When my client asked me for a premium set of alloy mountain bike wheels, which would be suitable for punishing trail riding, I suggested these.
The tubeless-ready DT Swiss EX511 rims have a 30mm inner width, which gives any tyre a better profile, and allows lower tyre pressures for better comfort and improved traction. They are designed for enduro riding, which can be brutal on wheels.
Rims
DT Swiss provides their own “squorx” nipples with the rims, and building wheels with these is a pleasure. The nipple is turned with a t-handle driver, from the outside of the rim, which allows extremely fine adjustment of spoke tension.
Hubs
The Hope Pro4 hubs are well known for extreme reliability and durability. Their 4-pawl freehub gives 40 points of engagement and provides a sound that you grow to love.
Holding it all together are DT Swiss Competition 2.0 – 1.8 – 2.0mm double butted spokes, meticulously and evenly tensioned, to result in wheels that should outlast a few bikes.
This pair comes in at 2157g for the set, with a Shimano microspline 12-speed freehub, 2 layers of rim tape per rim and tubeless valves installed.
