I know spoke nipples come in different lengths, and they are used in different applications. It does seem in several sets of wheels I have that there isn’t a uniform amount protruding inward toward the hub. I am doing some winter busy work on switching rims and truing up newly acquired ones and have observed the differences and wondered about it.



Mavic laced to Shimano 6207 from 1984



Weinmann laced to Phils from about 1974

I believe these are both as they came from the manufacturer. I did relieve some tension on the Mavic while working on it, hence the threads showing. I think the spokes are the correct length. To me the 12mm nipples look too short in the first set, and the 16mm ones look too long in the second set. I think my preference for either of these rims would lie right in the middle at 14mm. So that is the question; is it a preference with the finished look? Did it change over the years or was it a matter of using what was available? Is there something I am missing in my education on these?