Rolling Stock: MAVIC XM819 DISC

Wheels and tyres are without doubt oneof the most important parts on any bike, swapping from one set to another can completely transform a bike. out of the two, tyres are possibly the simplest choice, but even hen you’ve got a whole load of decisions to make. Every tyre is compromised in some way, whether it be low weight vx. puncture resistance, or grip vs. rolling resistance. making that decision about where to draw the line is a bit of a personal one, but the following tyres are ones that we feel get that balance right in certain conditions.

As for wheels you again have to decide about weight vs. durability, but then you also have to choose between soe off-the-peg ones…or building a custom wheelset. It’s difficult to say which is better, as you can get good and bad examples of both, but what we can tell you is that if you choose any of the following products you won’t be disappointed.

If you’re after a tubeless rim for general blatting about then Mavic’s XM819 Disc is the one. Despite it not being the widest rim of its kind out there it’s still wide enough for a 2.3” tyre, and it’s got enough strength to cope with more than the odd lairy moment. The threaded eyelet system for the spokes does make them a bit of a pig to build, but for most of you that’s probably irrelevant anyway cos you won’t be building them as a professional will. Even if you are lacing them up yourself, once you’ve done it you shouldn’t have to do it again for ages. There may be a lot of cheaper rims about, but with these are quality through and through, and it shows in use.

Price: £54.99
www.mavic.com