Wheel out of true / buckled, how bad?

[jimmy156]

Hi all,

I noticed my wheel doesn’t seem to be totally wheel shaped any more! See the video below, you can see the tyre is shifting relative to the mudguard. How broken is that? Should I be okay riding that? Is it pretty normal for wheels to not be totally true after a while. It’s a gravel bike but mostly get used on the road with the occasional off road jaunt.

Edited by jimmy156 on Sunday 16th January 12:39

Edited by jimmy156 on Sunday 16th January 13:11

[dontlookdown]

That is only slightly out of true. Any decent bke shop should be able to sort it easily and quickly.

Worth double checking at the rim rather than just thw tyre. Hold a pencil against one of the stays, just touching the rim and spin the wheel. I have had that much wobble caused by a tyre that isn't quite seated properly.

[jimmy156]

I braced my finger against the mudguard mount and there was a few mm or so of movement at the rim, I think. Very unscientific, but I don’t think it’s just the tyre.

I’ll call the bike shop on Monday, but they get busy and it’ll probably be a few weeks wait. I am assuming that I won’t damage it further by continuing to ride on it?

[defblade]

dontlookdown said:

That is only slightly out of true. Any decent bke shop should be able to sort it easily and quickly.

Worth double checking at the rim rather than just thw tyre. Hold a pencil against one of the stays, just touching the rim and spin the wheel. I have had that much wobble caused by a tyre that isn't quite seated properly.

Or learn how to true wheels yourself - a truing stand is nice, but you only really need a spoke key to adjust and a cable tie around a fork leg/rear stay as a reference point. I find it strangely relaxing...

[Barchettaman]

+1, definitely fixable.

Whether back wheel went out of true on mine I used a biro attached with a rubber band on the frame as a truing guide. It worked surprisingly well, the point of the biro made a decent ‘Ching’ as it scraped the rim.

Check YouTube to see how to true a wheel, and always take the tyre and tube off the rim.

Best of luck.

[dontlookdown]

jimmy156 said:

I braced my finger against the mudguard mount and there was a few mm or so of movement at the rim, I think. Very unscientific, but I don’t think it’s just the tyre.

I’ll call the bike shop on Monday, but they get busy and it’ll probably be a few weeks wait. I am assuming that I won’t damage it further by continuing to ride on it?

I would happily ride rhat for a week or two if necessary. It may get slightly worse however.

As others have said you could have a go at truing it yourself. I have tried it with ref to YouTube videos and although I can make a big wobble smaller I struggle to get it bang on. Not much to lose by having a go, provided you are careful.

[jimmy156]

I would guarentee i would make it worse not better if I attempted this myself I will drop the wheel to the bike shop when I get a chance.

One thing I always think about is(while the wheel is off) leaving the bike balanced on the fork (thru axle) as the bottom of the fork wouldn't normally take any load like this, but I assume its not a problem. For some reason I have got into my head that Carbon stuff is fragile, but I know its not really the case.

[Camoradi]

jimmy156 said:

I would guarentee i would make it worse not better if I attempted this myself I will drop the wheel to the bike shop when I get a chance.

One thing I always think about is(while the wheel is off) leaving the bike balanced on the fork (thru axle) as the bottom of the fork wouldn't normally take any load like this, but I assume its not a problem. For some reason I have got into my head that Carbon stuff is fragile, but I know its not really the case.

I wouldn't worry about resting it on the forks, as the forces are being applied to the same point on the fork as when the bike is being ridden, but the weight on it is much less than when you are riding it.

I'd put a piece of carpet or something under it to stop abrasion on the floor though

[jimmy156]

So… Turns out that it wasn’t out of true, just not seated properly (as someone suggested)

How can this be avoided when refitting tyres? Is it a case of bouncing the wheel all around with it partially inflated or something?

[boyse7en]

jimmy156 said:

So… Turns out that it wasn’t out of true, just not seated properly (as someone suggested)

How can this be avoided when refitting tyres? Is it a case of bouncing the wheel all around with it partially inflated or something?

I don't know if it is the right way to do it, but when i refit tyres i inflate to a couple of PSI (so the tyre is just taking shape) and then go all the way round squeezing the tyre in my hand so the bead comes away from the rim and then reseats. Seems to do the trick and only takes 30 seconds to do.

[Scoobyshue]

boyse7en said:

jimmy156 said:

So… Turns out that it wasn’t out of true, just not seated properly (as someone suggested)

How can this be avoided when refitting tyres? Is it a case of bouncing the wheel all around with it partially inflated or something?

I don't know if it is the right way to do it, but when i refit tyres i inflate to a couple of PSI (so the tyre is just taking shape) and then go all the way round squeezing the tyre in my hand so the bead comes away from the rim and then reseats. Seems to do the trick and only takes 30 seconds to do.

That's how I do it as well. You could always try a bit of soapy water round the rim / bead and pump up the tyre over pressure so it seats then let some air out.

I have a tubi-booster for tubeless tyres and it fires the beads on to the rims in seconds.
https://www.merlincycles.com/schwalbe-tubeless-tyr...

[dontlookdown]

Gosh. I made a correct diagnosis. That doesn't happen very often! Glad it worked out OP.

Yes soapy water and a good squeeze when refitiong tyres;)