Are Carbon Downhill Wheels Worth It?

Why run carbon downhill wheels? Stiff and compliant, precise and springy, carbon downhill wheels are super spendy but lux warranties ease the pain. TPC’s Bruce Lin and masters DH racer (and podium winner) Travis Erwin assess three carbon DH options: the Santa Cruz Reserve, Reynolds Black Label and the Enve M9.

Shop Enve M9 carbon MTB wheels:

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0:00 Intro
0:50 Why run carbon MTB wheels?
1:55 Warranties
3:10 Santa Cruz Reserve 31” DH
4:25 Reynolds Black Label 289
5:35 Enve M9

[nilsschear]

Anyone who thinks carbon rims are about weight hasn’t been paying attention. The stiffness and responsiveness is so much better than aluminum. Jumps, cornering, rock gardens are all better on carbon rims. And you don’t really realize how bad wheel flex can get with aluminum until you G out in a berm with carbon and just feel that pop. Weight is irrelevant, nothing I’ve done has improved the feel and control of the bike quite like carbon rims. Plus warranties are pretty awesome.

[nicholashines]

I have had many carbon wheels and I have never had a wheel that was as compliant as an alloy wheel. I have never taken the Zip motos out for a spin but they are heavier than my DT 1700s

[barrakingbeatz]

On Reserve carbon in my ebike and loving them

[finroddd]

The only thing that is stopping me from getting carbon wheels is the price. I have no other concerns about them.

[LeoMTB_LIFE]

My brother great content 💯💯
I need the link to those Reynolds just like the ones you showing where can I get them ?

[topspot]

Completely agree. I kept breaking alloy rims, at least one a summer, ride mostly bike parks with my Mach 6 and never really considered carbon. Ended up buying Reserve 31 DH w 350s cause I figured with the warranty I'd at least come out even. Weight was never a factor, and tbh I didn't even notice the difference ... My first time riding them was at Highland Bike Park, and I was shocked at the very noticable difference. Landing jumps and especially drops feels so much more stable, and riding tech I feel like I'm more in control. You hear a lot of reviews talk about cornering, but I could really tell much of a difference. To be fair though, I'm not great at berms so probably not the best judge. Rode em about 40 full days (8 hours) at different parks in the Northeast, and so far so good. Really glad I ended up getting them and don't see myself going back to alloy anytime soon.