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.