Mercury Wheels

X3 Enduro 29in Wheelset

The mountain bike cup has runneth over with tire size options in the past few years. The benefits to trail rubber's ever expanding waistline are obvious with the first rock garden, but some of the bigger tires making the rounds feel sloppy because narrow rims make them sit a bit too tall. Mercury Wheels' generously wide X3 Enduro 29in Wheelset provides a platform that's wide enough to let those sub-plus tires expand laterally.

Given Mercury's ambitious approach to dimensions, it's important to stress that when we write "wide," we mean capital-w Wide. The X3 Enduro's 29mm internal width is enough to almost swallow most models of so-called high volume rims. That width lets plump tires — which can feel unconnected and floppy on narrower rims — sit low and wide instead of tall and narrow, creating a plush platform that doesn't sacrifice trail touch or feel floppy during low-speed maneuvers. The wider rim also boosts stiffness, helping you power up climbs and stick lines while coming down the other side.

Having dabbled in all the new radness, we think tires around 2.5in are the future of all-mountain riding, and the X3 Enduro is well-suited to that width, so they're pretty much future-proof on the tire front. The hubs are also convertible to different axle standards, so the wheels will be able to rock whatever new dimensions the industry comes up with in the next few years.