Derby Carbon DH 35I Disc Rim
The Derby DH 35i is the wide enduro and downhill rim from Derby: 34.5mm inside for 2.5 to 2.8in tires, hookless 3mm-thick walls and tubeless retention ridges, in Derby's DH layup with more carbon at the bead and spoke bed and a 300lb rider rating. Made in the USA by a small shop who pioneered wide carbon mountain rims, it is the rim for enduro and downhill bikes on wide tires and for heavy riders who want the biggest footprint.
This page covers the Derby Carbon DH 35I Disc Rim in 29in, 27.5in. The Derby DH 35i comes from us only as a finished wheel: pick the hub, spokes and nipples, and we lace, tension and true it by hand in Georgia before it ships.
Design and construction
The rims are simple in the way good carbon rims are: a shallow hookless section with walls thick enough that a rock strike squeezes the tire rather than cutting it, a bead seat with a retention ridge that keeps a tubeless tire on at 18 psi, and a layup that puts the carbon where the loads are. The 30i takes 2.0 to 2.3in tires happily and 2.6in tires without complaint. The TR layup is for trail and all-mountain; the DH layup adds material for enduro and downhill and is rated for riders up to 300lb.
How it rides
A Derby DH 35i wheel with a 2.6in tire takes the biggest hits a gravity bike sees and keeps the tire on the rim at low pressure. It is heavier than the TR 35i and far lighter than an alloy rim of its width and strength. For 2.3 to 2.5in tires the DH 30i is lighter; for 2.8 to 3.0in the DH 40i is wider; for enduro and downhill on 2.5 to 2.8in tires, the DH 35i is the Derby rim we recommend.
Specifications
| Wheel size | 29in, 27.5in |
|---|---|
| ERD | 583 (29in), 543 (27.5in) |
| Inner width | 34.5 mm |
| Depth | 31 mm |
| Drillings | 32h |
| Weight | 630g (700c/29in), 580g (650b/27.5in) |
| Material | Carbon Fiber |
| Tire type | clincher tubeless compatible |
| Brake | Disc |
| Profile | Triangle |
| Nipples | External |
| Finishes | black |
About this listing
Version notes. 29in, 27.5in, 32h, about 630g, 34.5mm inside, 31mm deep, disc. The other sizes and brake versions of the DH 35i have their own listings; this page is for this one.
This is the disc-brake DH 35i: plain sidewalls, no brake track to wear, a touch lighter. It fits any disc-brake bike and it is the version most of our customers now build; the rim-brake version is a separate listing.
Sizes, fit and compatibility
The Derby Carbon DH 35I Disc Rim comes in 29in, 27.5in and 32h drilling. It is a disc-brake rim. We build the DH 35i on Industry Nine Hydra 2, DT Swiss 350, Hope Pro 5, Onyx Classic and Chris King MTB hubs in Boost spacing, usually with Sapim Race, Strong or CX-Sprint spokes or DT Competition and Alpine III, and brass nipples.
Tire range on the DH 35i is 2.5 to 2.8in, tubeless-ready tires only on the hookless bead. Pick downhill or e-bike as your bike type in the configurator and it recommends a spoke count and lacing pattern.
Build a wheel around it
Offered for mountain bike, MTB single-speed and fat bike builds in our Custom Wheel Program. Start with the DERBY CARBON DH 35i DISC RIM and the configurator pins it for you, then checks each choice you make against it.
Spoke head is decided by the hub, not the rim: this rim builds equally well with J-bend or straight-pull spokes, and the configurator only offers the spokes that match the hub you pick.
Testing, standards and warranty at Derby
Derby Rims, based in Utah, designs its carbon rims in the US and has a partner factory in Asia make them; Derby states its rims were the first carbon rims strong enough for aggressive mountain bikers when it started in 2012. Derby publishes no laboratory impact or fatigue figures; it relies on ride testing. Derby states the Sol Rider line was tested by dozens of extreme MTB riders over 3 years with zero failures, including DH and Enduro racing and 35 foot gap jumps from 2018, and that the first Sol Rider was cracked in 2023 after more than 5 years. The Sol Rider uses Derby's Solstice layup, alternating a US-designed plastic composite fiber UD with UD carbon fiber; Derby states the plastic layers stretch under hard impacts to stop micro-fracturing, and that it was first with 3 mm thick hookless rim walls and bead seat retention ridges.
Derby's warranty is lifetime to the original owner: first replacement free within 5 years of purchase, later replacements 50% off MSRP; secondary owners get 50% off MSRP crash replacement regardless of age. Photos and serial number are required.
Certifications
- Warranty — Lifetime warranty to the original owner: first replacement free within 5 years of purchase, subsequent replacements 50% off MSRP; secondary owners 50% off MSRP warranty/crash replacement regardless of age; receipt, photos and serial number required (source)
Sources on Derby's site:
- Derby Rims - Rim Specs
- Derby Rims - Sol Rider
- Derby Rims - History
- Derby Rims - Terms, Warranty, Returns
- Derby Rims - FAQ
The figures, certificates and media above are Derby's own. ProWheelBuilder does not run these tests; our part is the wheel we build on the rim.
Building it at ProWheelBuilder
Derby makes the DH 35i; ProWheelBuilder is an independent wheel builder in Georgia, not the manufacturer. We measure the rim before we cut a spoke, bring the wheel up in three or four rounds with a gauge, stress-relieve it between rounds and true it last, then tape it and fit a valve if you want it tubeless.
Only compatible hubs and spokes appear in the configurator, impossible combinations are struck through rather than hidden, and the price is live.
Warranty
Manufacturer's warranty. Derby warrants this product against defects in materials and workmanship. The duration, conditions and claim process are set by Derby and can change without notice, so ask us and we will confirm the current terms before you buy.
ProWheelBuilder. Lace this into a wheel here and the finished wheel gets our own one-year warranty as well as the maker's. For twelve months we replace broken spokes however they broke, and the work on the wheel is on us - truing, re-tensioning, a rebuild where it is needed. If the rim or hub is covered by its manufacturer we put the claim in and chase it; if it is not, we supply an eligible replacement rim or hub at 25% off the current retail price. Carriage both ways is the customer's, and this does not cover wheels built from parts you send in.
Full terms are on our Policies & Warranty page.
Carbon DH 35I Disc Rim questions
What tire width suits this rim?
34.5mm inside is an enduro width, meant for 2.3 to 2.6in tires. It gives a big casing a square, supported profile so you can drop pressure for grip without the tire folding, which is the whole point of a rim this wide.
Which spokes and nipples suit the DH 35i?
For most riders a double-butted spoke such as Sapim Race or DT Competition with brass nipples; lighter riders can go to Sapim Laser or CX-Ray. The configurator recommends a gauge and count for the DH 35i from your bike type and weight.
DH or TR layup?
DH for enduro, downhill, park, e-bikes and riders over about 200lb; TR for trail and all-mountain where its lighter layup is plenty.
Is it tubeless-ready?
Yes. Derby lists the Carbon DH 35I Disc Rim as clincher tubeless compatible; we tape and fit a valve when you choose the tubeless option.
Which spoke count should I choose?
It depends on your weight, terrain and the hub, not the rim alone. The configurator recommends a count from your bike type and rider weight, within the drillings this rim is made in.
How long will the wheel take?
Build time comes down to parts availability rather than bench time. The estimated ship date is shown in the configurator before you check out.
Not sure? Text or leave a voicemail on 470-253-0929 or email info@prowheelbuilder.com — you will be talking to the people who build the wheels.
