Hi, I’ve been wracking my brains and scouring the internet for some new rims for a while now. Still riding 26” (Yeti SB66C) and aim to until my bike is physically incapable of doing so cos I love the bike, plus I’m a small bloke so it suits me. That aside, I had a bad crash on a drop off recently where my front wheel found the only piece of root sticking out of the ground. Stopped me instantly and OTB I went and gave the front rim such a warp around the valve hole that I cant get out.

So I’ve been looking at new rims, and I want high quality ones. Definitely not carbon as I know I’d crack them in a heartbeat as I’m not the most graceful rider. My main riding spot is Surrey Hills so a fair bit of climbing to take in, but in the last year the bike has taken me to Fort William, Antur Stiniog, Lee/Cragg quarry and the megavalanche too, so slightly embarrassing to cream in on the local dirt and something fairly do-able.

Anyway, I’ve narrowed it down to a few but can’t find any decent real world reviews. If anyone can offer any advice or suggestions then that would be great.

SO…

Mavic XM819 disc 2016
http://www.mavic.co.uk/rims-mtb-xm-819-disc

Dt Swiss XM401
https://www.dtswiss.com/Components/Rims-MTB/XM-401

Stans ZTR Arch mk 3
http://www.notubes.com/ZTR-Arch-MK3-26-Rim-32-hole-Black-P2075.aspx

E-13 TRS+
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/e-thirteen-trs-mtb-rim/rp-prod117977

Spank Ooozy
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/spank-oozy-trail-295-bead-bite-mtb-rim-2016/rp-prod114974

I should also add that the current rim is an older Stans ZTR arch, and I’m also looking for 32 hole to lace upto the hope pro 2’s that are already on it.

Apologies for the long post!

Mavics are narrow, especially for the 2.4ish tyres most of us run now.
I’ve got the ZTR Arch EXs mk2s. Good rims, but VERY tight with tubeless tyres (WTB for example)
I’m very impressed with a DT Swiss 533D rim I built up on a ProII hub recently. Good width, built and tried very easily, and went up tubeless with no issues at all. Also only £20 st SJS cycles… DT rim

Cheers for the advice ajantom. I’ve got the mk2’s on at the moment too and they’ve been ok but don’t want to do a like for like replace and want to try something new. Running these with Maxxis Minions on and they fit on snuggly but nicely. Those DT Swiss you mention seem a bit on the heavy side for what I’m looking for.

Those rims you’ve linked mostly seem a bit skimpy for the riding you describe?

These are good for a battering and reasonably priced/not super heavy…
http://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/superstar-t-ready-ds25.htm

I too ride a SB66 and love it too.

Have a set of Hope Pro 2 EVO laced to a mavic XM819 rims with only 28 spokes that I built myself about 3 – 4 years ago and they are still running straight and true.
They were easy to build up, just a little bit more involved with the nipple receptacles.
They are a bit narrow by modern standards with some double the width nowadays. I run specialized purgatory and butcher grids in 2.3 I find they are fine on the rims with enough support.
With regards to tubeless they go up dead easy with just a track pump and easy to get off with just my hands.

The XM401’s are good rims but at 22.5mm internal I’d personally go little wider.

The’XM’rated DT rims are also available in 30 mm (the XM 481’s, which I have) and they now have an 25 mm wide version called the XM 421 which could be an option if you don’t want to go that wide.

DT EX471 worth a look too, seems very well-regarded…
https://www.dtswiss.com/Components/Rims-MTB/EX-471

My bad, forgot you needed 26″ neither of the rims I recommended are available in that size.

In which case I’m going to go along with chapaking and say EX 471’s.

Been looking like you for a new rim for a wheel build (alfine Hub) as the current hub (with xm819) is dying and I’m going to leave it fitted with ice spikes and have a new wheel for general winter stuff.

I think I’m going to go for a WTB i23 KOM/Frequency – I have the low spec i19 ST on the gravel bike and I really like them – they have the UST bead so all my tyres will still fit and can go tubeless with some wtb rim tape.

A decent increase in width, less weight and a similar quality. No brainer for me.

Do you feel like your Arch was up to the job? I mean, obviously it died but, wheels do that, up til then did you want tougher or were you happy?

DT and WTB seem to have the best options just now tbh… I was really impressed by my frequency i25, i wore out a flow and destryoed a flow ex and it was way tougher than either of those. Heavier, too, but not terribly. And their KOMs share the exact same dimensions but are lighter weight, clever that, makes it easy to mix up rims etc.

Yeah in all fairness the arch was fine really. I’d put it through some rough days in the past few months and had held well but the kink in the front now isn’t coming out. Thought if I’m going to replace them, would be good to find something just as strong if not stronger and lighter too. But just looked up the weight of that arch rim and it’s only 400g according to the stans website which is light for what it can do.

Had a look at the WTB rims and they look a good shout too,another one to think about!

It’s a shame they don’t do the DT XM 421 in 26 as that seems like it would fit the bill nicely. Wondering whether the 401 would still be an option as it’s supposedly 1g heavier than the stans rim I have.

Lots of options and plenty to think about. Noticed I didn’t get a huge response regarding the spanks or e-13’s so may not focus too heavily on those.