WTB is proud to present the company's first wheelset designed exclusively for use on e-mountain bikes. This is aimed at anyone who wants to focus on riding and not worry about whether their wheels will survive the ride. WTB's new HTZ wheels, with all their features, are specifically designed to withstand the stresses and strains of riding power e-mountain bikes and to be the most reliable e-mountain bike wheels on the market.

The HTZ i30 rim has a wall thickness that is up to 20 percent thicker than the already very stable KOM Tough Enduro rim. This ensures that the rims can withstand the additional forces of modern e-mountainbikes. However, more material does not automatically make for a more stable rim. An asymmetrical spoke offset enables a uniform spoke length and tension, while the symmetrical outer profile ensures a balanced distribution of shock loads on the rim. With the integration of the Solid Strip, the pronounced bead hook and On-Ramp, all the features of the TCS system are included to ensure a seamless interface between tire and wheel. These features result in a tubeless system that is very easy to install and is virtually immune to air loss even in the event of a broken spoke.

By now it should be clear that the HTZ rims are robust enough to withstand all the stresses and strains of e-mountain biking. However, it is generally known that the condition of the hub plays a decisive role in the long-term durability of a wheel. WTB's HTZ hubs feature a heat-treated steel freehub body that prevents scoring and failure of the pawl seats under load. The new hubs use a freehub system with six pawls that all engage simultaneously. This distributes the force generated when pedaling evenly across all pawls, which improves reliability on bikes with high-torque motors. The outer diameter of the rear axle sleeve has been increased from 15 millimetres to 17 millimetres. This increases durability, while the hub remains compatible with conventional 12 millimeter thru axles. In addition, the twisting of the axle when pedaling and cornering is reduced, which has a positive effect on the riding characteristics and the service life of the bearings. Double-row Enduro ball bearings on the inside of the freehub body further increase the durability and service life of the bearings. A heat sink behind the 6-hole brake rotor mount improves thermal conductivity on long descents by up to 10 percent, making thoughts of the additional weight of an e-mountain bike on downhill rides a thing of the past.

A direct comparison of the HTZ hubs with competitors' e-mountain bike hubs showed that the latter failed after 2,000 start-stop cycles, while the HTZ hubs withstood 40,000 test cycles. The difference between the hubs was that the competitors only used a steel freehub body to make them e-mountainbike-ready, whereas the new HTZ hubs were developed as a whole for use and loads on e-mountainbikes.

"E-mountain bikes allow you to ride steeper, further and faster than traditional bikes," says Mark Weir, former enduro champion and now e-mountain bike aficionado. "Stable and durable components are crucial to avoid defects on the trails. The HTZ wheels give me the added confidence that allows me to go on big tours without any worries."

The stability of a wheel is always determined by its weakest component, which is why the specifications of a complete wheel require just as much attention as the design of the components themselves. HTZ wheels use 2.3/2.0 millimeter thick, single-butted spokes, which improve the stiffness and durability of the wheel and counteract the higher braking and drive forces on the hub body.

Every HTZ wheel for the North American market is built by hand in our wheel factory in California, while wheels for the European market are also built by hand in Italy. At both locations, the wheels are pressed in a six-step process - the result: uniform spoke tension and worry-free riding, because the wheel is already free of uneven loads on the spokes at the factory, which can lead to a loss of tension while riding. Together with the mechanically tightened spoke nipples, this ensures that HTZ wheels maintain their tension and concentricity even during the most vigorous rides.

HTZ front wheels are available for €299.95 (RRP), rear wheels cost €399.95 (RRP). The hand-built HTZ wheels are now available in i30 x 27.5" and i30 x 29" versions in both North America and Europe.

wtb.com