When is a wheel out of true?

[yenrod]

Some of the figures metioned here for tolerating "out of true" are outrageous. If a new hand built wheel is more than 1mm out overall, it is not good enough.

Very true !

No seriously - id be making communications if that where my wheel !

 

[Steve Austin]

If a wheel even so much as 'skiffs' one brake block on a revolution its not straight enough.

8mm, as was suggested is seriously buckled and not safe to ride imo.

 

[skwerl]

A wheel can be out actuely by 4mm each side = +/- 8mm. Thats the industry Standard

I think that's shoot. Not your post but the standard being +/- 8mm. That represents, what 30-35% of the total width of an average road rim? Surely that tolerance could be improved upon?

I've had hand-built wheels from Condor for 2.5 years of commuting on London roads every day and they're still within 1mm (until a spoke broke and I realised my front rim was way overdue replacement for pad wear)