Rim brake road wheels

How to choose rim-brake road bike wheels

On a rim-brake wheel, the rim serves two purposes: it holds the tyre and provides the braking surface. That affects everything — the material, thickness, wear and the fact that a rim-brake wheel is a long-term wear item.

The braking surface wears down

• An aluminium rim gets thinner every time you brake. Manufacturers mark a wear indicator, whether a dot or a groove: when it disappears, the rim needs replacing, even if the wheel is still perfectly true.
• A carbon rim does not wear in the same way but gets much hotter: it requires specific brake pads and a descending technique that avoids continuous braking.
• Surface treatments — Mavic Exalith in particular — improve braking bite and require their own brake pad compound.

What else to consider

• Rim depth : 20 to 30 mm for versatility, 35 to 55 mm for aerodynamics.
• Internal width : newer wheels with C17 (17 mm internal width) provide a much better base for 25 and 28 mm tyres than older C15 rims.
• Tubetype or tubeless ready : tubeless is also available for rim brakes, but remains less common in this range.
• Quick release with a 9 mm quick release, 100 mm spacing at the front and 130 mm at the rear.

Why this range still exists

There are still a great many rim-brake bikes in use, and a replacement wheel often costs far less than an equivalent disc-brake wheel. It is also the only option when the frame has no disc calliper mounts. The Mavic Aksium and Ksyrium, Campagnolo Zonda and Calima, Fulcrum Racing and Shimano RS100 ranges cover most needs.

Individually or as a pair

As with disc-brake wheels, these wheels are also sold separately. On a rim-brake bike, replacing just one wheel is common: the rear wheel bears both braking wear and drivetrain forces.

To find out more: How to choose road bike wheels

See also: Road bike brake pads · Road bike rim brake callipers · Road tubular tyres