Road Cycling - Zipp Happens!

I just got a pair of 2003 Zipp Clincher 303 wheels and guess what? The tire came out of the rim on a corner at about thrity mph. Ouch! Has anyone else experienced this? The tire pressure was around 115psi.

Not on a Zipp. But I had a similar thing happen on a set of new Ksyrium Elites last year. It was on my second ride with them. But guess who mounted my tires? I did, of course. I was luckier and was able to get stopped before the tube blew out, so I didn't go down or hurt the tire. Put in the new tube. And VERY carefully put the tire back on and set the bead equally all the way around. Then took off the rear wheel and let the air out and VERY carefully checked to see that the tire bead was set evenly all the way around. Haven't had another problem in over 1,000 miles of riding. Also, I use 700x23 tires and run 115-120 psi in them.

I don't think that sort of thing should happen..I'm thinking the bead wasn't seated all the way? Perhaps near the stem of the inner tube.

What tire brand?

Did you seed it and install the tire properly?

I had similar problem with a Pariba tire. They were just bad tires that were too stretchy. Thank God they are not around anymore. I mean the high end Pariba.

It could be, as the others said, a bad bead on the tire. Also look for these things:

1. Rim tape that is misaligned and riding up under the hook of the rim
2. possible defect in the rim (not likely but check)
3. proper installation-as others have mentioned
4. bad tire bead-as others have mentioned

good luck

More facts related to the crash: The tire had been on for a road race two weeks before that had a lot of technical downhill and a lot of breaking and fast cornering. Then, two weeks later, after mostly riding on an indoor trainter, I raced a crit where the tire came off in the final corner of the rim on the last lap.

I am seriously thinking of getting rid of the rims because I lack confidence in them. Should I do this, or just chalk it up to a bad tire?

Well before you throw away the expensive wheel why not replace the tire.

It may have been the tire. Tires are not perfect.

I'll bet you anything it was your tire/installation/overinflation that caused the separation and not the rim. In my experiences with Zipp I would find it hard to believe that a faulty rim could make it through their extensive QC process. They are a solid company and make solid products. Maybe you could try taking the wheels to wherever you bought them and have a professional mechanic look at them as well. We can't tell you what it is for sure online without seeing the wheel.