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TECH NEWS

DT Swiss release thru-axle disc brake wheels with tubeless-ready rims for 2015

DT’s latest wheels are now tubeless-ready and offered with thru-axle option

Disc brakes on road bikes are gaining popularity and gradually we're seeing more choice for aftermarket wheels. There aren't many options if you want a disc-ready thru-axle wheelset that is also tubeless compatible though, but ticking those three boxes are the latest wheels from DT Swiss.

DT Swiss introduced their Spline wheels a couple of years ago. Spline refers to the use of straight pull spokes in very low profile hub flanges (DT wanted to avoid using spokes with the traditional J-bend). They first introduced disc versions of the Spline wheels last year, and they’ve now updated the hubs, making them thru-axle and tubeless-ready. Tubeless is a technology we hear at road.cc like a lot, but the wheel choice is a limiting factor, so seeing another company go tubeless is great to see.

The hubs are compatible with 15mm front and 12mm rear thru-axle (only available on their carbon models though) both standards ported directly over from the mountain bike world. It’s still very early days for disc brakes on road bikes, and one of the big debates/arguments is whether they need thru-axles instead of conventional quick releases.

The hubs use interchangeable end-caps so you can switch between axle types easily, a system common in the mountain bike world. This allows you to use the wheels any just about any bike. For mounting rotors to the hubs, DT Swiss us the Shimano Center-Lock system, but with adapter you can use the 6-bolt international standard.

The Spline DB range consists of both carbon fibre and aluminium options, but it is only the carbon wheels that get the thru-axle compatible hubs. Topping the range is the RC 28 Spline C DB above, it has a 28mm deep section carbon fibre clincher rim and is tubeless-ready. The rims feature a 15mm internal and 21mm external width, and weigh a claimed 1,325g.

The RC 38 Spline DB uses a 38mm deep rim if you want a bit more aero, and with this wheelset you also have the choice of clincher (1,455g) or tubular (1,325g. Both rims have a 21mm external width and 15mm internal width.

There is also an aluminium disc wheelset as well - unfortunately the aluminium wheels don’t have thru-axle compatible hubs, so you’re stuck with regular quick releases with these wheels. The rim is still tubeless-ready though. The R 23 Spline DB uses a 23mm deep rim with a wider 18mm internal width (22mm external width) than the carbon rim though, making it a great option for anyone wanting to fit wider tyres. The wheelset weighs a claimed 1,655g.

Also available are the R 24 Spline DB wheels, with a 24mm rim and a claimed weight of 1,775g. Both wheelsets feature tubeless-ready rims and Shimano Centre-Lock rotor mounts, with an adapter if you want to fit a 6-bolt rotor.

More at www.dtswiss.com and we'll have prices soon, and we're looking to get some in for testing pretty soon.

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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4 comments

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Shamblesuk | 9 years ago
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The number of typos in this article almost make it unreadable. Lazy journalism at its worst. Plus there are 5 identical photos of the same wheel.

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David Arthur @d... replied to Shamblesuk | 9 years ago
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Shamblesuk wrote:

Plus there are 5 identical photos of the same wheel.

I think you'll find those are five different wheelsets pictured in the article

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EarsoftheWolf replied to Shamblesuk | 9 years ago
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Shamblesuk wrote:

The number of typos in this article almost make it unreadable. Lazy journalism at its worst. Plus there are 5 identical photos of the same wheel.

The wheels are actually different if you look closely.

I agree with you about the writing though, in this day and age it seems to be more of a priority to get an article written and published online as quickly as possible at the cost of editing/proofreading.

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bjornalkema | 9 years ago
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DT-Swiss produce great products but I think their R&D is on hold these days....

talking about their carbon rc38 here;
- if you want to spent more then €1000,- on a new wheelset, you want the latest tech, so you would feel (or believe you feel) the differences.
- in my opinion you choose these kind of wheels when you have a bike for endurance, rough tarmac, cobbles, cyclecross....
- not for racing; light yes but aero no (not like the latest aero-rim-technology)
- NO WIDE rim... think DT-Swiss wanted to keep it light instead (max 28mm tires says DT.... some pro teams rode in this years Paris-roubaix also 30mm....in cyclecross use 33mm? so no advantages from this rim for better tire-performances)
- only 24 spokes... this is on the edge in my opinion, I prefer 28 for most of us riders who take ride rough terrain

so, old tech wheels with thru-axles...  31

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