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10 Best Downhill Mountain Bike Wheels (Reviewed Aug, 2020)

Notwithstanding the sort of downhill mountain biking you like, overhauling your wheels is effectively the most significant alteration you can make to your bicycle, bringing about better general control and more speed on the path.

A new arrangement of downhill mountain bicycle wheels will improve how your bicycle responds to various landscapes and obstacles based on such factors as weight, firmness, and rim width. These factors consistently vary — which implies you’ll normally locate a tremendous dissimilarity as far as weight and measurements over the range, there is not a single wheel that fulfills all the checkpoints of yours. For your ease, we have handpicked some of the best 10 products and described them in the article for your betterment. Have a look at the article below, to know in detail about the product.

We have done several hours of work to obtain a good amount of research for the best downhill mountain bike wheels. In the below section, to make your work easier, among the 10 best products we have selected DT Swiss FR 1950 CLASSIC as our best choice. The below section will save your time and you can read the specifications directly from here and jump into the table and the description below to read in detail about the product. For your ease, the section is named “Overall best choice”.

DT Swiss FR 1950 CLASSIC

Lightweight, great in the road with amazing quality | Overall Best Choice

The  DT Swiss FR 1950 CLASSIC is our overall best choice as the best downhill mountain bike, as it integrates all the features that you must be looking for in your bike for your ride. It is lightweight, that every rider looks for in the wheels. The amazing tubeless technology it includes also highlights its features in every aspect to make it our best voice. The tubeless features make it go for the use of lower tire pressure and less resistance for the wheels. The wheels are your ideal product if you are looking for great quality. The 30 mm rim width offers your downhill tires horizontal unmatched help for considerably more speed while cornering.  Below we have described some of the features for you, in the later article you may find the more features described elaborately with their benefits and drawbacks.

  • Wheel Size: 27.5”
  • Material: Aluminum
  • Rim Size: Inner width of rim: 30 mm, Outer width of rim: 35 mm
  • Hub Type: 240 with Ratchet System 18, Ratchet System 18 SL
  • Brake Compatibility: Disc IS (6-bolt)
  • Axle System: Front- 20 x 110 mm, rear-12 x 150 mm
  • Tire Type: Clincher, tubeless-ready
  • Spokes : DT competition®,Lacing: 3-cross (1:1)

In the following table, we’ve listed the best mountain bike wheels in the market for downhill riding:

WheelWhy we recommend this
DT Swiss FR 1950 CLASSICLightweight. Great MTB wheelset for downhill riding.
Wheel Master 26” Mountain wheelAffordable and great performance
Stan’s Notubes 27.5 WheelSmoothing performance with great quality
Reynolds Enduro Blacklabel Boost WheelsetDurable. Provides impressive ride quality. Tubeless-ready with MR5 Construction Technology
Crankbrothers Opium 3 WheelsetAttractive, High quality. Twin pair Spoke technology, with great
RaceFace Atlas 30 wheelSmoother ride, flat-resistant bead design, with a fine performance
Crank Brothers Synthesis WheelsetComfortable ride, with great hubs. Lifetime warranty
Novatec  Diablo 27.5 wheelsetTubeless ready with clincher tire. Amazing ride quality for MTB enduro
MZPWJD 26 Inch MTB wheelLightweight, with aluminum alloy freehub body
DT Swiss M1700 SplineGreat wheel with great performance

10 best downhill mountain bike (MTB) wheels that worth your money

From analyzing and researching through several products, we have selected the best downhill mountain bike wheels for you. Our choices will help you to get in detail of the products briefly and will save your time and lessen your struggle.

The followings are our choices that will help you to choose the best of the best and give you the best riding experience. Hence, to ease your work more and save you from the trouble of reading the entire article we have made a comparison table that will help you analyze every aspect more visually. Look at the table below for more specific information and description are provided after the comparison of each product.

