LightCarbon road rim wheel fail

[JongdD]

Want to let this community know that I have experienced a rather strange issue with a pair of LightCarbon Wheels.

Bought in June 2022, ridden approx 15,000k, three/four sets of tires worn out and always ridden tubeless, issue after 33 months.
https://www.lightcarbon.com/700c-disc-brake-asymmetric-road-carbon-rim_p69.html

I had to make the wheels tubeless again. New sealant, clean valves. Tires were not yet worn out, so I reused them.

When inflating the tire with a floor pump, after the tire was put on the sides of the rim by a tire booster, at 4.5 bar in the rear wheel, the rim cracked.
The outer layer of the rim has come loose from the inner layer, creating two parts. See the picture linked below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dUzDTUM2q1YC_o4HvHV2WRVZx-dAeuSL/view?usp=drive_link

I had done the front wheel first and thought that had worked out well. However, when checking the wheel in the wheel truing stand, I saw that the rim was also starting to move in one place. See the photo and video linked below. Same issue as rear wheel/rim with outer layer coming from inner layer.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NFYvK2ZZsu6GhFbXnWoSqBVklV8-xRa6/view?usp=drive_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GnmqT7ySiq1gk-b1_Ctf8qoHvrlHtJNx/view?usp=drive_link

Shared the issue with the retailer of LightCarbon in The Netherlands who forwarded the issue to Gavin Woo, sales director of LightCarbon. The reaction was disappointing because he did not give any specific reaction on my issue.
See his reaction here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QkLO9Ko5hW5hqJH5dJjysJKHCx63Sc_p/view?usp=sharing
As you know, generally carbon wheelset is easier to be damaged compared to carbon frames.
Due to different road condition, tire pressure, and riding behavior, the working life of carbon
rim can vary a lot.
This wheel was purchased in 2022, nearly 3 years from now, has exceed 2-year warranty period.
For carbon wheel that have been used for more than 2 years, it could be regular worn out, may
not be quality issue.
For carbon rims with quality issue, normally the problem will occur during the first 1 or 2 years.
Please suggest that customers to buy new rims for replacement. Thanks.
Best regards,
Gavin Woo | Sales Director

I am still  puzzled what the reason can be for this LightCarbon wheel/rim fail.

Looks like issues like this are happening more often with LightCarbon wheels and/or rims https://chinertown.com/index.php?topic=4048.0

Maybe @JimLee can give some more clarification here?

[Edopizzo]

Does the rim have draining holes? Sounds to me like some air went in the rim cavity and pressurized it until it exploded

[JongdD]

Just the normal holes for the spokes and the valve. But taped correctly with tubeless tape.
The tape was still intact when I took the tire off today.

[Da11as]

My guess is the internal damage occured way before and only manifested itslef upon tyre installation.

I had such delamination on my Elite Edge. Although, it has happened in diferent circumstances: during the race I hit a deep pothole at full speed with my both wheels. As a result I got pinch flat at the front but the rear was fine. Only later I found out the outer surface of the rim delaminated upon impact (with rear tire holding pressure just fine), the front wheel was fine.

If the internal surface of the rim is intact it can be confidently and safely restored by your local carbon master.

[Serge_K]

I am still  puzzled what the reason can be for this LightCarbon wheel/rim fail.

Well, 15k km, 3y, that's some serious fatigue testing of the equipment. Is it normal for the rim to self destruct? No. But i guess it can happen? I think i agree with Light carbon there, in the sense that if they had formally F'ed up your rim, it wouldn't have shown after 15k km. I think ENVE provides lifetime warranty, but it costs 10x more, so pick your poison
If you do a cost per km ridden, that wheel has had a good life.
A friend of mine is very wary of "chinese carbon" exactly for that reason. He says durability is untested. But i disagree. As far as i can tell, what happened to you is very unlikely, but it does happen, Chinese carbon or not (yes I know pretty much all carbon is chinese, but my friend believes that western brands somehow have magic QC from across the globe that implies that if it's branded, it's more durable).

[Lotnik]

15kkm is pretty solid distance for one pair of wheels bought cheap. It's out of warranty already so you can't do nothing. It could worn out at this mileage.

[rasch]

yeah. I tend to agree with both. LC position seems quite fair.
And it’s always a good reason to buy new ones.

[00Garza]

Any chance they’ll give a discount on replacement rims?

[Tom77]

Does the rim have draining holes? Sounds to me like some air went in the rim cavity and pressurized it until it exploded

Second this

[JongdD]

Any chance they’ll give a discount on replacement rims?

The Dutch retailer was willing to give a discount. LC didn't.