I found this very comprehensive resource for wide clincher rims (rim brake):
http://dcrwheels.co.uk/custom-wheelsets/which-rim/In ascending price order:
DT Swiss R460 – £35/rim. The cheapest wide rim that I 4602offer and amazingly still can be run tubeless. Surprising for that to come from DT Swiss who are not a brand normally associated with a keen eye on value. It is well made but has a basic but strong joint. To be honest, I would rather see this rim slightly lighter with a welded joint and the R440 slightly heavier and at around this price point, preferably with an offset drilling but most rims do not offer that. I would recommend the 460 over the 440. This is the most interesting rim to be developed by DT Swiss in recent years and if you want a decent rim from a major brand; this may well be the best choice for you. The 440 however is probably the best performing classic box section eyeletted rim that I sell. So if you wanted a classic build that performed in a more modern way, that would be a good choice – you can run tubeless tyres with it and you have the option of an offset rear for better dishing. The rim is also slightly wider and slightly deeper than previous box section rims. This rim would make a good training set – eg DCR standard hubs, Race spokes and brass nipples for just £260.
Kinlin XC-279 – £40/rim. When I say Kinlin, people normally say who, never heard of them. However, they are a massive manufacturer at this price point but often only known when sold by other ‘manufacturers’ under a different brand. The XC-279 is the cheapest wide Kinlin rim I offer. A good solid profile, tough, stiff and made from a strong material. 28mm deep, 23mm wide. I like to think of this as a cheaper version of their 31t but where it is easier to fit tyres to. Some people just do not want to run tubeless and resent the tight tyre fit that comes with tubeless friendly/ready rims. This is one of the only remaining wide rims that does not come with this tubeless interface. The weight at 500g, but could obviously be lighter if the rim were shallower. It is above average in terms of depth. It is a good choice for a heavier and more powerful rider and less popular for lighter riders on hillier terrain.
Kinlin 22t – £45/rim. Only slightly more money but a better offering than the 279. Perhaps not quite as stiff but 50g/rim lighter. 22mm deep, 24mm wide and can accommodate tubeless tyres. This is the cheapest tubeless rim that Kinlin make and it is a really good one. Possibly the best selling of all the Kinlin that I offer. The profile is nice and discrete and allows for a comfortable and lively ride. The gloss finish on the Kinlin rim range is not for everyone. For some reason a shot blasted and anodised finish seems to make a rim look more expensive and better quality. However the alloy used by Kinlin stands the test of time and I like the unbranded, graphics free look of their range. You will find that the characteristics of this rim are similar to that of the DT R460, so why choose this one over DT. Well, they have a thicker spoke bed which is capable of handling higher spoke tensions and they are made from a stronger alloy. If you went with this rim, D-lights in silver with alloy nipples and DCR standard road hubs it would cost £290 or £330 for an all black build. The 22t is now available with an O/C drilling at the rear as well, making the builds stiffer and stronger.
Velocity A23 – from £47/rim. One of the original wide rims. Now available with an off centre drilling at the back. Suffers a little with a shorter braking surface (8mm, vs the usual 9mm) also a relatively shallow rim, so better suited to a higher spoke count. They are tubeless compatible. Velocity put a fairly high rider weight limit on this rim, however I would probably recommend the Archetype or one of the deeper Kinlin rims if you are a heavier riders. Better still something like the Velocity Chukker. The Velocity A23 is available in silver, which is something that most of the rims here do not offer. A shallow rim is also particularly comfortable, so it may make a good choice for comfort. Although, I would be more inclined to go with the fractionally cheaper and notably stiffer Kinlin 22t.
Kinlin 31t – £55/rim. 490g/rim. Similar weight to the 279 but 3mm deeper, 1mm wider and can take a tubeless tyre. Now also available with an offset drilling for a very tough and stiff rim. Probably one of the best options for an aero alloy set, but then again, aluminium would never be my choice of material for an aero set. Being as stiff as it is, especially with the offset drilling, many more people can run this rim with a lower spoke count without issue. That means that the weight penalty could be less than you imagined. If you wanted to use this rim as an alloy aero set with DCR lightweight hubs and CX-Rays for example in a 20/24 drilling, you would only actually be looking at a set weight of around 1470g and a cost of £460 for an all black build.
