DT Swiss XRC 1700 vs XRC 1500 vs XRC 1200
Three carbon wheelsets, one 2026 ASR T-Series. Here's how they compare, and which one to pick.
DT Swiss XRC 1700 vs XRC 1500 vs XRC 1200: which carbon wheelset for your Yeti ASR?
Every 2026 ASR T-Series we sell is built on DT Swiss XRC carbon wheels. The XRC 1700 is standard; the XRC 1500 and XRC 1200 are upgrades you can tick when you order. All three are 29", 30 mm internal, hookless, tubeless and Boost, with 54 points of engagement. What changes is the hubs, the spokes, the rim layup and the weight.
XRC 1700
The workhorse carbon wheel. Tough, easy to service, e-bike approved.
Included in the bike price
- 30 mm carbon hookless rim
- DT Swiss 350 hubs, Ratchet 54 SL (54 points of engagement)
- DT Competition Race spokes, 24/24
- 1,410 g claimed (29")
- Ratchet pulls out by hand for cleaning: the easiest DT hub to look after
Riders who want a carbon XC wheel that shrugs off everyday abuse and costs the least to run. Not chasing grams.
XRC 1500
The 1200's rim with 240 hubs. The sweet spot.
Add $700
- DT 'PURE carbon' hookless rim, 30 mm, front and rear specific. The same rim as the XRC 1200
- DT Swiss 240 hubs, Ratchet EXP 54
- DT Complite bladed spokes, 24/24
- 1,384 g claimed (29")
- XD and Micro Spline freehub bodies both in the box
Racers and fast trail riders who want the top-tier rim and the proven 240 hub without paying 1200 money. Most of the upgrade for a third of the price.
XRC 1200
DT's lightest XC wheel. 180 hubs, ceramic bearings.
Add $1,500
- DT 'PURE carbon' hookless rim, 30 mm, front and rear specific
- DT Swiss 180 hubs, Ratchet EXP 54, SINC ceramic bearings
- DT Revolite bladed spokes: DT's lightest MTB spoke
- 1,303 g claimed (29")
- XD and Micro Spline freehub bodies both in the box
Riders who want the lightest, most premium wheel DT makes on the bike, and will feel the difference on a long climb or a race start.
XRC 1700 vs 1500 vs 1200: the numbers side by side
| XRC 1700 | XRC 1500 | XRC 1200 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rim | Carbon hookless, 30 mm internal / 36 mm external / 20 mm deep. Same rim front and rear | PURE carbon hookless, 30 / 36 / 20 mm. Front- and rear-specific layup | PURE carbon hookless, 30 / 36 / 20 mm. Front- and rear-specific layup (same rim as 1500) |
| Hubs | DT Swiss 350 straightpull | DT Swiss 240 straightpull | DT Swiss 180 straightpull |
| Freehub | Ratchet 54 SL (two floating rings), 54 POE, 6.7° | Ratchet EXP 54 (one fixed ring, fewer parts), 54 POE, 6.7° | Ratchet EXP 54, 54 POE, 6.7° |
| Bearings | Steel cartridge | Steel cartridge | SINC ceramic |
| Spokes | DT Competition Race, round, double-butted. 24 front / 24 rear | DT Complite, bladed T-head. 24 / 24 | DT Revolite, bladed T-head (DT's lightest). 24 / 24 |
| Weight (claimed, 29" set) | 1,410 g | 1,384 g (−26 g) | 1,303 g (−107 g) |
| Axles / brake | 15×110 / 12×148 Boost, Center Lock | 15×110 / 12×148 Boost, Center Lock | 15×110 / 12×148 Boost, Center Lock |
| Freehub bodies | XD or Micro Spline (fitted to suit your build) | XD and Micro Spline both included | XD and Micro Spline both included |
| Rating | ASTM 3, 120 kg system weight, e-bike approved | ASTM 3, 120 kg system weight | ASTM 3, 120 kg system weight |
| Warranty | DT Swiss 2 years + Fair-Share crash replacement (10 years) | DT Swiss 2 years + Fair-Share crash replacement (10 years) | DT Swiss 2 years + Fair-Share crash replacement (10 years) |
| On your ASR T-Series | Included | + $700 | + $1,500 |
Specs and weights from dtswiss.com and DT dealer data, October 2026. Weights are DT's claimed figures for a 29" set.
What you actually feel on the trail
Engagement: identical across the three. Every XRC has 54 points, so the pedal pick-up feels the same whichever you choose.
