Hooked or hookless when in comes to Ali rims?

[SteelToe]

As per title - this is not a debate about burping tyres or tyres flying off.

Usage: gravel 45mm tyres, exclusively tubeless.

Would you go with hooked or hookless rims when buying from Ali vendors? This doesn’t apply to “high end” Ali offerings but rather “mid range” in Ali terms @ ~$400USD.

AFAIK, hooked carbon rims are more complex to manufacture - different moulding, fibre layering etc.
I’m hoping to get a product that is less likely to have defects - this points towards the hookless option in my opinion.

What do you think? Have you had issues with hookless Chinese rims relating to the bead seat design?

[raisinberry777]

This is a joke, right? For the same price, you would always - always - choose hooked (particularly from a Chinese manufacturer).

[SteelToe]

Asking for this very reason - because I'm not sure.

[pushpush]

It is impossible to respond to this thread honestly without entering the debate about burping tires and tires flying off and dangerous accidents. So I'm not going to. But....... get the hooked ones.

[TommyGun]

If you have both options, definately hooked ones.
There is no benefit to hookless ones. It least that you would noticed on a ride. But you would get potential danger of well known hookless problems. Now, probably not, as procentige is very small, but why risk it?

[kbernstein]

aliexpress or not, hooked is a nobrainer. zero reason to ever choose hookless

[lidation]

My opinion is that you should go with hooked rims from any vendor, especially from AliExpress

[jonathanf2]

For tubeless gravel I'd go hookless! I much prefer the squared tire profile of a hookless rim. Handling-wise it just feels stiffer on cornering and I can push harder on the turns. You'll never run 45c tires beyond 40psi. Mounting a gravel tire onto a hookless rim is even harder than a hooked rim. Unless you're doing 30 foot plus hard drops, that tire will never come off.

Even with wide internal width rim, a hooked rim will still have a bulbous tire profile. Road is a different matter, but for wide profile gravel tires I think hookless is great.

[Tijoe]

I am hooked on hookless!  Every single 29er/700C carbon rim I own is hookless.   I started riding hookless rims in 2021.  My grave bike, my 29er hard-tail, my bikepacking rigs and Full suspension bikes all have hookless.   Not a single problem. 

[jonathanf2]

I forgot to mention, it's easier to bead a gravel tire on a hookless rim. For me it just requires a regular floor pump.

[SteelToe]

For tubeless gravel I'd go hookless! I much prefer the squared tire profile of a hookless rim. Handling-wise it just feels stiffer on cornering and I can push harder on the turns. You'll never run 45c tires beyond 40psi. Mounting a gravel tire onto a hookless rim is even harder than a hooked rim. Unless you're doing 30 foot plus hard drops, that tire will never come off.

Even with wide internal width rim, a hooked rim will still have a bulbous tire profile. Road is a different matter, but for wide profile gravel tires I think hookless is great.

Although technically it is a gravel setup (Cube NuRoad Pro 2025) I use it for cardio / training - so a lot of tarmac and some very light gravel / general riding. Not sure if a square profile is good for paved roads?

Stock: Alexrims GRX25P 28H Novatec D981/2SB-SL with GK SS 45mm (measuring 48). That wheelset is at least 1,800g, could be up to 2kg (which wouldn't surprise me - stock wheelset on my Chisel 2022 were about that).

Looking at ~1,400g Ali offerings, this caught my eye: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005011686393018.html Going with 35mm depth asymmetric option, the specs seem to be ok for the money.

[CycOps]

@SteelToe - do you ask for rims a pair around 400 or a full wheel set for that price?

[jonathanf2]

Although technically it is a gravel setup (Cube NuRoad Pro 2025) I use it for cardio / training - so a lot of tarmac and some very light gravel / general riding. Not sure if a square profile is good for paved roads?

Stock: Alexrims GRX25P 28H Novatec D981/2SB-SL with GK SS 45mm (measuring 48). That wheelset is at least 1,800g, could be up to 2kg (which wouldn't surprise me - stock wheelset on my Chisel 2022 were about that).

Looking at ~1,400g Ali offerings, this caught my eye: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005011686393018.html Going with 35mm depth asymmetric option, the specs seem to be ok for the money.

I don't think the slightly squared profile will be an issue. From my experience the contact patch will be slightly wider and the sidewalls will be a bit stiffer. There's no real downside for road and more advantageous for loose terrain.

I have Easedon road wheels with regular spokes that ride great. Though I think there was some issues with their asymmetric gravel rims. There was a post regarding the problem on here. I'd do a search if you want to read up on it.

[SteelToe]

@SteelToe - do you ask for rims a pair around 400 or a full wheel set for that price?

A complete wheelset as per the Ali link, plus shipping, less Ali discounts.

[SteelToe]

I don't think the slightly squared profile will be an issue. From my experience the contact patch will be slightly wider and the sidewalls will be a bit stiffer. There's no real downside for road and more advantageous for loose terrain.

I have Easedon road wheels with regular spokes that ride great. Though I think there was some issues with their asymmetric gravel rims. There was a post regarding the problem on here. I'd do a search if you want to read up on it.

Yes - I did read that thread, Easedon assured me that there won't be any issues.

Paying through PayPal, plus Ali customer protection and 3 year warranty from the seller - hopefully there won't be any problems.