All Arround MTB

Halo’s Vapour range has literally expanded for 2016, with broad 35mm and plus-size 50mm versions now on the menu.

SRAM’S RAIL 40 wheels have handled a shedload of punishment and – for the most part – survived unscathed.

IN A WORLD where it’s increasingly apparent that size does matter, these wheels sit firmly in the ‘bigger is better’ camp. Halo say the 35mm wide alloy rims (30mm internal) are “optimised for 2.25 to 2.8in tyres”, pushing them towards 29+ territory.

THERE’S ONLY ONE question anyone asks about wheels that cost this much and that’s “are they worth it?” The short answer is, if you can afford them, yes.

The AM35 is is the UK based bike brand’s attempt to bring their super value direct sales model to the world of wheels. The carbon rim sports a 35mm outer width and 30mm internal, and has been designed with toughness in mind. The 2.5mm wide hook-less bead and (claimed) 440g rim weight is designed to shrug-off dents, yet the use of just 28 triple-butted and flat-bladed spokes keeps weight down and compensates for the harshness of the burly rim.

Utah based company ENVE have been making drool-worthy carbon components for some years now. Despite the fact that carbon rims are becoming more and more common on mountain bikes these days, you can guarantee that ENVE wheels will be a talking point when someone is eyeing off a steed. Instantly, the big bold logos on each rim scream "fast", "light" and to some extent, "expensive" The kids call this 'bling'.

If you've been reading our Team Bikes pages you’ll have seen these lime green wheels on Guy’s GT Force for a while. That’s because they’re solid performers at an unbelievable price, and we’ve had the same feedback on Superstar’s range of wheels from everyone who’s used them. By selling direct, Superstar keep extra costs to a minimum and really do pass the savings on to you. Their website also lets you create your ideal wheel from a wide range of rims, hubs, spokes, axle fittings, freehubs (standard, XD or steel bodied) and colours (for 15$ extra).

With subtle water transfer decals and red alloy nipples in the mid-depth rounded rims they're stylishly low-key wheels. The deeply hooked rims are easy to turn tubeless with rim tape and an appropriate valve. However, while the external width is a chunky 28mm the curved lips mean internal width is a skinny 20mm so tyres over 2.2/2.3in can feel pinched and unstable.

With a claimed weight of just 1525g and a 23mm inner rim – big enough to keep 2.35in tyres well supported – these carbon hoops are aimed at the fastest trail bikes.

Good luck explaining this to anyone unfamiliar with high-end MTB kit, but a set of carbon wheels for under 1500$ could almost be described as a bargain! The Vapour Carbons aren’t short of features either.

WHY WOULD YOU UPGRADE? A good set of wheels is one of the most important upgrades you can make to your bike.

Carbon wheels are here, there and bleedin’ everywhere at the moment, but before your eyes begin to dull, this setup from new kid on the block Bird is really well thought out.

For 2015 Shimano completely redesigned their XTR wheels. As with the previous version, they are offered in both Race and Trail flavours. The Race version provides a 20mm inner width. We opted to test the wider Trail version which measures 28mm externally and 24mm between the bead hooks—not super wide but it’s enough to support to a good sized trail tyre.

At 2112g the Superstars are the heaviest, but then they're also the cheapest by far. Ryde's 32-hole Edge rims are a cheaper evolution of its similarly asymmetric Trace hoops, and while not amazingly light - a claimed 545g - the result offers 3mm extra width over Superstar's identically-hubbed DS25-rimmed set, for no extra weight.

Cheaper than the American Classics and much lighter than the Superstars, for some the hand-built 1760g Rovals will be the perfect combination.

These are the widest and lightest here. At 1525g, they're more XC weight than trail. American Classic recommends them for both disciplines, but they're no place for skinny XC tyres. Even big 2.4-2.5in tyres sit up square, while the narrower 2.35in options can end up wider at the sidewalls than the tread shoulder.

When I look for a pair of wheels, I want something that will setup tubeless easily, be pretty light for the intended use, with easy to service hubs and spokes/nipples, a fast engagement in the freehub, with easy changes for different axle configurations. Why all those things? That’s easy – you end up with a wheel you don’t even think about. You end up just riding your bike.

THE NEW XTR is Shimano's lightest groupset to date and also their first to boast an 11-speed cassette. While the 11-40t spread isn't as wide as SRAM's 10-42t X-DOME block, it has the major advantage of fitting on a standard freehub rather than needing a proprietary driver body.

SKINNY RIMS AREN'T fashionable and 145$ of matching tyres sounds like marketing gone mad. but Mavic's Crossmax Enduros ride as radically as they look.

SPANK WHEELS HAVE proven they can take an absolute beating, and the Oozy EVOs offer'a winning combo of strength, performance and price for hardcore riders.