant friction of the shoes when braking. Over time, and if the tracks and the shoes are not cleaned well after each exit, the outer layer and the track are wearing up.
How can you know that this wear has reached its limit? Just touch the braking track. That has a concave and not straight shape is already a symptom of great wear. In addition, some models have a small slot or sunk point on the track. If it blurs or disappears, it means that the tires will have to be changed for new ones. On the other hand, if many waste already accumulates, such as shoes rubber, a wheel change will also have to be considered. You can also try to recover them with a very thorough cleaning.
To avoid premature wear of the brake track it is important to correctly clean the tires.
A cleaning after each output It will avoid wear and get optimal braking if you use shoe brakes. In this Velodrom video you explain what products to use and how to clean them correctly:
https://youtu.be/HKZB06nJoIE
2- The tire is abolished or cracked
When the tire has several blows, abolish and is especially cracked, we will have to think about changing it for a new one. This is a problem especially present in mountain cycling, where the tires are more exposed to impacts of stones, branches, sand, etc.
Punctual blows or abolish in aluminum tires can be fixed, even from home. In MTB-Mag they explain more thoroughly as is the repair of this type of damage. Of course, you will have to get a special key to straighten it, as well as a wheel center.
As for carbon tires, the process is complicated much more. A good sanding of the affected area is needed, as well as having specific carbon patches to replace damaged layers. These should be pasted, molded with heat (in a specific oven) and then sand again. Logically, for its complexity and cost, we recommend that this repair is made by a professional. And in some more serious cases it is best to replace the wheels with new ones.
3. Radios suffer from fatigue or are broken
Continuous radio breakage or its deformation is another clear symptom of wheel wear. You may punctually break some leader or radio itself. But if this problem persists, it is because they accumulate a lot of fatigue after years of use and can barely tighten. It may also be due to the fact that the tire is in poor condition or deformed, generating irregular tensions that also affect the radios and end up deforming and breaking them.
4. The bushing makes noises
Noises in bushings due to bear breaks, mismatch or accumulation of dirt can be repaired without too much complication. Even its cost in a mechanical workshop is not very high. But the persistence of the problem can affect both radios and tires, increasing wear of the whole set.
We recommend that you carry out an internal review and cleaning of the bushings once a year, with posterior greased. With this you will increase its useful life, which also benefits radios and tire. Thus the wheel will have a soft and precise filming and you will avoid having to replace it early.
5. The tire tacos are worn
In
this article We explain, in more detail, how to identify a worn cover of one in good condition. The signs of wear are different depending on whether we talk about a Mountain Bike, Grave or Road cover.
Rolling with worn tires has a series of negative consequences that we detail below:
Loss of grip and stability
Using a tire with your tacos or rolling band worn or blurred implies significant grip losses, especially in curve and with wet firm, or very dry in the case of MTB. Also of one's stability and the balance of the bike when rolling. The loss of grip or
grip The risk of falling increases considerably
Increased punctures
Whether you use camera and not (
TUBELESS), A very worn cover increases the possibilities of suffering a puncture, sealant fluid leaks or a burst with which you lose all the air instantly.
More wear for the rest of the wheel
The tire is the component that is in continuous contact with the terrain. Let's say it is the first filter of vibrations and impacts from the firm. That is why a tire in good condition helps the rest of the wheel elements suffer less tension or fatigue. Thus, carrying some covers with worn tacos or, in the case of the road, without drawing, will work more to the tire and radios increasing their wear. It is preferable to make a change of covers in time than to hurry its use and deteriorate more expensive components, such as hoop itself.
In addition to the loss of grip and stability, a pneumatic in poor condition will generate more fatigue on the tire.
Risks of rolling with worn wheels
In conclusion, do not keep up to date with the maintenance of your wheels, analyzing the status of each of its elements, it entails a worse general behavior of the bicycle and causes the different elements of the wheel to wear faster. In addition, roll with some of its worn elements (tire, radios, bushings, etc.) has the following consequences:
Worse management and control
The wheels have levels of vertical, lateral or torsional stiffness determined. The wear of tires, bushings, radios or tires alter the structural rigidity of the wheel. This translates into unforeseen reactions when rolling with them that compromise their handling.
Loss of comfort
Wheels with poor condition components generate oaks, noise and unstable sliding on the firm that will force you to make an extra effort to maintain control. With this overexertion more forces are spent, which conditions your physical performance.
Risk of breakage and fall
Finally, and in extreme cases of wear and lack of maintenance, tires or radios can be suddenly broken or fined when passing through an obstacle or overcoming a curb. They are unusual situations, but that risk is also present.
Thus, we recommend that you thoroughly review the state of the metal parts of the wheel (tire, radio and bushings). The state of the covers is necessary to check it at least once a month. With this we will avoid this type of problem and our bicycle will work optimally.