WheelsPreviewWheel sizeMaterialRim SizeHubBrake CompatibilityAxleTire typeSpoke countSpoke TypeWeight
DT Swiss FR 1950 CLASSIC27.5”
Aluminum
Inner width of rim: : 30 mm
Outer width of rim : 35mm
240 with Ratchet System 18, Ratchet System 18 SL
Disc IS (6-bolt)
front- 20 x 110mm, rear-12 x 150mmClincher , tubeless ready--DT competition®
2073g
Wheel Master 26” Mountain wheel26"AlloyWidth :21mmW/M MT-2000Rotor mount (6BQuick Release, length: 135mmtube only36h14g bk1134g
Stan’s Notubes 27.5 Wheel27.5”6061 AlloyDeph-18.4mmInternal: 38.0mm, External:41.7mm,Stan's Neo with DuraSyncDiscFront Axle: 15mm Boost ,Rear Axle: 12x142mmTubeless32 (front and rear)Sapim Race Black 2.0/1.8/2.0mm2094g
Reynolds Enduro Blacklabel Boost Wheelset27.5”MR5 Carbon FiberInternal 28mm, External 34mmReynolds/ Industry Nine, 6 pawl freehubDisc Only, Center LockFront Axle Spacing: 15x110 (Boost)
Rear Axle Spacing: 12x148 (Boost)
: Tubeless28 Front, 28 Rear--1660g
Crankbrothers Opium 3 Wheelset27.5”6061-T6 Aluminum , smooth weld joint28mm3-pawl, 21T, steel6 boltFront- 110 x 20mm, Rear-150 x 12mmClincher24Sapim stainless steel, 2.0 straight gauge, Twin pair and , Hollow 7075-T6 Aluminum Spoke Pins. Lacing-2-cross2,075g
RaceFace Atlas 30 wheel27.5”6069 AluminumInternal Rim width : 30mm
External rim width : 34mm
--6 bolt Disc20x110mm (front ), 12 x 150 mm (rear )
Clincher, Tubeless ready28Straight Pull,Butting - 2.0/1.8/2.0,Lacing: 3X
1950g
Crank Brothers Synthesis Wheelset - 29in29”Carbon fiber.front internal- 31.5mm, front external -37.5mm, rear internal-29.5mm, rear external-36.5mm
Industry Nine Hydra6 bolt DiscBoost, Front -15 x 110mm , Rear -12 x 148mm tubeless-ready, clincher
front - 28, Rear - 32
Front-Sapim CX-Ray, Rear- Sapim CX-Sprint
1825g
Novatec Diablo 27.5 wheelset27.5”
Alloyclincher alloy 18.5*28.5mm
xd641sb-15, xd642sb-x12
6 bolt Disc-- clincher, Tubeless ready ( convertible)
front: l:16×273 r:16×275
rear: l:16×274 r:16×272
stainless double butted
1860 g/pair
MZPWJD 26 Inch MTB wheel26Aluminium alloy--Aluminum alloy hub with sealed bearing
Disc Brakefront 100mm, rear 135mm--24-shaped stainless steel spokes1830g/pair.
DT Swiss M1700 Spline29”
Aluminium
width: 30mm
DT Swiss SPLINE®
6-Hole Disc, Centerlock/AFS
15x110 Boost (FW), 12x148 Boost (RW)
Wire Bead Tire, Folding Tire,Clincher Tubeless Ready
28 DT competition® straightpull
1829g

1. DT Swiss FR 1950 CLASSIC: Lightweight, great in the road with amazing quality | Overall Best Choice

DT Swiss FR 1950 CLASSIC
  • Wheel Size: 27.5”
  • Material: Aluminum
  • Rim Size: Inner width of rim: : 30 mm, Outer width of rim: 35 mm
  • Hub Type: 240 with Ratchet System 18, Ratchet System 18 SL
  • Brake Compatibility: Disc IS (6-bolt)
  • Axle System: Front- 20 x 110 mm, Rear-12 x 150 mm
  • Tire Type: Clincher, tubeless-ready 
  • Spokes : DT competition®, Lacing: 3-cross (1:1)
  • Nipples: DT ProLock Squorx ProHead alu
  • Weight : 2073 g

Features & Considerations
  • Ratchet System technology: The licensed freewheel framework with high-exactness toothed circles ensures the most extreme burden limit and dependability. Because of the no-tool concept, the framework is simple and quick to keep up.
  • Tubeless Technology: Tubeless tires have some key points of interest over the conventional mix of tire and tube. The lower pressure additionally guarantees more prominent ride comfort. The nonappearance of the hose implies that there is no rubbing between the hose and the tire and accordingly moving obstruction is lower when driving rough terrain and over deterrents. 
  • Bike compatibility: The wheels are compatible with the riding of freeride/downhill rides.
  • Cassette body: The cassette body is well fitted for  Shimano MTB 9-speed,10-speed, and 11-speed.
  • Color: The wheels are available in the color of black.
Some Weaknesses
  • The tubeless compatibility might have issues regarding air leak.

