Here at Hunt Bike Wheels, we understand that not everyone who is looking to purchase our wheels is interested in all things bike tech - and nor should they be! We want to make sure that it's as straightforward as possible for our riders to go ahead and buy the correct pair for their bike, so we've put together this guide. Think of it as a list of the important bits to double-check before ordering, so that when the wheels arrive, they're ready to be ridden - after all, that's the fun bit!


Brake Type

  • If you're browsing our Road or Tri/TT wheels, you'll need to consider brake type - does your bike have rim or disc brakes? Please browse the relevant web page. If you're considering some new Gravel or Mountain wheels this isn't a concern as we only sell disc brake wheels for those disciplines.
  • If using disc brakes, please check your current rotor fitting. This will be a centre-lock or 6 bolt fitting. Our Road and Gravel wheels use a centre-lock fitting, but we have adaptors available for 6 bolt rotors. Please check the webpages for our Mountain wheels as the options vary between models.

Rim

Disc


Wheel Diameter

  • Another important thing to check is the diameter of wheels that your bike uses. Nearly all Road bikes take 700c wheels, whilst Gravel and Mountain bike wheel sizes vary - this is reflected in our range: 
    • Our Road and Tri/TT wheels are available in 700c
    • Our Gravel wheels are available in 700c or 650b 
    • Our Mountain wheels are available in 29” or 27.5" (also known as 650b)
  • Note, our webpages clearly state the size of each wheel.  


Tyre Clearance

  • It's important that the wheel and tyre combination that you select has enough clearance with your frame and forks.
  • Please measure the narrowest part of your forks and chain stays.  This can be done by checking the measurements of your current wheels and tyres and then comparing this with our handy fitted tyre width table. Please note, we are continually adding to this resource but due to the sheer number of brands on the market, it is not comprehensive. Therefore, please speak to your tyre manufacturer directly to get specific and accurate information on mounted tyre width. A handy rule of thumb is a tyre comes up around 1mm wider than it's stated size when mounted.
  • At least 3mm clearance is recommended on either side for Road, Gravel and Tri/TT wheels. 
  • Mountain wheels typically require more clearance as there is less pressure in the tyre, resulting in increased tyre deformation. Not to mention the added width from all that mud that sticks to them when riding in the wet!


Freehub Type

  • Once you've checked that the wheel you'd like has the correct brake type, is the correct diameter and has appropriate clearance with your bike, you'll need to check which freehub you require. 
  • The freehub is the mechanism that enables your drivetrain to engage with the wheel when you're pedalling, to move you forward, but then disengage when you stop pedalling, so that the bike can coast. It also has a set of splines on its outer surface, onto which the cassette is mounted. The design of these splines varies depending on the drivetrain brand, number of gears and number of teeth on those gears - this is why we need to make sure we're sending your wheels out with the correct freehub installed. 
  • You can find out which freehub you need by either checking which cassette you are using (or plan to use), or by checking your bike specifications online. As above, you'll need to know:
    • The brand of cassette
    • The number of gears on the cassette
    • The number of teeth on the smallest gear
  • Once you know which cassette you will be using with the wheels, this page will show you what freehub you require.
  • The correct freehub will need to be selected from the drop down menu on the wheel's webpage.
  • If you are unsure, please get in touch with our Rider Experience team. Please prepare for this by having a link to your bike or cassette ready, so that our team can help you as quickly as possible.


Wheel with a Sram/Shimano freehub installed


Axle Type and Sizing

  • The final piece of the puzzle is selecting the correct axle type for your bike. After checkout on our website, we will email you a confirmation and ask you to complete a form telling us what the axle requirements are for your frame and fork. This will help us choose the correct axle adapters, or end caps, for your wheels. 
  • We've put together this article that explains this step of the process in more detail, but to summarise:
    • If your bike is using rim brakes, you don’t need to think about this - nearly all rim brake bikes and wheels use the same fittings (Quick Release, or QR). We’ll send your wheels with the parts you need to fit them to your bike.
    • Disc brake bikes are compatible with either QR or Thru-Axles. You can tell if your frame and fork are designed for quick release or a thru-axle by looking at how the wheels are attached. A thru-axle holds the wheel in a closed (or O-shaped) dropout, whilst a QR skewer holds a wheel in an open (or U-shaped) dropout.
    • If you're after QR wheels, we'll usually supply skewers with your order. However, thru-axle wheels will need to use the axles supplied with the bike, frame or fork as these are usually brand-specific.
    • If your bike uses thru-axles, you'll need to confirm which size. The important bits to check are:
      • The diameter of the axle or dropouts in the frame and fork
      • The distance between the dropouts
    • These measurements can usually be found on your bike specifications online, or by direct measurement of your frame and fork.
    • Common thru-axle sizes for modern bikes are:
      • Road, Tri/TT and Gravel bikes - 12x100mm on the front, 12x142mm on the rear
      • Mountain bikes - 15x110mm on the front, 12x148mm on the rear


And that's it! Please check these key things when ordering our wheels to ensure they'll fit your bike. If you still have questions, please reach out to us via email or LiveChat and our Rider Experience team will be happy to help you.