DT Swiss RR 481 Disc Brake Rim
The DT Swiss RR 481 is the wider sibling of the RR 421: a welded, asymmetric aluminum disc rim with a 22mm-class inner width for 28 to 40mm tires, tubeless-ready, with the spoke bed offset for even tension on a disc wheel. It is the DT Swiss alloy rim for all-road and gravel bikes that run wider tires than the RR 421 suits.
This page covers the DT Swiss RR 481 Disc Brake Rim in 700c. The RR 481 is built to order here. Choose the hub, spokes and nipples in the configurator; the wheel leaves Georgia laced, tensioned and trued.
Design and construction
The factory extrudes the RR 421 from high-quality aluminum and welds the seam, then smooths it, which gives the strongest and roundest joint in the DT range. The profile is asymmetric: the spoke bed is offset toward the non-drive side, which balances left and right spoke tension on a disc rear wheel and makes the RR 421 one of the easiest road rims to build evenly.
How it rides
An RR 481 wheel is light and lively with a 32 to 38mm tire, comfortable on rough tarmac and gravel, and the asymmetric bed keeps the rear true. For narrower road tires the RR 421 is the choice; for all-road and light gravel, the RR 481 is the DT Swiss rim we recommend.
Specifications
| Wheel size | 700c |
|---|---|
| ERD | 592 (29in) |
| Inner width | 22 mm |
| Depth | 25 mm |
| Drillings | 24h, 28h, 32h |
| Weight | 485g (700c/29in) |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Tire type | clincher tubeless compatible |
| Brake | Disc |
| Nipples | External |
| Finishes | black |
Which version this is
What this listing covers: the RR 481 in 700c with 24h, 28h, 32h drilling, about 485g, 22mm inside, 25mm deep, disc. If you need it in another size or for the other brake type, it is listed separately.
This is the disc-brake RR 481: 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 DT Swiss RR 481 Disc Brake Rim comes in 700c and 24h, 28h, 32h drilling. It is a disc-brake road rim. We build the RR 421 on 350, 240 and 180 hubs, Bitex BX 106, Hope RS4, White Industries CLD, Industry Nine 1/1 and Chris King R45 hubs, usually with Sapim Laser, CX-Ray or D-Light spokes or Competition and Aerolite.
Tire range on the RR 421 is 25 to 38mm. Tell the configurator your bike type and weight and it suggests a spoke count and lacing pattern to suit.
DT Swiss's testing and certifications
DT Swiss tests rims as part of complete wheels in its Performance Test Center in Biel. DT Swiss states that test methods and parameters vary with the intended use, the maximum system weight and the ASTM F 2043 riding conditions, and are written into an internal factory standard which "ensures compliance with the current international standards (e.g. ISO 4210)". Published methods include a wheel impact test (with and without tire, monitoring rim buckling, spoke tension and run-out), a drum test in which a wheel loaded to its permissible system weight rolls over obstacles on a steel drum for a set mileage, a lateral stiffness test and a burst pressure test. No impact energies or cycle counts are published.
Each rim page states a maximum system weight and ASTM classification: the R 460 road rim is rated "Max. System weight 110 kg", "ASTM classification 1" and not approved for e-bikes; the RR 481 is rated 130 kg, ASTM classification 2 and "Approved for e-bikes Yes (max. 32Km/h or max. 250W)".
DT Swiss's videos
From DT Swiss
Certifications
- ISO 4210 / ASTM F 2043 — DT Swiss states its internal factory standard 'ensures compliance with the current international standards (e.g. ISO 4210)' and sets test parameters by ASTM F 2043 riding conditions (self-declared, no certificate published) (source)
- ASTM classification per rim — R 460: ASTM classification 1, max system weight 110 kg, not e-bike approved; RR 481: ASTM classification 2, max system weight 130 kg, approved for e-bikes (max. 32 km/h or max. 250 W) (source)
- UCI approved wheels — UCI list version 2024.10.02 lists DT Swiss complete wheels, e.g. ARC 1100 DICUT 700C 38 SPO (02.05.2024), GRC 1100/1400 DI 700C CL 30 and CL 50, AR/ER 1600 SP and A/E 1800 SP 700C/650B CL 30, ARC 1100/1400 DI 700C CL 38 (all 13.06.2024); earlier ARC/ERC/PRC/GRC models 2016-2023. Component rims are not listed individually (source)
- Warranty — 24 months legal warranty on all products; lifetime warranty for first owners of carbon component rims bought after 1 March 2025; Fair-Share crash replacement for carbon rims available 10 years after purchase (source)
Sources on DT Swiss's site:
- Performance test center | DT Swiss
- Warranty & Fair-Share | DT Swiss
- Fair-Share Policy & Warranty | DT Swiss
- R 460 | DT Swiss
- RR 481 | DT Swiss
The figures, certificates and media above are DT Swiss's own. ProWheelBuilder does not run these tests; our part is the wheel we build on the rim.
Building it at ProWheelBuilder
DT Swiss makes the RR 481; ProWheelBuilder is an independent wheel builder in Georgia, not the manufacturer. The build is the same every time: measured ERD, spokes cut to the half millimeter, staged tensioning with a gauge, stress relief, a final true, and tubeless tape and a valve on request.
The configurator shows only hubs and spokes that match the RR 481 drilling, strikes through combinations that are not made, and prices the wheel live.
Warranty
DT Swiss's warranty. DT Swiss covers its products against material and manufacturing defects for 24 months from purchase, excluding wear parts such as bearings and tubeless tape. Carbon rims and carbon wheels bought new since 1 January 2020 carry an extended guarantee to the first owner against defects in material and workmanship, and DT Swiss runs a paid crash-replacement scheme on carbon wheels for up to ten years from purchase.
ProWheelBuilder. Any wheel we build on this part carries ProWheelBuilder's one-year warranty in addition to the manufacturer's. Broken spokes are replaced for a year whatever the cause, and all wheel-side labor is included - truing, re-tensioning, rebuilding. Where the maker covers a failed rim or hub we handle that claim for you; where they decline, an eligible replacement comes at 25% off current retail. The customer covers shipping in both directions. Components supplied by the customer are not covered.
Full terms are on our Policies & Warranty page.
RR 481 Disc Brake Rim questions
What tire width suits this rim?
22mm inside is the all-road and gravel width. Think 32 to 45mm tires: wide enough to support a gravel casing properly so it holds its shape at low pressure, narrow enough that a 30mm road tire still sits right if you swap wheels between bikes.
Which spokes and nipples suit the RR 481?
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 RR 481 from your bike type and weight.
Is ProWheelBuilder the manufacturer of the DT Swiss RR 481 Disc Brake Rim?
No. DT Swiss makes the rim. ProWheelBuilder is an independent custom wheel builder in Georgia that builds it into a finished wheel to your spec.
Is it tubeless-ready?
Yes. DT Swiss lists the RR 481 Disc Brake 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.
