DT Swiss announces new carbon and aluminum wheelsets for gravel
DT Swiss has launched three new gravel wheelsets in the hope of grabbing a piece of the latest red-hot trend in the drop-bar market. All of the new wheels feature 24mm internal widths, tubeless compatibility, Center Lock rotor interfaces, and bundled end caps for use with 9mm quick-release, 12mm thru-axle, or 15mm thru-axle dropouts.
The GRC 1400 Spline 42 features a hookless carbon rim that DT Swiss says is less prone to impact damage than hooked rims. Some aerodynamic benefit comes courtesy of a 42mm-deep shape crafted by Swiss Side — although much of that goes away unless you go with the 30mm-wide tires the profile was optimized for.
The hubs use a dedicated aluminum shell, but inside, they’re the same 240s guts (including the venerable star ratchet driver mechanism) that anchor so many high-end wheels — DT Swiss-branded or otherwise. DT Swiss Aero Comp bladed spokes are used throughout, in a 24-hole, two-cross pattern, along with hidden DT Swiss Pro Lock alloy nipples.
Both 700c and 650b versions will be offered, with claimed weights of 1,611g and 1,545g per set, respectively. Retail price is US$2,436 for the set.
The top-end aluminum model is the GR 1600 Spline 25, made with more modest 25mm-tall hooked rims, slightly heavier DT Swiss Aero Comp Wide bladed stainless steel straight-pull spokes, and DT Swiss 350 hubs.
Claimed weight for the 700c set is 1,811g, and 1,727g for the 650b version. Retail price is US$694.
Last up is the G 1800 Spline 25. The aluminum rim shares the same external dimensions as the GR 1600 Spline 25, but has thicker walls (which means it weighs more, but should also be more durable). The wheels are also built with the same DT Swiss Aero Comp Wide spokes, but the DT Swiss 370 hubs are slightly heavier.
Claimed weight for the 700c set is 1,895g, while the 650b set comes in at 1,806g. Retail price is US$483.
CyclingTips has a 650b set of the GRC 1400 Spline 42 and a 700c set of the GR 1600 Spline 25 wheels on hand now; watch this space for a review in the coming weeks.
DT Swiss says the GRC 1400 Spline 42’s rim shape was aerodynamically designed by Swiss Side, but those aerodynamics will really only be effective if you’re running tires around 30mm-wide.
DT Swiss builds the GRC 1400 Spline 42 carbon wheels around 240s hubs.
The tubeless-ready rims are pre-taped on all DT Swiss gravel wheels. 24mm-wide internal widths are shared across the entire range, too.
The top-end aluminum model is the GR 1600 Spline 25.
The aluminum rims on the GR 1600 Spline 25 aren’t as deep as the ones on the GRC 1400 Spline 42, but that’s not a big deal at all for this category. The external nipples are nice to see, though.
The GR 1600 Spline 25 wheels use DT Swiss 350 hubs, which are almost identical functionally to the higher-end 240s model, but with a bit more weight.
The post DT Swiss announces new carbon and aluminum wheelsets for gravel appeared first on CyclingTips.