Shimano WH-MT65 Tubeless Wheelset

theblarney
theblarney Posts: 102
edited January 2013 in MTB buying advice
Hi,

I am venturing into the world of tubeless and as much as I would like to buy the NoTubes ZTR wheelsets they are too expensive.

I have found that the Shimano WH-MT65's are being sold at a quite a good price and the review on BikeRadar seems to be good but wondered if anyone has real-life experiences with them?

If anyone has any other suggestions on an affordable (less than £200) 26" tubeless wheelset please let me know.

Thanks

Gavin

Comments

  • mcnultycop wrote:
    Hi,

    Thanks for the quick response, the website looks great.

    Complete newbie question here but how do I find out what adaptor for the front and rear I need?

    Thanks
  • jairaj
    jairaj Posts: 3,009
    I have pair of Shimano XT wheels which use a similar design as the WH-MT65 just maybe a bit lighter. I have tried them Maxxis LUST tyres and Specialised 2bliss (tubeless ready) tyres. Both work fine with no issues getting them sealed and inflated. Spares are easy to come by if you do break anything. Wheel has been mainly used for light XC riding so haven;t really given it a battering but its stayed nice a true and bearings lasted ages without any maintainese

    I also have a set of Superstar wheels, Crest with Switch Hubs. I've tried these with Specialised 2bliss tyres and Maxxis normal tyres. They are slightly harder to get inflated but nothing more than bit of furious pumping no real faff at all. I prob go for these if you can afford them as I think they'll come out lighter. I've given these a pretty good battering probably riding them harder then intended again stayed nice and true. I damaged the rim in a crash but it was replaced at minimum cost due to superstar's crash replacement scheme.

    Also check the rotor type on the shimano wheels. they might require centre lock rotors. I prefer the centre lock system but its an extra expense to budget for if you don't have rotors or adaptors to fit.
  • jairaj
    jairaj Posts: 3,009
    theblarney wrote:
    ...Complete newbie question here but how do I find out what adaptor for the front and rear I need?

    You need a adaptor for your brake calliper this depends on your rotor size and mounting type IS or post mount but if you're not changing the brakes then this doesn't need to change.

    There are two types of fitting for rotors, IS 6 bolt or Centre Lock this depends on your hub type. The Superstar hubs use 6 bolt while Shimano hubs come in both falvours. Their factory wheelsets usually come in Centre lock fitting.

    You can get adpators to use a 6 bolt rotor on a centre lock hub but Idon't think you can one to go the other way.
  • Thanks for the responses.

    When I look at the superstar website for the adapters it lists ones like 9mm, 15, 20 and QR for the front and 144m/12mm, 10, 12 Thru axle adaptor and QR.

    So I am unsure how to find out which ones to select.

    I have looked at my bike and it seems the silver break part is mounted on 6 bolts so I'm guessing that if I decided on the Shimano wheelset i would go for the 6 bolt?

    Thanks again

    Gavin
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Whatever you have now.
    I don't do smileys.

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  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    jairaj wrote:
    theblarney wrote:
    ...Complete newbie question here but how do I find out what adaptor for the front and rear I need?

    You need a adaptor for your brake calliper this depends on your rotor size and mounting type IS or post mount but if you're not changing the brakes then this doesn't need to change.

    There are two types of fitting for rotors, IS 6 bolt or Centre Lock this depends on your hub type. The Superstar hubs use 6 bolt while Shimano hubs come in both falvours. Their factory wheelsets usually come in Centre lock fitting.

    You can get adpators to use a 6 bolt rotor on a centre lock hub but Idon't think you can one to go the other way.

    The adaptor is to suit the axle size, nothing to do with brakes.
  • mrmonkfinger
    mrmonkfinger Posts: 1,452
    theblarney wrote:
    When I look at the superstar website for the adapters it lists ones like 9mm, 15, 20 and QR for the front and 144m/12mm, 10, 12 Thru axle adaptor and QR.

    Can you post a photo of your current hubs.
  • theblarney wrote:
    When I look at the superstar website for the adapters it lists ones like 9mm, 15, 20 and QR for the front and 144m/12mm, 10, 12 Thru axle adaptor and QR.

    Can you post a photo of your current hubs.
    Is this ok?
  • jairaj
    jairaj Posts: 3,009
    The adaptor is to suit the axle size, nothing to do with brakes.

    :oops: had a mental block last night. It seems so obvious now.
  • jairaj
    jairaj Posts: 3,009
    theblarney wrote:
    Is this ok?

    Need a picture of front and rear showing the axle. But from that picture looks like you have normal QR on that hub need a better picture to be sure.

    Also that rotor looks like a centre lock type. Pictures of the rotors would help too.
  • jairaj wrote:
    theblarney wrote:
    Is this ok?

    Need a picture of front and rear showing the axle. But from that picture looks like you have normal QR on that hub need a better picture to be sure.

    Also that rotor looks like a centre lock type. Pictures of the rotors would help too.
    I only have the front wheel at the moment, ill post the back wheel later but here is the front, is this ok?


  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    Yes, they are cl hubs with a cl-6bolt adaptor for the rotor.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Standard QR and centrelock rotors. I don't see any adapter, and those are rivets holding the rotor onto a spider, not bolts.
    I don't do smileys.

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  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    Yep good point.
  • Great thanks for this so in theory I should be ok to get the standard QR?
  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    Not in theory, you should get qr as that is what fits your forks. You can get 15/20mm hubs but you'll need to be able to adapt them via adapters to qr.
  • jairaj
    jairaj Posts: 3,009
    If you choose to go for the Superstar wheelset choose the QR option as this will fit your current forks. The hubs can be changed with different adaptors so they should still work if you change your fork or frame.

    You will also have to buy new rotors with IS 6 bolt fixing to work with the Superstar hubs. To my knowledge your centre lock rotors cannot be adapted to fit IS 6 bolt hubs.

    The rotors and the bolts required are available from Superstar who normally sell things at very good prices but also have a browse online as you might find them cheaper else where.

    Just measure the current diameter of your rotor and buy the same size. Most rotors work just the same so not point buying an expensive one as it work just the same.