DT Swiss GRC 1400 Spline: An aero wheelset for gravel bikes? Why not, because every watt counts, especially in long-distance races - and DT Swiss gets the maximum out of it with the help of colleagues.
With the DT Swiss GRC 1400 Spline, the Swiss are among the pioneers when it comes to “aero gravel”. The wheel specialist relies on the expertise of the colleagues from Swiss Side, whose wheel sets are particularly popular in triathlon. 42 mm rim depth and 32 mm maximum width are a rare sight off-road, and the values raise the question of whether aerodynamics even play a role in gravelling. Bikepackers with luggage mounts on the fork, handlebars, saddlebags and other bags will be dismissed here, but things are different for long off-road races: If you are dead straight into a headwind for kilometers, there are definitely noticeable performance savings. From an aerodynamic point of view, narrow tires are optimal, with the permissible minimum for DT carbon rims being 30 mm.
Wide hookless rim for tires from 30 mm
DT Swiss goes all out and even equips the top wheelset with internal spoke nipples; In addition, the carbon rims are characterized by a large inner width and hookless design. Both lead to the tire bulging laterally just a few millimeters beyond this, and even with reduced pressure, the good lateral support of the tires is noticeable when cornering. The fact that certain tire pressures must not be exceeded with hookless rims is not a problem - 5 bar with 30 mm and 2 bar with 69 mm are already quite a lot for the respective tire width.
The Schwalbe tubeless tires can be pressed over the edge of the rim with moderate effort and can be filled with a conventional floor pump. In view of the voluminous rims, the weight of the wheelset is pleasantly low at 1.630 grams. When driving, this is noticeable with neutral handling and light-footed acceleration; in addition, the DT Swiss GRC roll off smoothly. With their double-crossed straight pull spokes, the wheels feel stiff and solid under both acceleration and braking. DT Swiss uses its high-quality 240s hubs with a 36x toothed disc freewheel, which in turn is ideal for gravel bikes. It is clear that the overall package cannot be cheap - but there is also an aero gravel wheel set without compromises.
Specification DT Swiss GRC 1400 Spline
| rim type | Hookless |
| jaw width | 24 mm |
| rim depth | 40 mm |
| Rim width | 32 mm |
| Spokes | Straightpull flat spokes, threaded |
| spoke count | 24 RV / 24 HR |
| lacing | Crossed twice |
| freewheel type | Sprocket Materials: |
| tire width | 30 to 69 mm |
| Front wheel weight | 760 grams |
| Rear wheel weight | 850 grams |
| Price | 1.957 € |