The DT Swiss FR 1950 CLASSIC wheels are lovable to every rider because of the technology being used in wheel making. As a rider at the point when you’re riding maximum capacity into a precarious banked turn you have to have confidence in your gear. You can confide in the FR 1950 CLASSIC in any circumstance. The 30 mm rim width offers your downhill tires horizontal unmatched help for considerably more speed while cornering. The expanded volume permits you to diminish your tire pressure and get footing you’ve never had. 

The rim construction, lightweight 240shub, and the DT Competition spokes have demonstrated how strong they are on the world’s hardest downhill trail. Regardless of whether you’re riding with time as the opponent or for no particular reason, the FR 1950 is ideal for every one of you who has something against slowing down. That is why we have chosen the product as one of our choices and you can have in your list as well for its great quality.

DT Swiss FR 1950 CLASSIC

2. Wheel Master 26” Mountain wheel: Affordable and great performance

Wheel Master 26” Mountain wheel
  • Wheel Size: 26”
  • Material: Alloy
  • Model of the Rim: WEI XM280 Disc
  • Rim Size: 21 mm
  • Hub: W/M MT-2000
  • Brake Compatibility: Rotor mount (6B)
  • Axle: Quick release, length: 135 mm
  • Valve Type: Standard
  • Tire Type: Tube only
  • Spoke Count: 36 h
  • Spoke Type: 14 g bk
  • Weight: 1134 g

Features & Considerations
  • 6 bolt hub: The hub used here is a forged alloy construction made. It is well made with loose ball bearings. The ball bearings help to reduce the rotational friction and give assistance to axial and radial loads. The hub also features the external sealing system which seals the hub making it more durable.
  • Double-walled Disc: The double-wall gives it a great advantage for the performance. It boosts up the performance and holds up well for most riding, eventually having a balanced strength to weight ratio.
  • Cassette compatibility: The cassette body is well fitted for the 8 speed -10 speed.
  • Weight: The wheels are assumed to be around 1134 grams overall.
  • Color: The wheels are available in the color of black.
Some Weaknesses
  • The applied torque to the wheel is too high and the wheels do not spin that freely.

The Wheel Master 26” Mountain wheel is a great product with all its features allowing it to be one of our choices. The wheels work great on country roads as well. The wheels are better treated if maintenance is provided to the wheels. It is an affordable wheel that comes with great price and quality, also including the modern-width rim.

It also has the 6-bolt hubs with the loose ball bearings making it an added feature for the performance-boosting and excellent maintenance. The bearing also plays a part in increasing its attractiveness and making it more quick and fast. It has the disc brake system which works well without having any problems, it has a great brake system with well-cared rotor loosening issues. The wheels do give an insight into how well you can handle this with great care and it will serve you longer, so grab the wheels for your bike and go for a wonderful ride.

Wheel Master 26” Mountain wheel

3. Stan’s Notubes 27.5 Wheel: Smoothing performance with great quality

Stan’s Notubes 27.5 Wheel
  • Wheel Size: 27.5”
  • Material: 6061 Alloy
  • Rim Size: Depth – 18.4 mm ,Internal – 38.0 mm, External – 41.7 mm
  • Hub: Stan’s Neo with DuraSync
  • Brakes Compatibility: Disc
  • Axle: Front Axle: 15 mm Boost, Rear Axle: 12 x 142 mm
  • Valve: 35 mm Presta
  • Tire Type: Tubeless
  • Spoke Count: 32-hole, 32-hole
  • Spokes Type: Sapim Race Black 2.0/1.8/2.0 mm
  • Nipples: Secure Lock Brass Silver Nipples
  • Weight: 2094 g

Features & Considerations
  • Aluminum: The wheels used aluminum as their wheel construction material making it very lightweight and durable.  Being aluminum, it’s resistant to rust and corrosion, and these features make it easier to clean and polish. It also allows for a smoother ride as it is lightweight.
  • Rim width: The wheels have an internal rim width of 38 mm giving it more stability with the plus tires and trail.
  • Tubeless System: The wheels are fitted with the tubeless system which guarantees easier setup and assures for great performance. The tubeless system provides better traction which allows it to have a smoother ride and can balance traction in the harsh landscape.
  • Cassette compatibility: The wheels are using the hub, Durasync freehub which is giving a 10-degree engagement, while as an update to the, you can have a 5-degree engagement with 6-pawl freehub, which is well fitted for 11/12 speed drivers.
  • Rim Profile: The rim profile for this wheel is optimized for 3.00” – 3.50” tires
  • Bike compatibility: The wheels are well fitted for trail use purposes.
Some Weaknesses
  • The wheels are a bit weighty, and the one drawback of the strength is a robust weight.

