WHEELS AND TYRES

Compatibility to check

• Front axle: 15x110 mm Boost on almost all recent MTBs, 15x100 mm on older models, 20x110 mm on some downhill forks.
• Rear axle: 12x148 mm Boost today, 12x142 mm on the previous generation, 12x157 mm Super Boost on some enduro and downhill frames.
• Freehub body: Shimano HG up to 11-speed, Shimano Microspline for Shimano 12-speed, SRAM XD for Eagle cassettes. On many DT Swiss wheels, it can be swapped without changing the wheel.
• Rotor mount: Center Lock or 6-bolt. An adapter lets you fit a 6-bolt rotor on a Center Lock hub, not the other way round.

Internal rim width

• 25 to 28 mm: cross-country and marathon, for 2.20 to 2.35 tyres.
• 29 to 30 mm: trail and all-mountain, the most versatile range, for 2.35 to 2.50 tyres.
• 30 mm and more: enduro and downhill, to support wide tyres at low pressure.

DT Swiss puts this figure in the name: a “Spline 30” wheel has a 30 mm internal width.

Aluminium or carbon?

• Aluminium: cheaper, it takes hits well and can often be trued after a buckle. The sensible choice for enduro and everyday riding.
• Carbon: lighter and stiffer, it makes the bike livelier when you accelerate. A hard impact, however, may mean replacing the rim.

Single wheel or wheelset?

After a breakage, replacing just one wheel makes sense, as long as you keep the same axles and rotor mount. For an upgrade, a wheelset often costs less than two wheels bought separately.

Electric mountain bikes

The weight and torque of an e-MTB put more strain on the wheels. Choose wheels designed for this use, such as the DT Swiss H series (H 1900, H 1700): reinforced rims and stronger hubs.

Frequently asked questions

See also: MTB forks · MTB drivetrain · MTB brakes · Sales