Originally Posted by
FBinNY
The problem with front wheels isn't that they fall apart, but that they don't.
I don't know any high mileage rider that hasn't accumulated front wheels "too good to throw out".
Rear wheels have shorter life expectancies, either because of road hazards, or simple wear and tear. So, they get replaced, and because stuff is always changing, we end up also buying or building a new front wheels to match for cosmetic, or sometines technical reasons.
It sounds like you may be talking about tires. I don't know that there's a big difference between front and rear
wheels, with regard to wear. Generally if one rim is starting to show stress cracks around the spoke holes or have a lot of brake wear, they're both pretty well shot and should both be replaced at the same time. Pretty much the same with hubs. Usually when one needs replacement, they both do.