[Closed] Light(er)weight MTB wheels advice

How much are you looking to spend?

Are the tyres wire bead or folding? as you can save a fair bit there by going to lighter folding tyres.

Lighter rims do make a bike spin up quicker when accelerating as do lighter tyres, it's all about reducing rotational mass

What he said - it will feel like more of an improvement that it actually is though IYKWIM.

Lighter wheels (and tyres) will always help, but without stating what your budget is, it's hard to recommend an upgrade. Specialized always come with lighter wheels and tyres as standard than their competitors too, so the devil will be in the detail.

Sorry, meant to put in the budget - was thinking around £150 for the pair of wheels. Tyres I guess are around £20-25 each. Is this realistic?

Thanks

Pete

Bit of a low budget.

For £250 you could get some Pro2/Crest Hope Hoops

You'll do well to beat [url= http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=40&products_id=348 ]these[/url] at that price, though there have been reports of variable build quality. Choice of colours too!
Finish off with a nobby nic up front and a Racing Ralph at rear (both 2.25") from [url= http://www.on-one.co.uk/c/q/tyres-and-tubes ]On One[/url]

Under budget!

At 1850g, I doubt the Superstar ones will be significantly lighter than the standard wheels. Crest/Pro 2 hoops weigh 1653g which is pretty good for the price.

Crikey, I've got to agree with Flow twice in one week! 😕

Anyway, weigh her current wheels, I'll bet they're already sub 2kg bare, so those 1850g superstar wheels are almost pointless.

£150 on the wheels really isn't very much to spend sadly. If you can stretch slightly, I'm selling some DT Swiss 240S hubs on Mavic 717's all in superb conditions, come in just under 1700g, and am after £220 for them.

Crikey, I've got to agree with Flow twice in one week!

😆

My Pro 2s on Crests are 1585g, and will convert to tubeless far more easily. Whilst 240s are lovely hubs, I'd sooner have the Hope Hoops than mboy's wheels - no offence mboy! If they were on Stans rims I'd have probably had them!

Thanks for the ideas above. much appreciated. I guess it makes me think that maybe what she has may be Ok. Trouble is its psychological, she thinks that new wheels will be a solution but now I am not so sure. Will definitely look at tyres though as she needs a new set anyway.
Any other tyre choice ideas?
Thanks

[ignore what I wrote]

definitely strip the wheels and weigh the bare shells, so you know your base point, whether it's worth it or whether you'd be wasting money. If the wheels are already around 1800gms, then you'll probably have to buy 2nd hand @ £150. for noticeably less weight.

I'd probably start by buying some lightweight tyres and inner tubes (conti and schwalbe being the two main contenders), although you're getting into muddy season now and super light tyres usually aren't that great in mud. Super light tyres and tubes are also more prone to punctures, so tubeless is better if you're prepared to put the effort in.

New wheels isn't necessarily the solution, getting the bike as light as possible for her, is. It does make a difference.

Tyres/inner tubes are the cheapest way to get instant improvement.

Those tyres are over 700g each so you can easily see a saving of 200g per tyre for something a bit lighter.

I reckon the stock wheels will around 2,100g - assuming they have Alex rims (around 500g each), Shimano 475 rear hub (475g), Specialized front hub (assume 250g), spokes and nipples (375g) so the Superstar wheels above would save 250g - if you can stretch to the Superstar Crest wheels at £220 or Hope/Crest wheels then that will be 450g.

Set the Crests up tubeless and compared to what she has now you'll see a weight saving of around 1000g!! That will be massively noticeable.

Anyway, weigh her current wheels, I'll bet they're already sub 2kg bare, so those 1850g superstar wheels are almost pointless.

Budget of £150, so pointless suggesting Pro2/Crest

I weighed some Myka wheels recently, trying to lighten daughter's bike. they weren't much heavier than 717's on LX hubs (can't remember exact weights but less than 200g's in it I think) so I didn't bother. Sure you'd save a fair amountwith Crests though and going tubelss, but I wasn't looking to spend that much

Now the fork - that's nearly 6 lbs, so £35 on ebay for some MX Comps saved 1 1/2 lbs or so

[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/tyre-clearout ]http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/tyre-clearout[/url]
Race King Supersonic 2.0 are 430gms each + 100gms per supersonic inner tube. If your current tyre is approx 700gms + 200gms inner tube, then you could save 1000gms approx for about £50. Those nobby nics Evo will be a bit heavier but will go tubeless and probably a better performing tyre.

Edit: You'd need to check with seller, they say 2.0, at least one tyre appears to be 2.2 (460gms ish)

Spend the remaining £100 as Charlie says^ if that is indeed the case, some slight second hand light forks.

Thanks to all above - most helpful.
Never thought that a 2nd hand set of forks could be so cheap. I will certainly keep a look out for some. Any suggestions for where might be good place to look for (apart from ebay)? Does anybody do reconditioned?

Tyres seems like the first move forward. I will get on the case.

Once again thanks for all the help.