Mercury Wheels X1 Carbon Enduro 27.5in DT Swiss 240 Wheelset

Mercury Wheels is conveniently located just up the road from the Competitive Cyclist offices, so we've had the opportunity to spend some time putting its X1 Carbon Enduro 27. 5in DT Swiss 240 Wheelset through the ringer on the local trail systems. We can attest that these rims are stiff and responsive with DT Swiss' venerable 240 hubs ensuring they roll fast and smooth no matter the terrain. The rims are built with a hookless bead, which contrary to what common sense might suggest makes the rim to tire bead connection more reliable. Burping and tire blow offs are actually more common with hooked rims, and hookless models also demonstrate improved tire retention. By eliminating the ridge of material constituting the hook, hookless beads also enjoy increased structural integrity, which is a definite plus when you consider that the X1 Carbon Enduro is built to handle the big hits of enduro and all mountain riding. We've found that mounting some tire brands can be a little tricky, but once they're on, the bead holds a tubeless setup steady. In addition to that hookless bead, Mercury employs a hefty 26mm internal rim width designed to support the wider tires preferred by today's enduro shredders. This wider rim lets the tire take on a fuller shape with straighter sidewalls than the light bulb associated with narrower rims, which in turn provides increased stability and more rubber on the ground at any given time. On the trail, this means better cornering and increased grip with the added bonus of fewer pinch flats compliments of that rounder shape.