Easton is no stranger to tubeless, but up to this point their tubeless wheels have required proprietary parts to allow for a solid rim bed. While solid rim beds are more airtight for better tubeless performance, they required proprietary dual threaded nipples which resulted in a wheel that was not consumer serviceable in most cases. Of course, the design also required specific parts which could be harder to come by in case of a failure.
Deciding to ditch the previous tubeless design, Easton is introducing their first tubeless ready wheel set with the EA90SL. Available in rim or disc brake models, the tubeless ready nature of the rim allows for Easton to also offer the rims separately. If that wasn’t enough to catch your attention, the EA90SLs are also wider and lighter to check as many boxes as possible…
No longer relying on the solid rim channel for the tubeless option, the new 19.5 mm internal width rim relies on a more conventional tubeless tape to seal off the spoke holes. Outside the aluminum rims are 24mm wide with a 27 mm deep, rounded, Fantom inspired profile made to be as stiff and impact resistant as possible.
The standard straight pull, double butted, Sapim spokes and nipples are laced in 20/f and 24/r with the rim brake wheelset built with a radial/1x-2x pattern while the disc brake version sees 3x lacing front and rear. The disc brake wheelset runs the M1 hubset which ships with 9×100 and 10x135mm QR axle configurations but is upgradable to 15×100 and 12×135/142 with parts that are sold separately. Claimed weight for the disc set is listed at 1570 g.
The dedicated rim brake set uses all of the same tubeless tech, rim shape, and spokes but adds a rim brake specific rim and the Easton Echo hubset. Weight for the EA90SL wheelset is claimed at 1490g.
Called the R90 SL and R90 SL Disc, the rim only options provide a tubeless ready solution in 24 (rim only), 28, and 32 holes. Otherwise, the 24 mm external width, 24mm internal width, and 27 mm height remains the same and both rims are manufactured from EA90 aluminum with a welded construction. Coming in at 445 g for the disc option and 455 g for the rim brake version, both rims are anodized black with vinyl decals. Pricing and availability TBA.