Stan’s Notubes 27.5 Wheel is one fine wheel that is set for the tagline to be used to go anywhere, and ride anything. The amazing wheels are designed with all the latest technology and are well off for road cycling and road adventures as well.  The features itself balance itself to produce an amazing wheel. The rim internal width supports tires from 3.0 to 3.5 inch and the 6061 aluminum alloy balances the ratio of strength and the weight which allows you to be worry-free, no matter the pressure you put in it.

It also has the Boost axle spacing which looks for the stiffness and the precise tracking. The brand gives out the wheel, a Neo hub with overall 10-degree engagement that helps to get over any obstacle during your ride. The affordable wheels are your best parts of your bike, grab them if you are looking for something that can handle any type of varying trails. Take the best of the best from our choice and enjoy the riding.

Stan’s Notubes 27.5 Wheel

4. Reynolds Enduro Blacklabel Boost Wheelset: Durable, provides impressive ride quality. Tubeless-ready with MR5 Construction Technology

Reynolds Enduro Blacklabel Boost Wheelset
  • Wheel Size: 27.5”
  • Material: MR5 Carbon Fiber
  • Rim Size: Depth- 29 mm, Internal -28 mm, External -34 mm
  • Hub: Reynolds/ Industry Nine, 6 pawl freehub
  • Brake Compatibility: Disc Only, Center Lock
  • Axle : Front Axle Spacing: 15 x 110 (Boost), Rear Axle Spacing: 12 x 148 (Boost)
  • Tire Type: Tubeless
  • Spoke Count: 28 Front, 28 Rea
  • Weight: 1660 g

Features & Considerations
  • Rim profile: The rim profile of the wheel is an amazing key feature to look for. It is constructed with Reynolds’ Mountain Rim (MR5), which mixes5 different carbon matrices, and is applied to five different areas of the area. It uses a 28 mm asymmetrical rim profile which increases the strength through the even spoke tension provided.
  • Tubeless-ready: The tubeless-ready feature of the wheels allow it to have a simpler no-burp tire fit. Being compatible with tubeless-ready, the wheels have extra advantages such as having lower tire pressure and less rolling resistance. It also reduces weight from tires and eliminates the need for a patch kit. Additionally including, hookless bead for easy inflation.
  • Hub: The wheel has a hub from Industry Nine, that accompanies the wheel with 3 degrees of engagement for the rapid pedal response and the unbeatable solidness. The hubs play a role in making it a durable wheel. 
  • Cassette compatibility: The wheels are well fitted for the Shimano or SRAM XD freehub.
  • Bike compatibility: The wheels are well fitted for trail and enduro use purposes.
  • Color: The wheels are available in the color of  Black, 15 x 110 / 12 x 148.
Some Weaknesses
  •  It is a little bit costly, has a loud rear hub, and for warranty additional cost needs to be given.

The Reynolds Enduro Blacklabel Boost Wheelset is a wonderful addition to the wheels industry for 27.5” wheels. It is one of the best riding enduro wheels which have the best durability in the market. Even if you smashed into things very fast, or landed sideways, the spoke tension is consistent with the rims arrow being true.

The wheel from the company is said to be engineered very differently for the rider’s best comfort available. The wheels are undoubtedly light and durable carbon wheelset for high volume trail tires having an advanced development conveys a great ride quality. The wide rim bead lets enormous tires round out for footing and pad and the hookless bead is for no-burp tire fit and simple expansion. Moreover, the boost spacing of the wheels expands responsiveness with no brutality and last but not least I9 hubs have an amazing 3-degree engagement for a snappy pedal reaction. These wheels are the best for enduro, have them for the best riding experiencing.