H Plus Son Archetype – £55/rim, 470g/rim. 25mm deep, 23mm wide. Another earlier attempt at wider rim. The first in this line up with a welded joint. Not necessarily a sign of a premium product but you will never find such a feature on a cheap rim. It is well made and builds up well. The weld is very neat and the alloy they use is good and tough. These are a strong, dependable rim and have been a favourite for years. Those who dislike them normally do so on the basis of it not accepting tubeless tyres and having a black braking surface that wears silver. I actually think the hard grey finish is the most attractive and it is the most durable, although I find it clashes with anything other than all black build. If you do not mind a 28h minimum, you can also have it in a polished finish. That provides a nice classic look and also allows the braking surface to start and remain silver. This is a great choice if what you want is a very reliable rim that performs well.
Ryde Pulse Sprint – £70/rim (£90 RRP), 380g. The shallowest and lightest rim here. Well suited to light rider and those looking for a very light hill climbing set. Surprisingly stiff considering their profile but much better suited to 24/28 drilling and also better suited to spinners rather than honkers. A lot of the stiffness benefits can be attributed to the offset drilling but also thanks to a comparatively tall sidewall. This is the narrowest wide rim here. Only 22mm and only 20mm deep. The extrusion has been very precisely done and the rims build up nicely as a result. It is a little difficult to fit and remove tyres owing to the slightly unusual bead hook design. The use of tubeless tape and special levers still makes the process quick and easy for those who find such tasks easy. If you struggle with tyres at the best of times; this is probably not the rim for you. DCR standard road hubs, CX-Rays and Ryde Pulse Sprint rims weighs approximately 1320g. It is better suited to sub 80kg riders but the rider limit is higher than that. We try to keep this set built up in stock. The total cost is £440 and is also a stock set available to purchase with this link including delivery and tape.
Ryde Pulse Comp – £85/rim (£90 RRP), 420g. Among the lightest but this time 25mm deep. Similar tyre fitting issues. These are actually some of the stiffest rims here and certainly the stiffness to weight ratio is hard to beat. They have the same black sidewalls that you see with the Archetype which some find unappealing. I like this rim a lot as I think it offers a lot of balance. The tyre fitting is a downside which is the main deterrent, it also does not offer quite the same weight saving as something like the Sprint. However a lot of people are nervous of the sprint because of its weight. This could easily play the role of an aluminium training rim in place of a premium carbon set for ‘best. The rider weight limit on the Pulse Sprint and Comp rims is among the lowest here though, so be mindful of that. They are aimed at competitive riding and assume lighter riders. Kinlin, DCR and H Plus Son would be a better choice if you needed a tougher set.
Pacenti SL23 v2, £85 (£98 RRP)
Owing to a large number of issues with the original SL23 and a good number of issues of rattling joints with the new SL23, I have currently suspended sales of this rim until further notice. I will still be providing warranty support to those with any cracking in the V1 rims. In the future, these rims may be re-introduced when I believe they can be built into reliable wheels.
HED Belgium Plus – £130/rim. 460g. HED is largely where this wide rim movement began. The Plus is their latest version which is slightly wider than their original. It can run with tubeless tyres, it has got a welded joint. The rims are tough and stiff and build up well. They have resisted the urge of producing a really light rim and have kept it solid instead. While I do like these rims, I find the price pretty off putting. Especially when you consider that the aftermarket options do not come with a warranty, meaning it is both the most expensive alloy rim here and the only one without a warranty. I think if you wanted a 460g, solid rim made by a major brand who you trust and you want a warranty, you could do a lot worse than going for the DT R460 and save yourself £200 on the wheelset.
Wide clincher rim (rim brake) resource
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