I’ve lengthy been a quiet fan of DT Swiss wheels, whether or not that was in earlier business roles I had the place I valued the no-fuss reliability of a setup that was all the time able to go no matter how little upkeep I’d completed or on this job testing varied highway, gravel, and mtb wheels which all gave a reliable combine of virtually boring strong reliability and prime finish efficiency at affordable costs.
The GRC vary is the model’s designated carbon gravel wheels, with 4 fashions. Easier, cheaper alloy wheels have a easy G moniker adopted by a quantity. DT’s numbering system can appear a bit complicated at first, however Tyler Boucher did an excellent job of clearing it up in his first trip evaluate of the range-topping GRC 1100 50mm deep wheels earlier this yr.
I used to be delighted once I obtained the GRC 1400 Dicut wheels to check this summer time till I checked the worth and practically fell off my chair! These wheels sit within the “second tier” of their lineup, but the worth tag nonetheless rivals many decent-budget gravel bikes. Whereas I recognize that top-tier biking gear usually comes at a premium, seeing this degree of funding in a set of wheels left me questioning: can they actually ship the efficiency to justify the excessive outlay, and the way do they evaluate to the finest gravel wheels in the marketplace?
Building
DT Swiss launched the GRC vary this summer time, which contains 4 wheels that share both a 30mm or 50mm rim and can be found with the 180 Ratchet EXP hub with ceramic bearings within the dearer 1100 variant or with the marginally cheaper 240 Ratchet EXP hub I had within the 1400 I had on check. The 2 rim depths are designed to provide benefits for particular kinds of gravel driving, the 50mm being all about minimizing watts and aero good points for gravel racing and the shallower 30mm that prioritizes steering agility and responsiveness over straight-line velocity, although each have an aerodynamic profile developed within the wind tunnel with aero consultants Swiss Facet.
The aesthetic is kind of plain – no bling right here!
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The principle speaking level of the brand new GRC lineup is its in-house-developed rims. DT Swiss equips every GRC carbon rim with a hooked bead, which they declare to be the “final answer” for the tip buyer’s security and ease of use. A hookless rim is simpler to fabricate and may be lighter, however it additionally throws up compatibility points with sure tyre manufacturers, particularly with narrower high-pressure rubber. In accordance with DT Swiss, “whereas making a hooked bead is certainly extra complicated, it results in a rim with a built-in fail-safe, offering riders with the boldness to push tougher”, and I would agree completely, ensuring your tyre stays related to your rim is one drawback I would fairly not have to fret about.
Such is the standard of manufacture, the edges have this faultless matte end straight from the mildew
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At first impression, these are aesthetically slightly underwhelming, with a matte again end on the hubs and rims and delicate branding. They have been nothing particular at a look, although their comparatively low weight of 1496 grams (together with valves) offers you a clue as to how they may carry out.
Although not notably flash-looking, the 30mm deep carbon rim packs a punch utilizing DT’s newest patent-pending course of, which DT Swiss is utilizing right here for the primary time. The brand new course of permits the rim to be able to trip “straight out of the mildew” with none ending, fillers, or clear coats needing to be added. This offers them a attribute flat matt end and, extra importantly, helps save grams. It also needs to give constant weights throughout manufacturing runs.
Carbon manufacturing can usually give various ranges of accuracy and high quality management, which often makes itself recognized with weights differing from printed weights, as mass-produced finances rims can typically want ending or floor therapies that may add grams.
These 240 EXP hubs are actually lighter than earlier variations and promote a 15% improve in axle stiffness
(Picture credit score: Future)
The edges measure 24mm extensive internally, which DT says is completely optimized for 40mm tyres. This was positive for me throughout testing as my long-term check bike, the Ribble Gravel Ti professional, will not take super-wide rubber. For many of my check time, I had the 47mm Vittoria Terrano Dry’s, which labored nicely, with loads of help for the sidewalls and little folding, even at decrease pressures. The marginally narrower 45mm Schwalbe G One RS labored nicely, too, although if you’re seeking to match mtb rubber like a few of the gravel execs, you is perhaps higher served elsewhere.
The 1400 model I had on check makes use of the 240 hub from DT, with the most recent Ratchet EXP freehub system. DT’s hub know-how is well-known for its strong reliability and efficiency, and plenty of manufacturers even use their hub internals or designs of their wheels (reminiscent of Large/Cadex and Specialised/Roval, as an illustration). The EXP model takes the usual ratchet system that has been round for many years and makes it lighter by combining the threaded insert with one of many plates and eradicating a preload spring. This additionally means they will transfer the bearings additional aside, resulting in a 15% improve in axle stiffness and a small discount in weight.
