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DT Swiss R460 – £35 – 460g

DT Swiss say:

The jack-of-all trades of road rims: light, wide and with an ideal price/performance ratio. The R 460 works perfectly with wide tires and will deliver many unforgettable rides on the road thanks to its reliability.

DCR says:

This is a very good rim really.  It offers what nearly everyone is looking for – a wider internal, tubeless compatibility, low weight, good stiffness, reliable braking, wear indicators are a nice feature too.  Plus you get DT Swiss branding which inspites confidence – the profile is very similar to our extremely popular 23mm rim.  Combining this with Sapim Race spokes and DCR hubs would have a starting weight of not much over 1500g/pair and would only cost £275/pair. 

However, for £10 extra you could have the Kinlin XR-22T or £25 extra you could have the DCR Vivaldi wheelset with upgrades spokes and Kinlin XR-26T rims.  So while the DT competes very well, the Kinlin makes a more compelling option.  It has a wider internal, similar weight but greater stiffness, especially in the rear where an o/c option is available. 

 

DT Swiss RR411 -20-32h, black, £65

DT swiss say:

The most advanced alloy existing for rims meets the most advanced rim profile to form the RR 411 rim. From the moment the alloy is melted all the way to the secret surface treatment, this rim is all about getting the absolute best out of the great, shiny metal that is aluminum. Very light, very strong, very classy is the result. The RR 411 is available with a symmetric as well as an asymmetric rim profile.

 

DCR says:

The swansong of DT Swiss rim brake rims.  It is possibly the last one they’ll ever design, given that rim brakes are essentially being phased out.  For a swansong, it is a conservative profile.  Fairly shallow and fairly narrow. That said, for greater depth there is the RR511, DT are conservative here due to their formal recommendations on tyre width.  The hook is very minimal but the braking surface fairly tall, the design uses their PHR washer system which is effective.  The rim delivers what it sets out to achieve – low weight, high strength, high stiffness.  It has an asymmetric profile for the rear and a welded joint which are two big pluses over the R460.  At a reported (perhaps a bit optimistic at times 435g/rim) it is a good choice for someone looking for a light build.  As a high end option with Tune Mig70/Mag170 hubs and CX-Rays you have set weights starting at 1350g/pair. 

 

DT Swiss RR511 – 20-32h, £65

DT Swiss say:

Anyone wanting to build a reliable super-stiff wheel is starting in the right place with the RR 511. Thanks to a state-of-the-art alloy and surface treatment, this extremely robust 32 mm high semi-aero rim is lighter than you would think. And those thinking of using it on Gravel or Cyclo Cross courses can easily install tubeless tires.

DCR says:

DT put the system weight limit at 130kg rather than 120kg on the RR411, so clearly they believe it to be the tougher option of the two, although it lacks the asymmetric option for the rear being an ‘aero’ rim. It succeeds the RR585 which used a different alloy, no washers and was narrower – the RR511 is an improvement there.  It is the deepest rim brake rim DT have ever made and is one of the deepest alloy rims on the market.  At 530g the weight is good for the depth.  As with the RR411 they have resisted the urge to go fashionably wide, making something like the Aforce Al33 or the Kinlin XR-31t a more tempting prospect there, the DCR 30mm rim has an asymmetric rear and is lighter and similarly tough and costs slightly less. The RR511 is a good option for someone looking for a stiff, tough rim, however its true aero creditentials could be called into question, it is at the heavier end of the desireable spectrum so it is perhaps the least appealing rim to most in the DT Swiss range.

 

DT Swiss TK540, 32h/36h, black, £65, 700c
tk540

DT Swiss say:

Road touring rim designed to DT Swiss’ exacting specifications
SBWT (Strength Boost Welding Technology) creates a perfectly welded join for a durable, reliable rim
Machined sidewalls for powerful braking on a consistent sidewall surface
Wear indicators show the extent of sidewall wear
Perfectly aligned stainless steel spoke double eyelets distribute stress evenly and allow for 4% higher spoke tensions than normal rims
Higher torsional rigidity due to an optimised rim profile
Unique process for the black coating produces a tough and durable finish
Total integration of all wheel components is possible: rims, hubs and spokes all from DT Swiss
Presta drilling
Weight: 540 grams

DCR says:

My personal favourite touring rim. It is stiff, strong and made to a very high standard. It has a welded joint and a high quality machined sidewall with wear indicators. It is significantly lighter than most touring/trekking rims.  Of the whole DT Swiss range, this holds greatest appeal given how successfully it thrashes its competition.  Touring rims are often something like the Ryde Sputnik which is robust and durable but weights around 200g/rim more than the DT and the braking is less consistent and no welded joint.  Tubeless compatibility is perhaps lacking here but tubeless and touring is a rare choice – for a tubeless touring rim, your best option is probably the Velocity Cliff Hanger.