Today, Giant has introduced two brand-new mountain bike wheelsets, the TRX and TRA and both share the very same technologies. However, they differ in that the former comes with a carbon composite rim while the latter is alloy. While it's great to see two wheelsets offer the very same features at different price points, both are built with increased pinch flat protection and impressive 72-tooth pawl freehubs. Here are all of the details.

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Both the TRX and TRA wheelsets have been put to the test under Giant's enduro athletes and are designed to offer superb durability to both the rims and the tyres. That's because both wheelsets come with Giant's new Wide Guard tech that's designed to reduce rim damage under impact and avoid pinch flats. 

This is done by widening the rim's beads to 5mm in width, making the contact point between the tyre and rim fatter. Not only does this reduce the risk of pinch flats, but the thicker construction should result in a stronger rim. Giant even goes as far as to say that riders won't need to install tyre inserts.

2023 giant tra trx wheelset wide guard.jpg, by Liam Mercer

The brand claims that this tech works too, having tested the new TRA and TRX rims against the old TRI and TRX, DT Swiss's XC481, and Zipp's 3Zero Motor wheels, stating that the new hoops outperform the others by up to 44 per cent. A bold claim indeed.

Along with that cool Wide Guard tech, the new rims come with 30mm internal rim widths complete with 5mm side walls which should boost traction thanks to the ability to run lower tyre pressures. There's then a 21mm rim depth that the brand says offers better compliance.

Both of the new wheelsets are kitted with new freehubs that feature a 72-tooth pawl driver which is paired with an oversized drive-side hub body bearing, axle and ring nut to improve stiffness and durability. Giant has tested the hub, too, claiming five times greater durability compared to a couple of others on the market.

2023 giant tra trx wheelset riding.JPG, by Liam Mercer

There are e-MTB-specific wheelsets on offer alongside the regular MTB wheels. These get a freehub that's optimised for the rigours of e-bikes with strengthened steel axles and the freehub gets the same treatment. 

• www.giant-bicycles.com

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