I just bought a new road bike that has thru axels. I do not have any experience with these. I noticed that on the front wheel if you tighten the thru axels it creates resistance and the wheel does not spin freely. If I loosen the thru axel until the wheel spins freely, then it seems way too loose. What gives?? Thanks!!

Sounds like the bearings may have been put up too tight. Or you are really putting a lot of muscle into tightening the through axle.

If wheel bearings feel perfect when the wheel is not clamped in or the axle tightened, then they usually will be too tight when installed with a QR. I'd think it would be the same for a thru-axle. IMO... of course.

Tightening the QR or thru-axle compresses the spindle the bearing cones are on. Possibly the cones, locknuts, spacers and such are installed wrong.

I too am new at these. Kid bought a cross bike with 4 sets of wheels, then another cross bike, then I bought new wheels. So 6 sets. When one is moved to the other bike - there is resistance. The new wheels came with spacers. I hope to see in the next week if it is just spacers.

Oh, I suppose another possibility is that the brakes are rubbing and need adjusting. calipers, disc or cantelever?

Are you certain the spacers are installed and the frame is simply not being tightened against the part of the hub that is supposed to rotate?

Disc breaks...and they don't appear to be rubbing. Going to go by the LBS today.

I've been using thru axles for a few years on gravel bikes and I have them now on my road bike. I've never had that problem with a hub . . . but I HAVE had an issue with a brake disc / caliper. If I tightened the thru axle too tight, the frame would flex enough to cause the caliper to rub the disc. If I backed the thru axle off 1/4 or 1/2 turn, the problem was solved.

I just had problems with disc rubbing after replacing my tires before seeing this thread, but didn't feel comfortable with loosening the thru axle, so I adjusted my brake alignment instead. The rubbing probably was due to frame flex though.

Good idea. I have through axels and nothing like that happens on mine, and I've got the in tight.

Through axles are so silly on road bikes.