Balance bikes

Experience outstanding performance with our high-quality bicycle wheels. Precisely manufactured and robust in use, they offer optimal stability and speed for every ride. Discover our range now and equip your bike for an unparalleled riding experience.

The Wheelset - the Heart of Your Bike

Whether it’s a road bike, MTB, or gravel bike: Hardly any other component has as much influence on your bike’s performance. Acceleration, rolling behavior, comfort, handling, weight, and aerodynamics - all of these depend heavily on choosing the right wheelset. So if you want to upgrade your bike - this is where you will usually find particularly great tuning potential! 

What is a bicycle wheel?

Wheels consist of a rim, hub, spokes, and usually rim tape. With a complete set (“wheelset”), you get the front and rear wheels as a matched set. However, if you are looking for an individual front or rear wheel, you can also find great deals in our shop.

System Wheels

An older term that you may still come across occasionally is “system wheel.” It dates back to a time when wheels were often still built by hand and was intended to distinguish those that came ready-made from the manufacturer from handmade masterpieces. Today, the vast majority of modern wheels are system wheels. Therefore, this distinction is now outdated.

What types of bicycle wheels are there?

If you are looking for a new wheelset, you should first clarify the following questions: What will be the intended use of your new wheels? Which tire system do you want to use? What material should the rims be made of? And, especially for road bike wheelsets: How deep should the rim profile be? Here we give you an overview.

Wheel Types by Intended Use

• Road bike wheelsets: Aerodynamics and weight dominate the discussion when it comes to road bike wheelsets. Since air resistance becomes more noticeable than rolling resistance from 20 km/h onward, aerodynamic optimization is always also a performance optimization. However, aero wheelsets are generally somewhat heavier and less agile. If you enjoy challenging yourself in the mountains, you can take a lot of weight off your bike with a lightweight wheelset and thus save energy. Our road bike brands include DT Swiss, Mavic, ZZYZX, and Vision.
• Gravel wheelsets: Here, it depends on whether you are planning long bikepacking tours or want to perform in races. In the former case, you will opt for robust and stable equipment so that you and your luggage can comfortably make your way over rough terrain. However, as gravel races become increasingly popular, aerodynamics and weight are also becoming more important.
• MTB wheelsets: Just as diverse as the range of specializations is the world of mountain bike wheelsets. Whether cross-country (XC), trail, enduro, or downhill: from ultralight to extremely stable, you can choose according to the demands and terrain you prefer. Brands you can find with us include DT Swiss, ZZYZX, Newman, and Mavic.
• Wheelsets for city, trekking, or e-bikes: They focus on durability and suitability for everyday use. They often come with a higher spoke count. E-bike wheelsets should also be particularly stable, as these bikes are heavier than their unmotorized counterparts.

Wheelsets by tire system

Modern wheelsets offer you some flexibility when choosing a tire system. Nevertheless, not every wheelset can be used with every tire. It is therefore beneficial to think about which system you want to use before buying. Here are the most important aspects:

• Hooked or hookless: Classic bicycle rims have a small hook on the rim edge (hook) designed to prevent the tire from jumping off the rim. Nowadays, hookless alternatives are also available for every type of use, from mountain biking and gravel riding to road cycling. But be careful: Only certain tires are approved for hookless wheelsets. So be sure to check compatibility.
• Tubeless Ready: This applies to most modern wheelsets in the road bike, gravel, or MTB segment, whether hooked or hookless. You can ride them with an inner tube or convert them to tubeless with a few simple steps.
• Tubeless: Some wheelsets are optimized for use without an inner tube. You should only choose them if you are sure you want to ride tubeless.
• Tubular wheelsets: Made for use with tubular tires, which are glued into the rim bed, and can only be ridden with these tires. 

If you would like to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of the various tire systems and the associated rim types – we cover the topic in detail in this blog article!

Carbon and fitness: wheelsets by rim material

When it comes to the material, you generally have a choice between aluminum and carbon. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, which are closely linked to how you intend to use your bike.

• Wheelsets with aluminum rims are usually robust, uncomplicated, and often offer excellent value for money. They are standard on city bikes and e-bikes. For road bikes, they make sense as a training or winter wheelset, allowing you to preserve your valuable high-end carbon rims for races or other special occasions.
• Carbon rims are generally optimized for performance and are especially popular for road bike wheelsets. The material is particularly lightweight, allowing you to save weight even with deep profiles. At the same time, it offers high stiffness. However, carbon is more sensitive than aluminum, which should be taken into account when considering how the wheels will be used. Carbon wheels are generally in the higher price range. But you can always find great deals at our store!

The right rim depth

This is primarily an issue for road bikes: how deep should the rims of your new wheelset be? The following points will help guide you:

• Low-profile: lightweight, agile, and well suited to windy conditions and mountainous terrain
• Mid-depth profile: often chosen as an all-rounder because it frequently offers a good compromise between aerodynamics and weight
• High profile: maximally aerodynamic, but more susceptible to crosswinds
• Disc wheel: Mainly for triathlon and individual time trials
  

Compatibility: What to look out for when buying a new wheelset

The most important question when buying wheels comes last: Does the model you want also fit your bike? To ensure you are not disappointed, we will tell you here which key points you need to check for compatibility:

Wheel diameter

Simple but important: The wheel must fit your frame. The fork and rear stays are the points that matter. Below you can see the standard sizes:

• Road bike: generally 28 inches (622 or 700c)
• MTB: 29 inches, less often 27.5 (650b) or Mullet (29 inches front, 27.5 rear)
• Gravel: usually 28 inches, less often 27.5; depending on the frame, 29 inches may also be possible

If you want to switch to wider rims, be sure to also check what maximum tyre width your frame allows.

Braking system

Depending on which braking system you use, your wheels should have certain features.

• Disc brakes: The hubs of the wheelset must be suitable for mounting the discs (Centerlock or six-bolt)
• Rim brakes: The wheels must have rims with braking surfaces, as braking is performed directly on the rim

Axle standards

• Do you need thru-axles or quick releases? Switching is only possible to a limited extent.
• Do the axle diameter and width fit?
• You can find an overview of the various mounting standards and more useful information on the subject under “quick releases & thru-axles”.

Freehub body

• Does the freehub body fit your sprocket cassette?
• You can find an overview of the various mounting standards in our information text about “hubs”.

Conclusion

With all these considerations in mind, nothing stands in the way of buying your dream wheelset. Browse our top offers and find the perfect match for your needs!