Making good things even better doesn't always work. The differences between "normal" mountain bikes and e-MTBs are simply too great. That's why the Swiss didn't simply relabel slightly modified wheels. Instead, the engineers developed everything from scratch.
New hubs, new spokes and new rims are used for the hybrid wheels. For the hubs, DT Swiss thought: Bigger is better! That's why the hubs have reinforced walls, more stable hub axles and larger interfaces with the spokes. The bearings are also larger than normal. The power is transmitted by 24 hardened steel ratchet blades and a steel freehub.
The spokes have also been newly developed: The butted spokes are thicker at the head (2.34 millimetres) so that they harmonise perfectly with the hubs. They are also designed to better withstand the higher system weight (released up to 150 kilos) and torque. The straight-pull spokes are held in place by Pro Lock Squorx Pro Head nipples.
The aluminium rims have the proven DT Swiss rim profile. However, the wall thicknesses have been increased in order to withstand the high system weight and the additional metres in altitude. The rims are available in three widths: 25, 30 and 35 millimetres internal width. All widths are available in 27.5 inches, in 29 inches only the 30 mm rim. The carbon rim can only be purchased with a 30 mm rim width.
Test procedure
As part of the presentation at the company headquarters in Biel, we were allowed to take a look inside the hallowed halls of DT Swiss. In the company's own test laboratory, the employees explained the various procedures to us: We were allowed to see everything from torque application to spoke tear-out and drum testing to the impact test. Our highlight: the puncture test of the entire wheel. Before our eyes, the test rig dented a current freeride rim from DT. With the same weight and drop height, the new hybrid aluminium rim comes off relatively unscathed.
Driving report
On a short test lap (approx. 1500 metres in altitude), we were able to put the new wheels to the test for the first time. We rode the aluminium top model HX 1501 Spline One with a 35 mm rim width in a Trek Powerfly 9 LT Plus. Tubeless Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR tyres in 2.8 inch width were fitted.
Thanks to the large rim width and the thick Maxxis carcass, you can ride with little air in the tyre. This gives you plenty of traction uphill and the wheel doesn't stand out negatively: The freehub doesn't slip and the torsional rigidity is also good. As the trail descends, we open the brakes and hold on: the wheels don't let up on the fast, rough descents and behave inconspicuously. We reported no defects after the short test ride.
Conclusion on the new E-MTB wheel series from DT Swiss
DT Swiss is bringing promising products to the E-MTB market with its new wheel series. The wheels are expensive, but also very high quality. Only an endurance test can show what the hybrid wheels can really withstand.
