DT Swiss XM481 Chris King hand-built wheelset

A DT Swiss XM481 rim set laced 28-spoke front and rear to Chris King hubs, built by hand in our Marrickville workshop, tensioned, stress-relieved and trued before it leaves the bench. Our Pro wheel build and tubeless tape fitted are included and show as two free lines in your cart.

Before you order — what your bike decides

  • Wheel size — 29", 27.5" or mullet; mullet means 29" front and 27.5" rear. Read it off your tyre sidewall.
  • Rear axle — Boost 12 × 148 only on this wheelset: measure the inside of the dropouts.
  • Front axle — Boost 15 × 110 only on this wheelset: check the fork lowers.
  • Rotor mount — Centre Lock only on this wheelset: check your rotors.
  • Cassette — the freehub body follows it: Shimano 12-speed MTB is Micro Spline, SRAM Eagle is XD, Shimano 11-speed and older (and CUES LG) is HG. Offered here: Shimano HG, Shimano Micro Spline or SRAM XD.

Colour: pick front and rear separately.

Who it is for

For trail and all-mountain riding. For enduro and bike-park use see the EX511 and FR541 kits; on an e-bike the Hybrid / Pro 5e versions.

The rider's questions

  • How much can it carry? Max system weight (rider, bike and gear) 120 kg — the DT Swiss XM481 rating, the lowest-rated part of the build.
  • What tyres fit? 2.1–2.7" tyres are DT's recommended range for a 30 mm inner width; 1.85"–2.05" and 2.8" are possible. The tyre's own maximum pressure applies; the rim sets none.
  • How fast does the hub engage? 72 points of engagement — Chris King RingDrive (72 points), 5° between clicks.
  • Warranty? DT Swiss parts 24 months from purchase; Chris King hubs under the King Lifetime Warranty for the original owner; our build work is guaranteed. Any claim comes back to Tune Cycles — see the Warranty tab.
  • How long does it take? Built to order from supplier stock — we confirm the build date by email when you order.
  • Colours? Hubs in Black, Silver, Black/Punch, Jet, Midnight, Slate or Violet; the rims are black.

Kit includes

Options: rim diameter 29", 27.5" or mullet · freehub Shimano HG, Shimano Micro Spline or SRAM XD · hub colour Black, Silver, Black/Punch, Jet, Midnight, Slate or Violet · tubeless valves (50 mm, up to 2).

Everything in the Wheelset box is built in. The rows under Upgrades are optional: tick what you want and the price updates. If you want us to lace a rim or hub you already own, that is a workshop job — contact us for a quote.

Sold separately (shown with this kit): tubeless sealant (Muc-Off No Puncture 140 ml), RT-CL700 180 mm Centre Lock rotor, a cassette for your freehub body, tyres to suit (sizes above). Rotors: one per wheel, to match your rotor mount and your brake caliper's size range.

How we build it

Every wheel is laced by hand in Marrickville, brought up to tension evenly to the lower of the rim and hub limits (1200 N), stress-relieved and trued, then checked again before it is packed. Tubeless tape (32 mm) is fitted to the rim; add valves and sealant and it is ready for tyres.

Tune Cycles builds and fits these wheels. If you are unsure what your frame, fork or drivetrain takes, ask us before you order.

DT Swiss rims are covered for 24 months from purchase against material and manufacturing defects (dtswiss.com/en/support/warranty); riding outside the rim's ASTM category voids it. Chris King hubs, bearings included, carry the King Lifetime Warranty against manufacturing defects for the original purchaser (chrisking.com/pages/king-lifetime-warranty). Our build — lacing, tension and truing — carries our workmanship guarantee. Any claim comes back to Tune Cycles: bring the wheel to Marrickville or contact us with your order number and we handle it with the brand. Wear, crash damage, corrosion and incorrect fitting are not covered.

  • DT Swiss XM481 rims — 30 mm internal, welded, PHR spoke bed, ASTM 4; 29", 27.5" or mullet
  • Chris King hubs — 72 points of engagement, Chris King RingDrive (72 points); Centre Lock; Boost 15 × 110 or Boost 12 × 148; freehub Shimano HG, Shimano Micro Spline or SRAM XD
  • Spokes — 28 × DT Competition front, 28 × DT Competition rear
  • Your bike's fit from the dropdowns: size, freehub, colour — nothing is pre-selected, choose each one
  • Hand-laced, tensioned, stress-relieved and trued in Marrickville — Pro wheel build and tubeless tape included (two free lines in your cart)
  • Editable kit: the Upgrades rows are optional and the price follows what you tick
  Front Rear
Rim DT Swiss XM481 DT Swiss XM481
Rim construction welded, PHR spoke bed welded, PHR spoke bed
Diameters offered 29", 27.5" or mullet 29", 27.5" or mullet
Internal width 30 mm 30 mm
Rim depth 21 mm 21 mm
ERD 27.5" 563 mm, 29" 601 mm 27.5" 563 mm, 29" 601 mm
Spoke holes 28H 28H
Hub Chris King Chris King
Axle Boost 15 × 110 Boost 12 × 148
Rotor mount Centre Lock Centre Lock
Freehub bodies — Shimano HG, Shimano Micro Spline or SRAM XD
Engagement — 72 POE — Chris King RingDrive (72 points)
Spokes 28 × DT Swiss Competition 2.0/1.8/2.0 double-butted black J-bend spokes 28 × DT Swiss Competition 2.0/1.8/2.0 double-butted black J-bend spokes
Tape fitted 32 mm tubeless tape 32 mm tubeless tape
Valves optional, 50 mm tubeless valves optional, 50 mm tubeless valves
Max spoke tension 1200 N 1200 N
Max system weight 120 kg (rider, bike and gear) 120 kg (rider, bike and gear)
Tyre width 2.1–2.7" recommended (53–69 mm) 2.1–2.7" recommended (53–69 mm)
Intended use Trail — ASTM 4 Trail — ASTM 4
Warranty DT Swiss parts 24 months from purchase; Chris King hubs under the King Lifetime Warranty for the original owner DT Swiss parts 24 months from purchase; Chris King hubs under the King Lifetime Warranty for the original owner
Built by Tune Cycles, Marrickville — Pro wheel build and tubeless tape included Tune Cycles, Marrickville — Pro wheel build and tubeless tape included
SKU WHL-BUILD-XM481-CK-28H
Brand DT Swiss

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