Thread: When is a rim's wall too thin?
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Old 10-14-15 | 10:22 PM
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ThermionicScott
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Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Originally Posted by RandomTroll
The rim of my front wheel split today (I didn't hit a pothole or any other wheel-damaging obstacle: just normal street riding). Fortunately it held the tire's bead until I got home, 15 miles later. My last front rim split and stopped holding the bead in 1 fell swoop 6 years (37K miles) ago. I noticed a bulge (from the sound made while braking) 10 months ago. I squeezed it flat with vise-grips. When I started today's ride it braked normally. It's a Sun CR-18 rim.

Is there a rim-wall-thickness I should use to determine when to replace a rim? Or some other measure?

I ride to minimize braking: slowing down when approaching stops, looking ahead for problems. Is 37K too-few miles?
Jan Heine reckons that 0.7mm is about as much as you need to keep the rim from self-destructing: https://janheine.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/rim-weight/

Consider investing in one of these dental gauges: http://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Iwan.../dp/B0087HKWCO They're cheap and work well for sidewalls.
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