Wheel upgrade, which ones...

[MartinW148]

Come on then hit me with it.....

If I'm upgrading the rims (and tyres) what should I get.

Currently running Race Face AR40, 584-40, Novatec, 148x12 mm / 110x15 mm


M

 

[Billybopsbasher]

Can I ask why the need to upgrade first?
I have a bikewith (what sounds like) these same wheels and they're pretty good already imo.
Specialized do some decent tyres that fit nicely ie a butcher grid 2.8 for the front and a slaughter grid 2.6 for the rear(obviously depends on what and where you ride)
For reference my front hub is a d791sb b15 and rear is a d461sb b12.

 

[MartinW148]

Good point.

I currently run 2.8 tyres and I will be dropping these to 2.6 most likely. Also I think I don't need quite such a wide rim, so a 30mm internal rim, smaller tyres, I hope to lose some weight.

I'm only a light rider at 70kg and I'm no down hill wonder, also not the strongest. I have looked around, hunt rims (not EMTB specific) I think they have a 120kg limit, I should be able to lose over half a kg in unsprung weight.

I have considered changing from the Jam to the Levo SL, but I think with a few upgrades, I can get to same weight as the ally SL. I do like a light bike.

M

 

[Billybopsbasher]

I guess it all depends on where you ride. I also have another bike (29er version) with raceface ar30 rims with again the spesh butcher/slaughter combo but in 2.6 guise and for most type of riding I will say the 29er is faster pretty much everywhere.... Although the wheel weights are very similar so don't get too hung up on changing purely to save weight as it doesn't really make much difference. If you were on a normal bike I'd actively encourage lighter wheels but seeing as you're powered I can't help but think that it's wasted money until your current wheels and tyres become a problem ie breaking etc.

 

[MartinW148]

Thanks, forgot to say I am running 27.5s.

The 2.8s are getting a bit worn down so it won't be too long before they need changing. Would be nice to have two sets of rims (set ups) for different types of riding or season

 

[S D]

Be interested in the results of this.
I’ve used a 2.6 on the front but on the og rim.
I too would prefer narrower rims and tyres

 

[FSEngineer]

Personally I run DT Swiss H1700 rims on my ebike, and Hunt Enduro Wides on my analog hardtail. Both are great, I've been especially impressed by the Hunts (I may or may not be over the weight limit, ahem) but with some abuse on a hardtail they are still arrow straight with no dings or anything else untoward.

The DTs are nice but they charge accordingly. For my money I'd be looking at Hunt Enduro Wides as a good balance between weight and strength, or their eMTB specific rims for the stronger freehub.

Tyres I'm running a Michelin e-wild rear and wild enduro front on the ebike with rimpact inserts, absolutely love them so far. Maxxis high rollers on the hardtail with no inserts, equally no complaints there. I think realistically stick with the big names and you can't go far wrong tyre-wise these days, Michelins are definitely better VFM though.

 

[MartinW148]

Personally I run DT Swiss H1700 rims on my ebike, and Hunt Enduro Wides on my analog hardtail. Both are great, I've been especially impressed by the Hunts (I may or may not be over the weight limit, ahem) but with some abuse on a hardtail they are still arrow straight with no dings or anything else untoward.

The DTs are nice but they charge accordingly. For my money I'd be looking at Hunt Enduro Wides as a good balance between weight and strength, or their eMTB specific rims for the stronger freehub.

Tyres I'm running a Michelin e-wild rear and wild enduro front on the ebike with rimpact inserts, absolutely love them so far. Maxxis high rollers on the hardtail with no inserts, equally no complaints there. I think realistically stick with the big names and you can't go far wrong tyre-wise these days, Michelins are definitely better VFM though.

The hunt wheels do look appealing and if I can use the 30mm internal rims I could shed a fair bit of weight. Do you think that 30mm rims on a 27.5 are too small for an E-Bike?

 

[MartinW148]

OK just been on the hunt wheels website, to throw another spanner in the works, what about changing to 29er's.

Looking at the current crop of E-bikes it seems 29 is the common go to size and the 30mm internal rim (with 2.6 tyres).
I have a carbon Jam2 so it has the flip chip, theoretically I could swap.......

 

[Gary]

Do you think that 30mm rims on a 27.5 are too small for an E-Bike?

Absolutely not. DH World cups are still won on 25mm internal rims and 2.5" tyres.

at your weight and with your preference for a lighter bike and from what you say of your riding style I'd be considering something around 400-450g and 25mm internal width and running Exo casing 2.4"width tyres.
Take a look at Stans crests or DT XM421s. and build them with 2.0/1.8 spokes with brass nipples.
If you're just riding fairly tame XC (be honest here) I'd even take a look at Stans Arch. @ 23mm and 350g

It's a massive myth that ebikes need stronger wider rims and wider tyres. Extra strength is only needed if you're heavy, clumsy or ride extreme terrrain or fast rough DH also huge big wide tyres have more downsides than positives. Even on Ebikes.

 

[MartinW148]

Absolutely not. DH World cups are still won on 25mm internal rims and 2.5" tyres.

at your weight and with your preference for a lighter bike and from what you say of your riding style I'd be considering something around 400-450g and 25mm internal width and running Exo casing 2.4"width tyres.
Take a look at Stans crests or DT XM421s. and build them with 2.0/1.8 spokes with brass nipples.
If you're just riding fairly tame XC (be honest here) I'd even take a look at Stans Arch. @ 23mm and 350g

It's a massive myth that ebikes need stronger wider rims and wider tyres. Extra strength is only needed if you're heavy, clumsy or ride extreme terrrain or fast rough DH also huge big wide tyres have more downsides than positives. Even on Ebikes.

No definitely not tame XC and from your advice it sounds like the 30mm rims would suit. Most of my riding is gravel over hardpack or forest trails. I really like the maxxis ikons on the bike, but 2.8s I think aren't for me, so I was thinking 2.6s with exo instead of exo plus casing.

 

[Gary]

Gravel over hardpack and forest trails is XC.
If you genuinely like Maxxis Icons absolutely any 2.4 HARDPACK AM tyre on a 21-25mm rim would suffice. The only thing you'd be gaining from running a 2.6 on a 30mm rim would be comfort.

 

[MartinW148]

Gravel over hardpack and forest trails is XC.
If you genuinely like Maxxis Icons absolutely any 2.4 HARDPACK AM tyre on a 21-25mm rim would suffice. The only thing you'd be gaining from running a 2.6 on a 30mm rim would be comfort.

Maybe, but not tame XC

 

[FSEngineer]

From what you've described my personal choice would be some 30mm wide Hunt 29ers with Maxxis Ardent or similar light duty trail tyres in a 2.4 or 2.5. Nice and fast for hardpack gravel, without too much extra weight.

Everyone has an opinion but I'd be wary about running weedy XC wheels on an ebike, no matter what way you cut it there's an extra 10kg+ compared to a normal bike and 70nm+ extra torque going through the rear. But if you were genuinely doing tame XC only I suppose it wouldn't matter too much!

 

[Gary]

Maybe, but not tame XC

Tame depends on the rider AND the terrain. Only you know what you ride and how you ride it but I stand by my comment about Ikons

 

[MartinW148]

Thanks guys,

Not sure where this idea of tame XC came from.

I think I am going to go for the 30mm hunt rims, not sure on tyre choice yet but definitely no more than 2.6 and exo casings rather than exo+.

It was interesting yesterday, I was in the LBS buying a few bits, they had a couple of e-bikes a hardtail with 23mm rims and a levo with 30mm. Man those rims look small when you get used to the 40's..

Thanks
M