Weight: 1700 to 1500 is 26 g, which you won't notice. 1500 to 1200 is another 81 g, most of it in the hubs, which is the kind of rotating weight you do notice on a long climb or when you stand up and sprint.
Stiffness and feel: the PURE carbon rim on the 1500 and 1200 has a different layup front and rear, so the front is tuned a touch more compliant and the rear stiffer. The 1700 uses one rim for both.
Living with them: the 350 hub on the 1700 is the simplest to service, with a ratchet you can pull out by hand. The 240 and 180 use Ratchet EXP with fewer parts. The bladed T-head spokes on the 1500 and 1200 need the matching DT spoke if you ever break one; we can supply them.
Head to head
XRC 1700 vs XRC 1500
Only 26 g apart on the scales, so this one isn't about weight. The 1500 gets you the 1200's PURE carbon rim (front- and rear-specific layups instead of one rim for both), DT's 240 hub with the simpler, stiffer Ratchet EXP internals, and bladed Complite spokes. The 1700 keeps the 350 hub, which is heavier but the easiest hub in the business to service, and it's the only one of the three DT rates for e-bikes.
If you race or you're the type who notices hubs, take the 1500. If you'd rather spend the $700 on tyres and a dropper, the 1700 is a very good wheel.
XRC 1500 vs XRC 1200
Same rim, same freehub design, same 54 points of engagement. What the extra $800 buys is DT's flagship 180 hub with ceramic bearings and Revolite spokes, and that takes another 81 g off the set. Rolling resistance and bearing life improve a little; the ride feel is near enough the same.
The 1200 is for riders who want the best, full stop. For most people the 1500 is where the value is.
XRC 1700 vs XRC 1200
Top to bottom of the range: 107 g lighter, a front- and rear-specific PURE carbon rim, 180 hubs with ceramic bearings and the lightest spokes DT makes. The engagement is identical (54 points on all three), so the 1200 doesn't pick up any quicker; it spins up quicker because there's less to spin.
Worth it if the ASR is your race bike. If it's your everyday bike, the 1700 or 1500 makes more sense.
What the reviewers say
Pinkbike frames the XRC 1700 as the practical carbon XC wheel: built for everyday durability and value on 350 hubs rather than chasing the lowest weight. "Affordable and tough enough for everyday use."Pinkbike, Seb Stott, April 2026
Blister notes the move to a 30 mm carbon rim drops around 260 g against the old alloy XR 1700, while keeping the proven Ratchet hub. The wheel "loses a ton of weight in the process."Blister, David Golay, April 2026
Bikerumor's first rides: the XRC 1500 is the lightest of the new 1500 line, using "the exact same light but tough 'pure carbon' rims" as the 1200 series, with 240 hubs and Complite spokes.Bikerumor, Cory Benson, April 2026
Pinkbike's first ride on the 1500 line: the step up from the 1700 is real (240 hubs, carbon rims, Complite spokes) but it costs roughly a thousand more per pair.Pinkbike, Seb Stott, April 2026
Five months on the current XRC 1200: balanced between stiff and compliant, never needed re-tensioning, and the 180 hubs were the standout. "Some of, if not the best XC wheels on the market."Worldwide Cyclery, Liam Woods, June 2024
Pinkbike found the new 1200 wheels lively and durable so far; the reservation is price, which sits around US$1,000 above comparable carbon wheelsets.Pinkbike, Mike Kazimer, June 2024
Questions people ask
Yes. Both use DT's PURE carbon hookless rim, 30 mm internal, with front- and rear-specific layups. The XRC 1700 has its own carbon rim at the same dimensions, with the same rim used front and rear.
They're the same. All three run a 54-tooth ratchet, which is 6.7 degrees between engagement points. The 1700 uses the classic two-ring Ratchet 54 SL; the 1500 and 1200 use Ratchet EXP, which has one fixed ring and fewer moving parts.
About 107 g per set on DT's claimed weights (1,303 g vs 1,410 g). The XRC 1500 sits in between at 1,384 g.
You can, but it's normally cheaper to tick the box now than to buy a second wheelset later, and you ride the better wheels from day one. If you're unsure, ask us before you order.
Everyday riding and the odd race: the XRC 1700 is a tough, easy-care carbon wheel. Racing or riding hard every week: the XRC 1500 gives you the top-tier rim and 240 hubs for $700. If you want the lightest build DT can offer, the XRC 1200 is the one.
Two years against defects, plus DT's Fair-Share crash replacement: for ten years after purchase a damaged carbon rim is replaced and the wheel rebuilt for a fixed fee. We handle the claim for you.
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