Deformed tire (Trek Rail+ 8 gen5)

[Keverkan]

Hi everyone. This is the first problem I've had with my Rail+ 8 gen5 since I bought it in March, apart from the seatpost remote, which was quite awkward and I replaced.

On Saturday afternoon I went for a ride and after 3 km I had to turn back .
Last week, my riding partner mentioned that the rear wheel didn't seem to be properly positioned. We stopped and checked it, but the deformation wasn't noticeable at the time. I started riding on a dirt road and the instability wasn't obvious, but when I turned onto the bike path to connect with another trail, the bike was swaying from side to side. I stopped and the deformation, which you can see in the photos, was now visible. The bike has 620 km on it and there's no damage to the rim or any impacts.

Has this ever happened to any of you?

I'm going to post it in the Trek store's WhatsApp group to see what they say, although I have a feeling they're going to reply.

 

[RustyIron]

Replace the tire.

 

[skizzian]

are you running tubes? only thing I can think of is a twisted inner tube.
if not, and the rim is straight, it's time to choose a new tyre

 

[ozzybmx]

We have been experiencing this crap for 15yrs, commonly known as MaxiWobble or ContiWobble, Conti have made good lately, Maxxis, not so good.

I have successively warranted 1 tyre with Continental but I have had wobble issues with about 10 tyres, 9 of them Maxxis, 1 Conti. 3 riders in our house.

Maxxis dont give a sheet.

 

[Ascent]

Just replace them. They’re undesirable tires. I’m not a fan of any Bontrager rubber. You got good life at 629k. Might as well upgrade them.

 

[MeatBike]

We have been experiencing this crap for 15yrs, commonly known as MaxiWobble or ContiWobble, Conti have made good lately, Maxxis, not so good.

I have successively warranted 1 tyre with Continental but I have had wobble issues with about 10 tyres, 9 of them Maxxis, 1 Conti. 3 riders in our house.

Maxxis dont give a sheet.

It'll be a Bontrager Brevard Pro XR (formerly XR5), unless OP has changed it.

---

No harm in asking Trek about it as they're usually pretty helpful.

Otherwise I'd chuck tan-wall DHR II on there.

 

[ozzybmx]

Just replace them. They’re undesirable tires. I’m not a fan of any Bontrager rubber. You got good life at 629k. Might as well upgrade them.

100%, after 30yrs of being an anal MOFO on tyres, I would not run a tyre with their mega tyre technology, other than Maxxis, Continental or Schwalbe.

Not a Maxxis fan lately but they are ok, Schwalbe have made a great gravity tyre with their Radial, Conti have hit the spot with their casings, Supersofts, Softs and regular in all casings. Kryptotal enduro casing for us eeebers are on point.

 

[Stihldog]

Just replace them. They’re undesirable tires. I’m not a fan of any Bontrager rubber. You got good life at 629k. Might as well upgrade them.

I’m not a fan of the Bontrager hubs and rims either. Those get upgraded to something else pretty quick.

A few weeks ago my neighbour took his new Rail gen5 EMTB on its first run. 20 minutes later he limped his bike into my bike cave. “Look at this…wtf!”

A 1/3 of the spokes, on the rear, were loose. Some of them were like spaghetti noodles. I’m surprised that none of the spokes were broken.

I trued and tensioned the wheel back to normal. Two days later …same thing.

Trek replaced the wheel immediately. He hasn’t had any problems since.

 

[MeatBike]

I’m not a fan of the Bontrager hubs and rims either. Those get upgraded to something else pretty quick.

A few weeks ago my neighbour took his new Rail gen5 EMTB on its first run. 20 minutes later he limped his bike into my bike cave. “Look at this…wtf!”

A 1/3 of the spokes, on the rear, were loose. Some of them were like spaghetti noodles. I’m surprised that none of the spokes were broken.

I trued and tensioned the wheel back to normal. Two days later …same thing.

Trek replaced the wheel immediately. He hasn’t had any problems since.

What model Rail? I think the Rail+ 5 has lower spec wheels but on the 8 and above they should be decent, unless it's a bad build.

I gave my Roscoe 9 hardtail some serious abuse and when I sold the bike the Bontrager Line Comp 30 rims were still like brand new, other than the odd scuff here and there. I never once had to tension the spokes and the Rapid Drive 108 rear hub flawless.

 

[Stihldog]

What model Rail? I think the Rail+ 5 has lower spec wheels but on the 8 and above they should be decent, unless it's a bad build.

I gave my Roscoe 9 hardtail some serious abuse and when I sold the bike the Bontrager Line Comp 30 rims were still like brand new, other than the odd scuff here and there. I never once had to tension the spokes and the Rapid Drive 108 rear hub flawless.

It was the Rail 8.(non carbon). Could have been some lower end specs. I wasn’t that impressed …but I did upgrade the brakes to MT7’s. (Or rather the shop did).I had to give those some TLC later.

 

[MeatBike]

It was the Rail 8.(non carbon). Could have been some lower end specs. I wasn’t that impressed …but I did upgrade the brakes to MT7’s. (Or rather the shop did).I had to give those some TLC later.

The 8 should come with Line Comp 30 wheels with the 108 rear hub, same as my Roscoe had.

Definitely sounds like a bad build if the new one has been problem free. At least Trek were quick to help though.

 

[ArmyOfEvilRobots]

100%, after 30yrs of being an anal MOFO on tyres, I would not run a tyre with their mega tyre technology, other than Maxxis, Continental or Schwalbe.

Not a Maxxis fan lately but they are ok, Schwalbe have made a great gravity tyre with their Radial, Conti have hit the spot with their casings, Supersofts, Softs and regular in all casings. Kryptotal enduro casing for us eeebers are on point.

Kryptotal durability is really impressive too. I have a Kryptotal I bought last summer which is still in good shape after way over 1000km. It’s on the spare wheel now, but I normally demolish 2-3 DHRIIs every season, while this conti probably has another winter beater season left in it.

 

[irie]

Replace the tire.

Now.

 

[irie]

Trek replaced the wheel immediately. He hasn’t had any problems since.

Hope @Keverkan the OP reads this.