MTB Wheel Black Friday: front and rear deals

What to check on your MTB

Four measurements are enough. The diameter, marked on the tyre: 26, 27.5 or 29 inches. The axle, read on the fork and frame: quick release, standard thru-axle in 15x100 and 12x142, Boost in 15x110 and 12x148, or 20x110 on a downhill fork. The disc mount, either six bolts or Center Lock. Finally, at the back, the hub that receives the cassette: Shimano HG, Shimano Micro Spline or Sram XD. A wheel that differs by just one of these points cannot be mounted as is.

Replacing a wheel or upgrading?

To replace a bent or cracked wheel, take exactly the same measurements. For upgrading, three criteria matter. The internal width of the rim, often found in the name: the GTR SL27 from Gurpil has a rim of 27 mm internal, the Trucky 30 from Velox has a rim of 30 mm, suitable for wide tyres. Tubeless setup, sometimes delivered ready, rim tape applied. The maximum load, finally: DT Swiss indicates this in their labels, 110 kg for their M1900 and X1900, 150 kg for the H1900 enduro, a useful marker for a heavier rider or an electric MTB.

Discounted wheel: the right reference before the crossed-out price

The same model often comes in several versions. First, check if it's a front wheel, a rear wheel or a pair. At the back, the cassette body distinguishes references that have the same name: the GTR SL27 is sold in Micro Spline, in Sram or in Shimano. Then check the axle, Boost or not, the disc mount, and what is included: rim tape, valves, adaptors. Discs, cassette and tyres can be transferred from the old wheel or bought separately. Therefore, a discount can only be read between two identical references: the crossed-out price of a GTR SL27 Micro Spline doesn’t inform about the Shimano version, and a pair is compared to another pair.

Tyres, inner tubes and nearby pages

The page MTB wheels details sizes, axle standards and compatibilities all year round. A wider rim often requires a wider tyre, to be chosen from the MTB tyres on offer; a setup with an inner tube needs the exact size, taken from the MTB inner tubes. The section MTB wheels and tyres of the Black Friday brings together the three families, while other bikes have their wheels in road, BMX and on the page all practices. Wheels from a replaced range also go through clearance, while recent models are found in new arrivals.

The brands of MTB wheels on offer

Velox, a Breton manufacturer, offers everything from the Karma Disc wheel with a double-wall rim of 21 mm internal to the Trucky 30 Boost tubeless ready, and provides Kargo wheels for electric bikes.

Mavic sells its MTB wheels individually or in pairs, from the Crossride with quick release to the Crossmax and Deemax Park, including the E-Deemax for electric MTB.

Gurpil offers its GTR wheel in rims of 23, 27 or 35 mm internal, in Boost or standard, and delivers it with the tubeless rim tape applied.

Race Face, born in Vancouver, offers its aluminium wheels Aeffect-R, Atlas, and Turbine, and a carbon wheel, the Next-R.

crankbrothers offers its Synthesis wheel in Enduro and E-MTB versions, some on i9 hubs.

DT Swiss categorises its MTB wheels by use, from the M1900 and X1900 to the H1900 for enduro, and specifies in each label the maximum load allowed.

Frequently asked questions

Can a 27.5-inch wheel replace a 29 at the back?

Only if the frame is designed for this mixed setup, 29 at the front and 27.5 at the back. Otherwise, the geometry changes and the bottom bracket drops: keep the original diameter.

Does my HG Shimano hub accept a 12-speed cassette?

It depends on the cassette. A cassette with the smallest sprocket having 10 teeth requires an XD Sram or Micro Spline Shimano hub, depending on the brand. Check the hub indicated by the cassette manufacturer before ordering the wheel.

What does the maximum load of a wheel mean?

It’s the weight that the wheel is designed to carry. Most manufacturers include the cyclist, the bike and the equipment: with an electric MTB, keep a margin.

Does a wider rim mean I have to change tyres?

Not always, but each tyre has a recommended rim width range from its manufacturer. A tyre too narrow for the rim loses its rounded profile and grip in corners.

A pair or a single wheel during Black Friday?

The choice can be pondered: the offer carries the name of the Friday after Thanksgiving, but Vélo-Store maintains its reduced prices on MTB wheels throughout November. A single wheel is enough to replace a damaged wheel, if the other stays in good condition. For upgrading, a pair maintains the same behaviour for both wheels and the same rim width.