How do I choose a hybrid bike wheel?
There are two main points to consider when upgrading or replacing your hybrid bike wheels:
- Are they compatible with my bike?
- What type of performance advantage do I want?
1. How do I know which wheels are compatible with my bike?
You will need to make sure that your new wheels have the same hub type and wheel diameter as your existing wheels as well as ensuring that the rim width will fit your frame.
What are the different hub types?
There are two main types of hybrid wheels and both tend to use standard quick release (QR) axles.
- Rim brakes; hybrid bikes with traditional rim brakes will always have wheels with standard QR axles.
- Disc brakes; Most hybrid bikes with discs will still use QR axles.
Do I need disc specific wheels?
You will need disc brake wheels only if you have disc brakes on your bike. There are two different types of hubs for disc wheels;
- 6 bolt hubs – for discs that attach to the rotors with 6 bolts. These are most common on hybrids
- Centre lock hubs – for disc rotors that attach to the hub with a splined inner ring
Note: Disc wheels are not compatible with traditional rim brakes.
What are the different wheel diameters?
Most hybrid bikes use 700c road bike wheels. Some hybrid bikes use mountain bike wheels (26”,27.5”, 29”). Check which wheels you have on your hybrid bike before ordering.
Can I use road bike wheels on my hybrid?
As most hybrids use the same 700c wheels as road bikes then, as long as you match the hub and brake type, you can fit road bike wheels to your hybrid. Similarly, if your hybrid uses 26” wheels then you can fit 26” MTB wheels as long as you match the hub and brake types.
What about rim width?
Narrower rims are lighter, while wider rims are more robust. Most hybrid bikes are supplied with wide rims so the frame will have enough clearance for them. If your bike has narrow rims then you need to check that there is enough frame clearance if you want to fit wider rims. You can fit narrower rims onto any hybrid bike.
Will the new wheel be compatible with my existing groupset?
There are different types of freehub that are specific to certain cassettes;
- Shimano freehub – compatible with 7, 8, 9 and 10 speed Shimano and SRAM cassettes. This is the most common type on hybrid bikes
- 11 speed freehub – some high end hybrids will need a specific SRAM XD or Shimano 11 speed freehub
You will need to match the ‘speed’ of you groupset to your new wheel - as well as the freehub type for 11 speed systems.
2. What are the performance advantages of new wheels?
Lighter or stronger?
A lighter wheel will make climbing and accelerating easier and quicker. Lightweight wheels will have a lower spoke count and narrow rims which will require narrower tyres. Narrower tyres will roll faster but will be less robust.
A stronger wheel will enable you to ride more confidently over rough terrain. These feature a higher spoke count and wider rims so you can fit wider tyres, these offer more grip but will be slower rolling. Check the tyre clearance on your frame before upgrading to wider tyres.
Wheels and Wheelsets
Wheels are either sold individually or in pairs known as wheelsets. Check the product description for more details.
If you would like some help choosing new wheels for your hybrid bike, then please contact us by phone on 01792 799508 or email info@tredz.co.uk