Reynolds Enduro Blacklabel Boost Wheelset

5. Crankbrothers Opium 3 Wheelset: Attractive, High quality. Twin pair Spoke technology, with great

Crankbrothers Opium 3 Wheelset
  • Wheel Size: 27.5”
  • Material: 6061-T6 Aluminum, smooth weld joint
  • Rim Size: Depth- 23.4 mm, Internal width- 28 mm
  • Hub: 3-pawl, 21T, steel
  • Brake Compatibility: 6-bolt
  • Axle: Front- 110 x 20 mm, Rear-150 x 12 mm
  • Valve Type: Presta
  • Tire Type: Clincher
  • Spoke Count: 24
  • Spokes: Sapim stainless steel, 2.0 straight gauge, Twin pair and, Hollow 7075-T6, Aluminum Spoke Pins. Lacing- 2-cross
  • Nipples: 3.2 x 139 mm, Aluminum
  • Weight: 2,075 g

Features & Considerations
  • Tubeless-ready: Strength is provided more in it due to this ability and rim tape is not required for tubeless arrangement. The tubeless-ready feature allows it to be compatible with both standard and tubeless-ready tires. It can run on lower tire pressure having fewer pinch flats with reduced weight. Being that it provides traction, lowers the rolling resistance in the harsh surfaces.
  • Greatlyconstructed: basic and delightful, the interesting wheel configuration is based around standards of solidarity, firmness, and acceleration.
  • Quicker to accelerate: It gives low rotational inactivity. The exceptional wheel configuration circulates mass nearer to the hubs for quicker acceleration speed and deceleration. 
  • Quality: It has the Twin pair spoke technology structured with utilizing the strongest shape in development, the triangle, to amplify quality and solidness. 
  • Cassette Compatibility: The wheels are well fitted for the Shimano/SRAM.
  • Bike Compatibility: The wheels are applicable for the ride of downhill, freeride / Bike Park.
  • Color: The wheels are available in the color of black and red.
Some Weaknesses
  • The wheels are a bit expensive.

The Crankbrothers Opium 3 Wheelset is an attractive wheel, with high quality and lightweight features. The wheels are an Elite-level wheelset which highlight rims that are constructed more extensive and beefier for the rebuffing requests of downhill racers and freeriders. Additionally, their one of a kind wheel configuration makes for quicker wheels.

The wheels come with the twin pair spoke design that forms a triangulated structure, letting it have a strength and stiffness. It also includes the tubeless-ready features, and for that rim tape is not required for the tubeless arrangement. As riders, while buying the wheels we always tend to see the wheels, as they are attractive or not, because looks matter when we ride. And for that these wheels are a perfect example. The attractive pair of wheels give you an amazing ride that you cannot bear to forget. Therefore, pull out the money and go for an amazing ride.

Crankbrothers Opium 3 Wheelset

6. RaceFace Atlas 30 wheel: Smoother ride, flat-resistant bead design, with a fine performance

RaceFace Atlas 30 wheel
  • Wheel size: 27.5”
  • Material: 6069 Aluminum
  • Rim Size: Internal width – 30 mm, External width -34 mm
  • Brake Compatibility: 6 bolt disc
  • Axle: 20×110 mm (front ), 12 x 150 mm (rear )
  • Valve: Presta
  • Tire Type: Clincher, Tubeless ready
  • Spoke Count: 28
  • Spoke Type: Straight Pull, Butting – 2.0/1.8/2.0, Lacing: 3X
  • Nipples: Black Alloy Nipples
  • Weight: 1950 g

Features & Considerations
  • Spoke: The spoke length is the same here in the wheels for both the front and rear axles, making it simpler during the replacement of the spokes.
  • Tubeless-ready: The wheels are compatible with the tubeless-ready system. It includes the tape and the valves, already installed with the wheels. The system provides a great advantage in terms of lower tire pressure and less rolling resistance.
  • Hub: The wheels come with  120 points of engagement in the hub. For the wheel engagement. It also provides the two available options for the rear hub, that is compatible with the Shimano cassette or the SRAM xd.
  • Accessories: The Race Face Atlas come with added things, they are the 5 extra Spokes included with Rear Wheels.
  • Bike compatibility: The wheels are well fitted for the ride of MTB, Enduro, Downhill, Freeride.
  • Wheel stiffness: The spoke has 4.5 mm offset, which helps to improve the balance of the spoke and the stiffness of the wheel.
  • Color: The wheels are available in the color of black.
Some Weaknesses
  •  Since the tubeless-ready system consists of, it has slight iss


This post first appeared on ApexBikes.com, please read the originial post: here

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10 Best Downhill Mountain Bike Wheels (Reviewed Aug, 2020)

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