DT Swiss 14G 16MM Brass Nipple
The DT Swiss 16mm brass nipple is the long version of DT's brass nipple for deep-section and thick-bed rims: a 14-gauge brass nipple for 2.0mm spoke threads, 16mm long so it reaches a wrench and keeps full thread engagement in a deep carbon or alloy rim, in black or silver. Silver is the classic bare-brass finish; black is a coating over the same brass that matches black spokes. Brass underneath either way, so it does not corrode or round off. This page covers the DT Swiss 14G 16MM Brass Nipple in both finishes.
We sell DT Swiss nipples only as part of a wheel we build. Choose your rim, hub and spokes in the configurator and the wheel ships from Georgia laced, tensioned and trued by hand.
Design and construction
A nipple is a small brass or aluminum nut with a slot or flats for a spoke wrench, a head that seats in the rim and an internal thread that mates with the spoke. DT Swiss machines its brass nipples to a tight thread tolerance so they run smoothly on DT's rolled spoke threads, and offers them with a standard head in 12mm, which suits most rims, and 16mm for deep rims and rims with thick beds. Silver brass is the classic; black is a coating over brass and matches black spokes. DT also makes Prolock versions with a thread-locking compound and the Squorx head, which its own rims ship with.
How it rides
Pick the finish to suit the wheel: black nipples on black spokes and a black rim disappear visually, silver is the classic look. On a deep rim the 16mm length is what keeps the wheel serviceable, because the nipple can still be reached with a wrench. The black coating can mark under a spoke wrench, which is why we use a four-sided wrench that grips the flats squarely.
Specifications
| Material | Brass |
|---|---|
| Type | External 16 |
| Finishes | black, silver |
This version
This listing is the brass 14-gauge 16mm version. Brass is the one to choose for durability, salt and carbon rims; it does not corrode, does not round off and turns in a spoke wrench a decade later. It is the heavier option by roughly 30 grams a wheel, and that is the whole of its downside. Brass also deforms very slightly as it seats, which lets it bed into the rim bed and sit square, and it is far more forgiving of a spoke key that is a size out or an owner who tensions a wheel without much feel. Unless a build is chasing grams or a specific color, this is what we fit, and it is what we fit on every wheel that will see winter.
This is the plain-thread version, without a locking patch. It turns freely, which is what you want when a wheel is going to be tensioned, stress-relieved and re-trued several times, and it is the one to reach for if you expect to adjust the wheel yourself. Pair it with spoke prep if you want some of the same security.
Sizes, fit and compatibility
The DT Swiss 14G 16MM Brass Nipple fits any 2.0mm-threaded 14-gauge spoke and any rim drilled for 14-gauge nipples; the configurator picks 12mm or 16mm for the rim you choose and recommends brass for carbon rims and heavy-duty wheels.
How DT Swiss makes its nipples
DT Swiss make their nipples in Biel alongside the spokes, in brass and in aluminum, and in 12 mm and 16 mm lengths. The longer 16 mm nipple is the one to reach for on a deeper rim or where you want a little more thread engagement; the 12 mm is the standard fit on most rims.
Brass or alloy is the decision that matters. Brass is heavier, turns more sweetly under a spoke key and resists corrosion and rounding far better, so it is what we use on anything facing winter, salt or long mileage. Aluminum saves a few grams per wheel and is a sound choice on a light, well-maintained build.
DT Swiss's videos
Manufacturing detail is the maker's own account; any load figures above are measurements, not marketing. Which one goes into your wheel is our call, and we are happy to talk it through.
Building it at ProWheelBuilder
DT Swiss makes the 16mm brass nipples; ProWheelBuilder is an independent wheel builder in Georgia, not the manufacturer. Spokes are cut from the ERD we measure on the actual rim, the wheel comes up in stages on a tensiometer, and it is stress-relieved and trued before it goes in the box; tape and a valve go on if you ask.
The configurator filters to what fits, crosses out what is not made, and prices the build as you go.
14G 16MM Brass Nipple questions
Brass or alloy - which should I pick?
Brass, unless you have a specific reason not to. It is about 30 grams a wheel heavier and that is the whole cost; in exchange it does not corrode against a steel spoke, it does not round off under a slightly worn spoke key, and it will still turn years later when someone needs to true the wheel. Every wheel we build for winter or for high mileage leaves on brass.
Should I take the plain nipple or the locking one?
The plain nipple turns freely however many times you tension and re-true the wheel, which is what you want if you maintain your own wheels or expect the build to be adjusted. The locking version, listed separately, adds a thread-locking patch that resists a nipple backing off by itself - worth it on low spoke counts and on wheels that see constant vibration. We will fit either; tell us how the wheel gets used.
Which spokes suit these 16mm brass nipples?
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 from your bike type and weight.
Brass or alloy nipples?
Brass for durability, corrosion resistance and carbon rims; alloy for about 30 grams saved per wheel on a race wheel that is kept clean.
12mm or 16mm?
12mm for most rims; 16mm for deep rims and thick rim beds where a short nipple would not reach. The configurator picks the length for the rim you choose.
Silver or black?
Cosmetic. Black is a coating over brass and matches black spokes; silver is the classic look. Both finishes are on this page - pick one in the Color option.
Do DT Swiss nipples fit Sapim spokes?
Yes. Any 14-gauge 2.0mm spoke thread takes them.
Not sure? Email info@prowheelbuilder.com (fastest) or leave a voicemail on 470-253-0929 — you will be talking to the people who build the wheels.
