Shimano XTR M988 Wheels
To provide its high end functionality to a wider audience for 2012, the latest Shimano XTR groupset splits itself into 2 specific segments; "Race" and "Trail". While the XTR Race wheelset is suited to those after the lightest possible weight for XC riding and racing, the M988 Trail wheels are engineered to cater towards the more gravity-oreinted All Mountain crowd and is the perfect option for 4-6" travel bikes. This segment is where weight is important because half the day is spent climbing up lung-busting ascents in order to reach the fast and technical trails to take you back down. While often AM riders are forced to choose between lightweight or ultimate strength, the XTR Trail wheelset seeks to balance the two in an extremely capable package.
If you're looking for a well-engineered, feature-packed set of hoops, the Shimano wheels lineup is very tough to beat across all pricepoints. Although Shimano have always had a reputation for building solid wheels for road and MTB, they have set out to redefine their range in order to encompass the high performance and precision engineering that all of their components are renowned for. The latest high-end Shimano mountain bike wheels utilise wider rims, 24 straight pull spokes, thru-axle compatibility, faster engaging hubs and a more conventional lacing pattern that may not have the bling of other brands, but focuses on performance and reliability.
Overall, the new Shimano wheelset range is now stiffer, lighter, stronger and easier to maintain.
Rims
Just like the XTR Race model, the M988's get a lightweight Scandium Alloy rim that drops rotational weight while boosting the rigidity of the rim. However, the profile used on the Trail rims is much wider than that of the Race version, which is for use with the fatter tyres - up to 2.5" in fact - that All Mountain riding demands. This 21mm internal rim width spreads the beads of the tyre to provide a more stable platform, while also increasing overall volume. The hole-less outer wall is used to achieve the airtight UST certification, but it also increases the rigidity of the rim compared to traditional drilled hoops and is a contributor to the generally bulletproof nature of the Scandium rims. You can setup the XTR Trail wheels with a tubeless tyre and the included UST valves, or with standard tyres and tubes depending on what side of the fence you sit on.
Spokes
Along with the build, the spokes are responsible for tying everything together and will determine overall wheel stiffness and the wheels ability to remain true over time. As the XTR Trail wheelset is designed to handle the abuse and stresses that come with All Mountain riding, the spokes are specced accordingly to keep the wheels rigid and strong. The rear wheel on the the M988's uses thicker straight-gauge Stainless Steel spokes to handle drops and square-edged hits, while the front gets a butted 2.0/1.8/2.0 spoke that is a little lighter due to the lower stresses the front wheel encounters. With a standard 2 cross lacing pattern and 24 spokes front & rear, the XTR's come professionally built and will surprise you with their impressive durability.
Hubs
As the M988 wheelset is designed for harder riding, the longer-travel bikes it is suited to generally see the use of thru-axles front & rear. With a QR15 front and a 135mm or 142mm rear hub option, the XTR hubs on the trail wheelset are compatible with modern thru-axle forks and frames and are specifically engineered to maintain the strength and rigidity required in longer travel applications. Oversized 7075-T6 alloy hub shells and axles are used to keep everything lightweight and flex-free, while the sealed Angular Contact bearings provide un-matched stability in handling side loads on the trail. Unlike cartridge bearings, Shimano's cup and cone system is easily serviceable and allows the user to remove both axial and lateral play from the wheel, while providing a silky smooth feel that ensures a level of seal drag that can't be beaten. This is partly due to the precision ground and polished races that the bearings are housed in, which provides long term durability and ease of maintenance - the best of both worlds.
The Shimano XTR M988 Wheelset Features:
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26" Disc specific design
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24 Straight-pull Stainless Steel butted spokes: Straight gauge rear, 2.0/1.8/2.0 front
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23.4mm external rim width
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19mm internal rim width
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UST Tubeless
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Stiff Box-section design
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Lightweight Scandium Alloy rims
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8/9/10 Speed compatible
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36 point engagement freehub with Titanium body
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Sealed Angular Contact bearings with polished bearing races
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Front Hub: QR15
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Rear Hub: 135mm quick release or 142x12mm thru-axle
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For use with Centrelock rotors
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Weight: 1688 grams
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Quick release skewers and UST valves included
Shimano Mountain Bike Wheels bring durability, stiffness and UST Tubeless design to all pricepoints