Stan’s rims have been omnipresent since we started running tubeless tyres on our MTB’s.
You’ve probably ridden, or at least heard of, the lightweight Crests, trail-worthy Arches or super-tough Flows.
Yes, the Mk3 versions cracked at the spoke holes, and that sucked for many of you. Luckily we’re on to the Mk4 versions now and that problem is hopefully becoming a distant memory.
All versions sport an offset spoke bed and a slightly asymmetrical profile, resulting in a wheel which has much less tension difference between drive-side and non-drive side spokes. Essentially a more stable, more durable wheel in the long run.
There’s also a new industry-leading warranty policy – these are covered for 3 years, but you’ll likely never have to claim.
The RRP of these rims is R2290 each, regardless of the model.
Let’s explore the range.
Crest Mk4
This one’s for the XCO / XCM racing snake and the gravel grinder.
Sporting a 25mm inner width, use this rim with gravel tyres 38c and wider, and with MTB tyres up to 2.3″.
This rim is almost carbon-light, at a fraction of the price of carbon rims.
Detailed rim specs here.
Arch Mk4
If you’ve ever wondered what an all-round MTB rim looks like, look no further.
The Arch Mk4, with it’s 28mm inner width, hits the sweet spot. Run tyres from 2.1″ – 2.4″ wide and use on XC bikes, trail bikes and even for some light enduro.
Detailed rim specs here.
Flow Mk4
This rim is for the heavy hitters, the guys who love jumps and smashing rocky descents, and for guys who are more generously built and who tend to break wheels.
Enduro and heavy duty trail riders will love these rims.
30mm inner width suits tyres up to 2.5″ wide and at 521g, aren’t weighing you down.
Detailed rim specs here.
Ultimately, if you’re looking to replace or upgrade your MTB rims, consider the Crest, Arch or Flow Mk4.
Once you’ve chosen which rims are right for you, decide on the right hubs.
Hubs can cost considerably more than the rims, and honestly, they don’t impact the riding experience nearly as much, as long as they’re reliable, durable and don’t add unnecessary weight.
Here’s my take:
- For a super-durable build, opt for Hope hubs, known to survive anything.
- For a super light-weight build, get some straight-pull hubs from DT or H-works
- If budget is tight, get a set of hubs from Lyne, Zero or Cure.
- Like super-fast engagement? Industry 9 has you covered.
If you found this informative and helpful, please consider sharing this with your riding buds.
Here are some of the builds I’ve done with the Mk4 rims since they were released:
Interested in new wheels for your own bike?
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