I'm looking for a new wheelset and looking at DT Swiss XM1501 in particular.
I've noticed the wider the internal rim width, the more expensive the wheels become. I run 2.3 Maxxis High Rollers on a 140 / 150 travel bike. I've no desire to run 2.5 or 2.6 tyres.
I'm a trail rider rather than an aggressive or enduro rider and weigh 14 stones fully kitted up.
Would a 25mm internal width be weaker than 30mm? Is it just about the tyre width you want to run?
Would a 25mm internal width be weaker than 30mm? No. Its more bout the rim design / materials for strength.
Is it just about the tyre width you want to run? Pretty much, within reason.
Some Dh / enduro pros run 25mm internal, particularly on the rear as the narrower rim = higher tyre profile = more rim ding protection.
The whole subject is a can of worms & open to interpretation. Personally i'd go 25mm - 30mm for 2.3" tyres.
Don't forget: Strong / Light / Cheap, chose two!
Would a 25mm internal width be weaker than 30mm?
I think like-for-like the narrower rim would be stronger.
It's partly down the tyre choice, but also tyre profile. There's been a move to wider rims, it changes the profile of tyres effectively making them wider.
I run 2.35 tyres on 30mm rims and they work better then they did on 23mm rims, but back in the 26" days I ran 21mm rims very happily.
The extra cost will be a couple of factors, but wider is 'better' so costs more I suspect is as much of a factor as anything else.
What a great question and one I'm currently pondering.
For me, wider tyres mean lower pressures, means more traction without squirm. However, wider means more weight and/or more expense if you try and offset weight by going carbon.
Was reading some research recently about wheel weight which concluded that aerodynamic performance is more significant that weight. It argued that there isn't much acceleration effort compared to pushing air out of the way. However, it was for road wheels. Probably for my riding, it's exactly the opposite. Lots of slowing down/speeding up and not really fast enough to be pushing air.
Like most things, it becomes a trade-off. I'm currently thinking of upgrading the 23mm 29er hard tail wheels with 30mm carbon rims.
There's a few opinions out there, sometimes with differing views:
https://www.enve.com/en/journal/is-wider-always-better/
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If you don't tend to damage rims already then the slightly wider ones will be fine.
I’ve no desire to run 2.5 or 2.6 tyres.
Why not, may I ask? Just curious.
For me, wider tyres mean lower pressures, means more traction without squirm.
IME it makes literally bugger all difference. Going between 2.3, 2.4 & 2.5 Maxxis I still have to run 28-30psi in the back & max 2psi less in the front to stop the tyre folding over if you give it the beans into a corner. Run mostly 25 & 30mm rims (which also I can't tell the difference between).
Thanks folks.
Chakaping, I just don't see the point. The trails I usually ride are man made and drain well so there is never a huge amount of mud or sand requiring massive grip. Also, probably incorrectly, imagine wide low pressure tyres to be quite draggy.
Interesting comment Hob Nob. When I have lowered the pressure on my Maxxis tyres, they are unsettlingly squirmy in corners. One of the reasons I concluded wide tyres with low pressure weren't for me.
I run a set of 25mm XM1501's on my trail bike, shod with 2.35" Schwalbe Magic Mary up front and Nibbly Nic on the rear. They size up about the same as a 2.5" DHR on my 27mm enduro bike rim. The 25mm XM1501's have been used at Bike Park Wales, Uk Bike Skills and a couple of Southern Enduro's last year with no problem at all. Only minor issue was the rear did burp when running below about 22psi and landing heavily.
PSA: If you are after non-Boost, there are a couple of XM1501 30mm wheelsets going for reasonable prices in the classifieds. They're nothng to do with me, I just spotted them both when browsing.....
Thanks Akers. Need boost unfortunately.
Wider rim is heavier = more material = stronger
Same tyre on narrower rim = same height.
Also, probably incorrectly, imagine wide low pressure tyres to be quite draggy.
They can be, yeah, but it's by no means guaranteed. Tread pattern seems more of a determining factor than width/volume IME.
Anyway, I ride 2.3in tyres on 25mm internal rims and 2.5in tyres on 30mm internals. The latter are more predictable and confidence-inspiring in how they handle (similar treads). But the former are totally fine too.
Personally I think 2.5 or 2.6in tyres do feel better on the 30mm rims, but I tend to run lower pressures than some people.