Because the identify suggests, Aerolite Comp II straight pull spokes are DT Swiss’ flat-bladed aero providing
(Picture credit score: Future)
The GRC 1400 is shipped with a 36-tooth ratchet, which supplies a strong however not loopy 10 levels of engagement. If you need a quicker engagement, a 54-tooth model is obtainable to buy individually. Handily, in addition they ship with Shimano HG and SRAM XDR freehubs, and Shimano Microspline and Campagnolo N3W choices can be found individually.
DT can be one of many few corporations making spokes, to allow them to management each wheel ingredient and design it accordingly. On this occasion, they’ve used 24 Aerolite Comp II straight pull spokes entrance and rear with the nipples hidden contained in the rim, which has an aero profit, although it’s a little bit of a ache ought to it’s essential to true them or change a spoke. The Aerolite is the model’s flat-bladed, most aerodynamic providing, however I additionally discover flat spokes flex extra at sharp lean angles, which helps with traction in corners and off-camber sections.
The trip
I discover actually top-end package exhausting to evaluate subjectively typically. As a rider, I typically look upon actually good strong mid-range choices that provide excellent efficiency and serviceability at an inexpensive value as the head of package. So, a wheel that prices as a lot as a good gravel bike was exhausting to get my head round on paper. Till I rode them, that’s.
As with every wheel, I first set them up tubeless utilizing the provided valves. The edges are provided ready-taped, and becoming the Schwalbe G One RS tyres in a 45mm width or the Vittoria Terrano Dry’s in a 47mm width (46.5mm measured) was easy. There have been no issues seating or sealing both tyre. The 24mm inner width labored nicely with each choices and gave a fine condition with loads of help, although I am undecided how nicely it could fare with 50mm plus choices.
Neal examined with wheels with 47mm Vittoria Terrano Dry rubber, however he may have gone wider had his Ribble’s body allowed
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From the very first pedal stroke, I may inform these have been particular. The Hub pick-up is satisfactory fairly than extraordinary, however with a lightweight rim and well-tensioned spokes, they decide up velocity eerily quick. However much more spectacular is that they’ve managed this with out making them really feel harsh or uncomfortable off-road. At first, I believed I may need my pressures too excessive as I set off on a easy bike path part as they’d an actual zip to them, however even after dropping the strain to beneath 30 psi, they nonetheless felt remarkably nimble.
All through my summer time of testing, I’ve used these for all the things from loaded bike-packing, quick group rides, and rocky singletrack rides, and so they have felt nice no matter what I used to be doing. I am positive the 50mm model gives extra velocity with its aero benefit, however except you are on the pointy finish of the gravel racing spectrum, I’d go for the extra snug however nonetheless quick 30mm variations. They’ve maintained spoke rigidity, and the chrome steel sealed bearings spin as easily because the day I fitted them, which is not all the time true with check wheels.
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They continued to impress me once I tried extra technical trails, too. Whether or not skipping over native rocky descents or slippery off-cambers, they maintain a line superbly and alter path with minimal effort for poor line selections or quick corners. I used to be so impressed with them that I used to be virtually confused and a bit fearful my evaluate would sound like an advert, so to place my thoughts at relaxation, I did some back-to-back rides in opposition to different wheels I had on check from Reynolds, Mavic, and Parcours and the DT appeared to supply an intoxicating mix of velocity, steadiness, responsiveness and dealing with that not one of the others may match.
Worth & conclusions
These are an impressively specced wheel regardless of their delicate and stealthy seems, and whenever you dive into the main points, it is clear there was loads of time spent sweating the main points, which go some strategy to justifying the excessive value of £1,949.98 / $2,399.80, which, though clearly costly, is lower than the GRC 1100, which is available in at an eye-watering £2,399.98 / $2,999.80. To explain these as cost-effective or much more budget-friendly, I feel, can be disingenuous, however as I mentioned earlier, the most effective package has all the time been costly, and having used loads of DT Swiss 240 hubs in varied guises through the years, I am greater than assured the wheels will last more than many gravel bikes would.
My solely actual gripe is the worth. They do supply an actual leap up in efficiency phrases, however whenever you evaluate them to the likes of Hunt 42 Limitless Gravel Journey wheelset at £1,299 / $1,649 or the Reynolds ATRx wheels at £1,500 /$1,699, they’re a big step up in cash, which is tough to disregard.
(Picture credit score: Future)
Truthfully, these are the most effective gravel wheels I’ve ever used, with the right mixture of velocity, responsiveness, weight, and serviceability. They do all of the issues I may ask for in a wheel, with a brilliant easy trip and an addictive flip of velocity that by no means felt out of its depth or that was slowing me down in any manner throughout just about all terrain.
For many who like actually huge rubber, these won’t be the best choice, and I am positive the deeper 50mm model can be marginally faster on smoother trails, however I am nit-picking. I am simply gutted I can not afford a set.
Specs
- SRP: £1,949.98 / $2,399.80
- Depth: 30mm
- Inside: 24mm
- Weight: 1496 g (weighed with tape and valves)
