Do you Prefer Carbon or Aluminum Wheels?

When it comes to mountain bike wheels, do you like carbon or aluminum?

By Matt Miller
October 1, 2023 Last Updated: January 12, 2024

17 comments

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An aluminum Reserve wheel. Photo: Matt Miller

Just like mountain bike frames, there are big differences between alloy and carbon mountain bike wheels, and neither is outright better than the other. Carbon tends to be stiffer, more responsive, and more expensive. Alloy wheels are usually more forgiving and less expensive, but usually don’t have the responsiveness of carbon.

And in a lot of cases, we just ride whatever came on our bike because that’s what our wallet is happiest with. But, if you had to choose one material for your wheelset, would it be carbon or alloy?

Tell us why you like one or the other in the comments below.

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17 Comments

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Flynkiwi Idaho // 2023
Oct 1, 2023

Bike park = alloy
anywhere elsewhere carbon.
Main factor in buying any rim is the warranty. If you haven’t got reserve alloys your missing out. $800 life time warranty.

2 reply

MikeyO Michigan // 2017
Oct 1, 2023

Carbon hands down, but we are talking real money. The whole point of flying down the trail is responsiveness, so Carbon will always win, the only hang up is the cost, so the question is not fair to ask in the first place. Goes the same for similar questions, of course I want a Fox 38, and a set of carbon wheels, but right there is $4,000 out the door. Used to buy the best mountain bike for under $4k ten years ago, now that won’t even get you a mid level bike, but $12,000 might get you in the ball park, college for kids or bike, I think I’ll take the $100!

gerryg New Mexico // 2019
Oct 7, 2023

Carbon bikes Fezzari Delano Peak Comp for $3200 is a good starter mid-level with room to grow, and their Elite is $4400, or their enduro La Sal Elite (SRAM) for $4000. There's a couple other brands with good bikes in this range, too. I think some folks just don't know about them. Add the carbon wheels (eventually) and you're set.

-2 reply

davidmarkweitzman California // 2017
Oct 1, 2023

Have never used carbon wheels so wouldn’t know the difference.

Flying_fish Michigan // 2023
Oct 1, 2023

I like carbon because they stay true almost indefinitely and don't pick up dings from small tire bottom outs. I don't even ride that hard and every alloy rim I've owned (at least on the rear) eventually picks up small dings, which are problematic if you're anal about wheel trueness. The weight/performance alone isn't a big enough deal for me to spring for carbon, but satisfying my wheel ocd is well worth it.

Sunspot Colorado // 2019
Oct 1, 2023

I lace my wheels and use a dial indicator for more than just rotor truing.
Of the wheel builds I have done over the last 40 years, unless they are cased, they tend to stay true. I have laced up plastic rims for friends that are staying true however, they do crack with a hit eventually. I have seen a few that were literally broken from a hard hit.

Proper wheel building requires equal tension on all spokes. All spokes must be pre-stressed or the wheel will (Not may) loose true and it is gauaranteed to break spokes.

Bulls in China shops need not apply!

0 reply

kunarider Massachusetts // 2021
Oct 3, 2023

Answer: "I don't know" is missing from the options. Good topic, thought.

1 reply

Carbon wheels are so bloated in price at this stage of the game, I cannot even think of using them. Frankly, my fleet is 18 bikes. If they do away with the shattering properties and bring the price down to earth, perhaps.

andycb15 Illinois // 2022
Oct 1, 2023

Some carbon wheels now are made with thermoplastic resin, which should reduce the shattering. Revel's, for example.

SanDiegoMTB California // 2023
Oct 3, 2023

Carbon. I haven't touched my carbon Reserves in 3 years and over 4500 miles riding some pretty gnarly stuff. Still true, although pretty scratched up.

P..s. Reserve Fillmore valves FTW!

Vincent_e Arkansas // 2023
Oct 2, 2023

I ride both. I fall into that category of riders who ride hard enough to dent alloy hoops, but not hard enough to break carbon hoops (or- I’ve only done that once in 4 years and it was covered under warranty by WAO) … I still slightly prefer the ride feel of aluminum wheels and use a set I built up several years ago on my SS hardtail. But I don’t love how many dents they’ve picked up over the years. I ride a bit harder on my FS bike and destroy rims faster, so I’ve switched to carbon for that bike and really appreciate the extra durability, lower maintenance, and lightly reduced weight.

jglide Georgia // 2010
Oct 5, 2023

Carbon

Some aluminum wheels feel sluggish and zap energy in getting rolling. Never going back to aluminum wheels on my MTB or Gravel bike

Matt Dunn Colorado // 2022
Oct 2, 2023

I voted depends. I love carbon wheels on CX/gravel bikes, but I am not willing to go through the pain (and cost) of breaking them on my mountain bikes.

JSTootell 2017
Oct 21, 2023

I was destroying alloy wheels on average every three months. I had a wheel last me a day, and I another last me a year (also by far the heaviest build I have done). I picked up some hoops on sale a few years ago and built them up, and they are still holding up 3 years later. I have destroyed plenty of tires since then, experimented with inserts and without (now run a DH casing in the back, DD front), but the wheels are still good. Probably paid for themselves now in replacement value a couple of times, and saved me countless hours in NOT having to build or buy new wheels, and the associated downtime (I ride a lot).

Topher Osborn 2019
Oct 2, 2023

I’m a big believer in low rational weight, I still haven’t found a personal need for carbon hoops.

Alloy wheels have gotten very light and very good. In fact my gravel and road wheels are lighter than most carbon wheels of higher price points.

I have no problem keeping up with mates on a climb and I’m not a professional racer. So I suppose I just haven’t been able to justify a $1600 - $2000 wheel set yet. I’m still enjoying alloy.

All of my bikes are steel frames. So I’ve also never felt compelled to look for ways to increase compliance. I get buttery smooth riding out of all of them as is.

So for my personal circumstance, carbon has felt unnecessary. But I’m certainly not opposed to carbon if I find a great deal in the future while replacing wheels. Just haven’t yet found the need.

RemyMac Colorado // 2022
Oct 2, 2023

My preference is carbon, but I'm most likely to buy aluminum, especially now that a couple of brands are offering lifetime warranties on the full aluminum wheel.

RonniePivot Georgia // 2014
Oct 5, 2023

Once I got on a set of Reynolds carbon wheels I knew I'd never go back to anything else. My first set came as an option on my build and I'm on my second set, (on another bike, the first set is still going strong at 7 years old, have had to replace spokes though).

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