DT Swiss R24 Spline db wheelset

The SPLINE DB wheelset range from DT Swiss is a welcome addition to the disc brake wheel market and with their entry-level R24s they come in at a sensible price and weight too. Pair that to excellent build quality from decent components and you've got a wheelset that'll cover everything from fast training rides to a bit of cyclo-cross.

Being launched for 2015 these wheels are, as you'd expect, bang up to date in terms of technology and the current trend of increasing tyre width on road bikes, so you won't be disappointed.

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Starting with the disc specific rim, i.e. no brake track, the 23mm deep clinchers have an internal width of 18mm making them perfect for running 25 and 28mm wide tyres that we are seeing on many of the disc equipped bikes coming through the road.cc office. The wider rim allows a more rounded tyre profile instead of the usual 'lightbulb effect' you get from mounting a large tyre on a more traditional narrow rim. The broader tyre shape gives you more grip in the corners. It's tubeless compatible too.

The hubs are 11 speed Shimano/SRAM fitment (sorry Campagnolo users) and use DT Swiss's pawl system rather than the ratchet one found on the more expensive wheels. Pick-up is instant though, the second you give the pedals a kick the wheels respond.

Standards are yet to settle as far as attaching the wheels to your bike goes, so DT Swiss have got round this by using push fit adaptors for 12mm or 15mm thru axles and the more common 5mm quick release skewer. It's good to see this level of adaptability especially at this price point.

Spoke numbers and lacing patterns have long been a contentious issue when it comes to road bikes running discs. DT have gone 24 straight pull in a two cross pattern front and rear and trust me there have been no issues dealing with the braking forces dished out on 50mph to 0mph hard stopping efforts. They are bladed so you might get a bit of an aero advantage but much more importantly they look pretty cool.

DT use aluminium nipples, not something I'm too much of a fan of on training wheels that are likely see a lot of poor weather and the odd bit of road salt. I've had plenty in the past that have corroded and split so would ideally like to see brass. Because they poke out externally from the rim you can true the wheel without having to remove the tyre and tube, not that I've needed to, as they've stayed as straight as a die for the test period.

As far as disc mounting goes, the hubs are designed for Shimano's Center Lock where the rotor slides on and is then held in place with what is basically a freewheel lockring. In the box you get a pair of Center Lock/IS adaptors if you are using six-bolt rotors.

Out on the road the R24s feel very tight and stiff, being borderline harsh, but thanks to the 28mm tyres (which fitted with absolute ease by the way) you can knock a bit of the pressure out to increase comfort. At 1810g for the pair, acceleration isn't razor sharp but it's far from sluggish and once rolling are easy to keep moving, with the bearings running beautifully smooth.

There isn't a huge amount in the way of competition out there at the moment but they are lighter and cheaper than Mavic's Askium Disc although I haven't personally ridden them yet to be able to compare ride quality. I'd take the R24s over the similarly weighted Shimano RX31s, though, the DT Swiss offering a much tighter ride and better all-round feel.

Overall, the R24s deliver exactly what they are intended for: a hardwearing, durable training wheelset that has still got enough zip and performance to provide a rapid ride. In fact the only time the weight becomes noticeable is when pulling away from a standing start.

Build quality is excellent. Plenty of potholes and rough roads were clattered over during the 800km of testing and they are still running as true as the day they were delivered, and from previous experience I'd expect them to stay that way too.

Verdict

Great addition to the disc wheel marketplace offering a good balance of speed, weight and price