I was going to change my DT 4.1s into tubeless but I’m not into hassle and I’m always happy to spend money I don’t have. So, what (handbuilt) wheels should I buy?

I was thinking Mavic 819s as they are tubeless ready are they not? What else would I need? I got some Nobby Nic 2.1s UST but they’re way too skinny for me methinks. Anyone with any good experience of tubeless tyres and rims out there?

Anyone? I’ve been looking around and I think the 819s are my only option so XT hubs with them built by Merlin probably. Can you tell me what else I would need? ALso, recommended tyres anyone?

running xm 819 on my dialled bikes albert for last 2 years or so really good apart from when ripped tyre open (cwmcarn) riding like a **** with near bald rear tyre, covered in stans fluid, my fault. Running fat albert 2.4 ust tyres now great. Don’t really need any thing other than wheels and tyres and some stans or trek juicy fluid stuff. One thing the tyres are exspensive I think mine were about £45 each that more than my car, but I like my bike more so that’s ok!

819’s are spot on – tried loads of UST tyres and usually use michelin of one variety or another. I’ve found with the michelins I can usually get away without using Stans sealant but with contis/bontragers/specialised and panaracers I’ve always had to use Stans.

Michelins tend to be pretty cheap too. Maybe not the most grip in the world but at half the price they aren’t half bad !!!

819s are a great rim. Really stiff and strong, and minimal hassle for running tubeless obviously.

Tyre wise, there’s lots of options, but one of the cheapest and best IMO is Bontrager Tubeless Ready tyres. There are a few in the range, all require the use of some sealant to seal them, but you should be running some anyway really. Mud X’s are great through the winter, Jones XR’s are good for spring/summer use, and the ACX’s are pretty good all year round. There’s some new specialist dry conditions tyres too, but i’ve not tried them, and I doubt they’d be suitable for anything except XC racing in July in the UK.

823s on Pros 2s with LUST Highrollers here. I’m big and clumsy though. You could probably go lighter rims but I’m well happy with mine.

819’s here too. Fat Alberts have sealed fine without sealant, one Maxxis Ignitor sealed without fluid, another needed a bit………

I took the view that i could sell my old wheels and bought the 819’s on here costing about £60 extra – more than ghetto, but less about the same as conversion kits. Plus I needed a new tyre and wanted to go to 20mm so seemed the time to switch

So I’d just need a valve/rim tape thing, a tyre and some fluid… Thanks for the advice. How do you feel about the Fat Alberts? I’m in Scotland so it’s a bit squirmy at the moment. Most of the trails I ride on are natural with only the odd trail centre.

Charliemort – you mentioned 20mm. You obviosuly feel that this is worth doing. Should I buy a Hope hub on the front so I can upgrade to this in the future?

stans rims are also good.

stans rims are great for tubeless. im going to try ghetto my xm321 rims for my new build i wish there was a xm821 . on the dt side of things ive got some dt5.1 with the eclipse tubeless kit and it was the hardest most arkward bloody set up ive tried so far . tho its holding now lol

and they werent so much bother that id buy new rims just to go tubeless thats for sure

I’m running stans rims (flow) with Maxxis Advantage tyres and really rather liking it. Bit of a faff to set up (in comparison to putting a tube in) but well worth the effort. Still, if you’re happy to spend money and avoid faff, pay someone else to do it.

i’ll second onzadog too ive used various tyres tubeless and best ones ive used are maxxis ive done both advantage and highrollers both seated and sealed straight away and without a compressor. (im talking non ust tyres of course) and if your happy to blow money id pay someone to make your dt rims tubeless 😉

Stans olympic on the back with a mountain king 2.4 at the moment. Only converted a month ago and have been impressed with the way it feels. It feels obviously lighter, and accelerates quicker. Another plus is that I’ve had no punctures, pinch flats or the like for the last month. Throughout the winter i’ve been suffering one flat a ride on average. For me tha saved time, not stood around changing tubes has been a godsend….

I’m also still using a NN out front. When I convert the front (which may not be for a while) I will stick with the NN as I think it’s the best front tyre out there..

Thanks for the advice folks. Might get Stans rims instead then. Was told to go to http://www.justridingalong.com. Now I need to find best rim. Still might get 819s from Merlin depending on price. Do either come with valve?

Maxxis Ignitor UST look okay and I might see if there are any bigger versions of Nobby Nics for the front. I was going to convert my DT rims but it’s £35 a wheel! Buying new wheels would not be so extravagant after all.

Firestarter – what you using for your 321s? I have an 521 I need to make tubeless (it’s on an Alfine with a Continental tyre so it pinches all the time).

Hope are going to start doing hope hoops (pro2 on flow rims)a lot cheaper then justridingalong. Hope told £285 a pair. They should be out any time. I’m want some.

im gonna use a bmx tube on it mate with rja sealant, by the way when i say about using maxxis tyres ive only ever used the non ust ones

I have a set of 819/pro2 and shimano XT. They are both straightforward UST rims with no need for any rimstrips which I like. I have managed to seat schwalbe/continental/specialized and bontrager tubeless tyres without gallons of fairy liquid or a compressor. I have had my first puncture in 18 months which was probably due to riding at a stupidly low pressure. THe XT wheels are probably lighter but the Hopes look better.
You pays your money and takes your choice.