When you search online for fat bike wheels, you'll find numerous models and various options. This information can instantly make you more confused and create a sense of bewilderment. Therefore, this article is a complete guide on how to buy fat bike wheels. I hope it helps you choose the right fat bike wheels for your needs.

Choose the Correct Fat Bike Hub Width

Fat bike wheels have seen many changes in hub width. Initially, 135mm wide hubs, which were the standard for older mountain bikes, were offset. As fat bikes started gaining popularity, manufacturers began producing dedicated fat bike hubs.

The biggest game-changer was the transition to thru-axles. Thru-axles better support the weight of huge wheels. Previously, quick-release axles, which held fat bike wheels, could break. With the shift to thru-axles, fat bikes now use 15mm x 150mm front axles. There are some notable exceptions that still use 135mm offset front wheels, so you need to double-check what you are using.

For the rear end of fat bikes, there were several standards before settling on one of the majority's favorites. Most fat bikes now use 190mm or 197mm x 12mm thru-axles. Some will come with 190mm quick releases.

There's also a standard that fits between plus bikes and 5-inch tired fat bikes. This is a 10 or 12mm axle with a width of 170mm or 177mm. This option is typically found on bikes with tire clearance less than 5 inches. Again, some fat bikes use a completely different option: 142mm x 12mm.

Know Your Fat Bike Frame Clearance

The amount of clearance your fat bike frame has will tell you what rim width you need. For your convenience, please refer to our helpful chart.

Fat Bike Wheel Rim Material

When considering buying fat bike wheels, the rim material is also a crucial point. Good rims will help you ride smoother and make your fat bike wheels last longer.

Fat bike wheel rims tend to be made from either aluminum or carbon fiber. For rims up to 100mm, a lot of material is needed to make the rim. Many aluminum rims come with cutouts to reduce weight. One problem with cutouts is that they can make tubeless setup more problematic.

You might think you can stick to tubes and not worry about tubeless setup. However, that brings a whole host of other issues. You need to ride fat bikes at low pressure. You'll find you're very likely to get pinch flats. Changing tubes and pumping up tires on a fat bike is no fun.

But now there's a solution: carbon fiber rims. These rims are lighter and stronger than most aluminum rims. They also lack cutouts, making them easy to tape up and set up tubeless. They offer excellent weight reduction and even easier tubeless setup. You can buy fat bike wheel rims online.

Fat Bike Wheelset Spoke Count

Spokes are a critical part of a wheelset and impact the overall performance of the wheelset.

Generally speaking, lighter mountain wheels typically run 24-28 spokes per wheel, stronger off-road or all-mountain wheels use 28 spokes, and the strongest wheel systems typically use 32 spokes. These numbers are not fixed, but generally speaking, more spokes mean greater strength.

Therefore, when buying a fat bike wheelset, you need to know the spoke count, or the number of holes. The more spokes there are, the stronger your bike's wheelset will be.

Spokes also determine the feel of the wheel. Heavier spokes make the wheel stiffer but stronger, while lighter spokes do the opposite. For example, Sapim CX-Ray is an excellent spoke product due to its superior strength-to-weight ratio and is widely used in wheel construction. Sapim Force spokes are increasingly powerful for use in E-MTB and gravity-oriented wheel constructions.

Summary

This guide will help you avoid the pitfalls of buying the wrong size hubs for your fat bike. It's also a quick and easy guide to ensure you get the correct rim width for your tires. Now all you need to do is figure out if you can afford aluminum or carbon fiber rims. We recommend using carbon fiber because it offers lightweight, easy tubeless setup, and an improved riding experience on the trails.

ICAN offers a complete range of carbon fiber fat bikes, fat bike frames, and fat bike wheels. We support your cycling life.