Shimano XTR Wheels
After seven months of solid riding, we take a look at how Shimano’s new XTR wheels perform.
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.
Our 29er test wheels weighed in at 1,726g (795g/931g) which is around 50g over the claimed figure (the Race version is around 100g lighter).
The most obvious difference with the new wheels is found in the rim. From the outside you’d think it was all-carbon but it’s actually alloy with a carbon outer wrap. The inner alloy extrusion is thinner than usual while the outer carbon layers add stiffness.
These rims have a tubeless compatible profile but the inner surface is drilled, so tubeless rim tape is required (they come pre-taped). Tyre fit seemed on the loose side. This makes tyre removal easier but you’ll probably need a compressor and a bit of patience to get certain tyres to mount.
GETTING GREASY
The package is held together by 28 straight-pull spokes and some very lustrous smoky looking hubs. As with all Shimano wheels, they utilise ‘cup and cone’ bearings. Shimano says they are better at handling side loads than the more commonly used cartridge bearings. We suspect this is true but the design presents a number of pros and cons.
On the plus side they are entirely user serviceable. With the correct size cone spanners, you can entirely strip and rebuild the hub with fresh grease. While you can repack cartridge bearings, it’s often less successful and many people treat them as a disposable item. There are more individual balls inside than with a typical cartridge setup and you generally get better control over the bearing preload—it requires a deft hand but you can get them spinning just right.
The negatives are that it’s a bit fiddly to work on. Some of the balls run loose in the cup, so you need to take care not to drop them on the workshop floor. With the ability to fine tune the bearing preload comes the chance that you’ll stuff it up; too much preload will kill your investment quick smart. And finally, the cones and balls are replaceable but wear the inner bearing cup and the hub is toast. We pulled our hubs apart at the end of our review and the grease was still looking pretty fresh, so the sealing certainly appears to be up to the task.
There's no adaptability with these hubs; the front is 15x100mm while the rear is 12x142, they are the only options with the Trail wheels. They are made for Centre Lock rotors; there’s no six-bolt option although some companies make aftermarket adaptors if you need them. As you’d expect, the freehub is Shimano only (10 or 11-speed). There’s no SRAM XD Driver option and they no longer offer a 26-inch option.
On the trail the wheels proved sufficiently stiff and surprisingly robust. The 2mm thick bead retaining hooks look a little dainty but they I didn’t sustain a single dent. The rear wheel did go out of true by 2mm or so but it straightened up after a quick whirl in the truing stand.
The freewheel mechanism offers 36 engagement points, which is on par with most high-end wheels, offering good control on technical trails. We also appreciated the titanium freehub body. It didn't show any signs of gouging on the cassette splines—it seemed far more robust than alloy.
Retailing for $1,670 they sit at the upper end of what you’d expect to pay for a high-end alloy wheelset but they are cheaper than carbon. You still get the cool carbon rim looks and they proved to be a reliably tough all-round trail wheel.
Distributed by Shimano Australia (02) 9526 7799 www.shimano.com.au
