Tires scratching frame

[dave_sd]

I was working on my girlfriend's Madone, and when I had the wheels off the bike I discovered some very weird scratches on the inside of the chainstays, seatstays, and fork, right about the outer diameter of the wheel. They kind of looked like she had ran over something that stuck to the wheel (like a soda can) and had gone through a few revolutions before she stopped and removed it. They're pretty deep, but they're not getting to the carbon fiber, thankfully.

For about a week, I had no idea what could have caused them. However, once I put the tires back on, and spun the wheels while contemplating the problem, it hit me. Bontrager tires have the injection molding tabs on the outside of the casing just like every other tire, but they are on the SIDES of the casing rather than radial like every other tire I've seen. The darn things are just long enough to hit the frame on every revolution, and after hundreds of thousands of impacts, they have worn away the clear coat and paint on the frame! I showed it to the guys at the Trek store, and they seemed to think it was normal. I wish they would tell people about this when they purchase bikes with these tires!

Anyway, just an FYI to everyone out there...check to see if these little injection molding tabs hit your frame and cut them off if they do!

[Bill]

Those look like tire wear marks! Is you wheel true?

[dave_sd]

Wheels are true, yes. I am 100% sure it's from the little rubber tags on the outside of the tire because they run right through the scratches when they rotate through the frame.

[Bill]

Yea I would be a little upset and atleast have who ever installed the tires to make it right!!

[bobtravers]

Should have make some noises when riding your bike???