The Best Mountain Bike Wheels
Looking for the best mountain bike wheels for your ride? We've purchased and tested dozens of wheelsets over the past several years, and these are the most compelling options we've found through our rigorous testing and comparison process. Wheels dramatically affect ride quality, and upgrading the stock wheels on your bike can seriously improve the overall performance and handling. With so many options on the market today, deciding on a new set of wheels can be overwhelming. This review focuses on the carbon and alloy wheelsets we found most worthy of your consideration. We found ugly lines, brutal climbs, and big hits to put them to the test. Over dirt, sandstone, granite, and gravel, we found berms, jumps, rock gardens, and technical lines to parse out the differences so you can find what best fits your riding style and budget.
Hungry for more great MTB reviews? You'll need some tires for those wheels, and we've got recommendations on the best mountain bike tires, too. For more great bike gear, check out our comprehensive reviews on everything from mountain bikes to bike computers and top-rated mountain bike helmets to see which brands and products come out on top.
Editor's Note: We updated our mountain bike wheel review on December 12th, 2024, with the addition of the RaceFace ERA wheelset.