Why Asymmetric Design?
Asymmetric
design is becoming a new trend in mountain bike rims.
Wheelsets
built with asymmetric rims are of better strength, stiffness and durability.
The main advantage of asymmetric rim is: it
helps to equalize the spoke tensions between drive side and
non-drive side of
wheels.
How? Please refer to below illustration:
In mountain bike wheelsets with disc brake,
the center of rear hub (Point A) is not in the same position of the center of flange (Point B). The center of hub (point A) is closer to the drive-side. During wheel truing, in order to get hub to the center
of rim, the spokes are pulled to higher tension on drive side (compared to non-drive
side).
Similarly, in MTB front wheel, the center of hub
is closer to the disc rotor side (non-drive side), which makes the non-drive
side spoke tension higher than drive side.
The spoke tension difference is normally as
large as 40%! Such big difference makes the wheelset weaker as it could be.
As
the higher spoke tension side always break easier, while the lower spoke
tension side always loose easier.
Asymmetry rims are made to solve such issue.
In asymmetric wheels, the bracing angles are
improved by make the nipple holes offset to the center.
Thus, the spoke tension between drive side
and non-drive side is much more equalized.
Our asymmetric rims are with 2.6~3.5mm offset
from the center (a bit different for different width of rim), which helps to improve the spoke tension over 20%.
Therefore, wheelsets build with our asymmetric rims are of better
strength, stiffness, and will stay true longer.
