Rolf Prima Ralos 30 27.5IN Wheelset
The Rolf Prima Ralos 30 is Rolf's aluminum mountain bike wheelset, offered here in 27.5 inch only as a closeout. It pairs a wide, asymmetric, tubeless-easy alloy rim with Rolf's US-made XST 4.4 hubs and 24 paired spokes per wheel. Rolf lists the set at 1620 grams, light for an alloy trail wheel.
The Ralos 30 is for a trail or cross-country rider on a 27.5 bike who wants a hand-built, warrantied wheel with a titanium freehub and quick-engaging hub, and who prefers an aluminum rim that dents rather than cracks when a rock wins. Because it is a closeout, it is also a good value for a second bike or a hardtail build.
Rolf says paired-spoke technology matters more on the trail than anywhere else, because it lets the Ralos 30 shed weight while keeping balanced stiffness and durability. Pairing spokes at the rim cancels the left and right pull, so each spoke runs at higher, more even tension, and the asymmetric rim improves that balance by up to 30 percent according to Rolf.
Design and construction
The rim is an asymmetric aluminum, tubeless-easy clincher, 23mm deep. Rolf's spec table lists the current Ralos 30 rim at 32mm inner width and 36mm at its widest; Rolf's product text also refers to the model's 30mm inner width generation, which is where the name comes from. Either way this is a wide bed for modern 2.3 to 2.6 inch tires. Wheels ship taped with valves so tubeless tires seat with a floor pump.
The hubset is XST 4.4: designed and machined in the USA, assembled in Eugene, with Enduro steel bearings, a CNC-machined 6Al-4V titanium freehub body and the T2 high-engagement drive, a 48-tooth ring with three independently sprung steel pawls.
Rolf laces the Ralos 30 with 24 round Sapim Laser spokes per wheel in its paired pattern, for disc brakes only. Front end caps come as Boost (15mm or 12mm), 15mm, 12mm or 9mm QR; rear end caps as Boost 148, Boost 141 QR, 142mm thru-axle or 135mm QR. Freehub bodies offered on the Ralos 30: Shimano HG 10/11, SRAM XD and Shimano Micro Spline.
How it rides
The Ralos 30 is a light, quick alloy trail wheel. It spins up fast on climbs, and the T2 drive picks up almost immediately when you ratchet through rocks or restart on a steep pitch. The wide rim gives a 2.4 inch tire a square, stable profile so it holds a line in loose corners and resists burping at trail pressures.
With 24 paired spokes the Ralos 30 is stiff for its weight, and the aluminum rim gives you a margin that carbon does not: a hard rock strike usually means a small flat spot rather than a ruined rim. Rolf pitches it for long climbs, fast chutes and flow trail rather than downhill or bike park duty, and that matches our read. It suits cross-country and trail riders up to around the weight Rolf's stiffer models are aimed at. Rolf's Certainty program, including lifetime crash replacement, applies to the closeout Ralos 30 as it does to current models, and Rolf commits to keeping replacement parts available.
Specifications
| Wheel type | Mountain |
|---|---|
| Rim | Alloy Clincher, asymmetric |
| Rim depth | 23mm |
| Rim width | 36mm, internal 32mm |
| Brake | Disc Brake |
| Spoke count (F/R) | 24/24 |
| Spokes | Sapim Laser, round |
| Hubset | XST 4.4 T2 High Engagement Enduro steel bearings |
| Front axle | Boost (15mm, 12mm)/ 15mm/12mm/ 9mm |
| Rear axle | Boost 148mm/ Boost 141mm QR/ 142mm/ 135mm |
| Freehub | Shimano HG 10/11, SRAM XD 11/12, Shimano Micro Spline |
| Tire size | Please refer to chart in product images |
| Weight | 1620g [750g/ 870g] |
| Includes | taped |
About this listing
What you are buying here is the Ralos 30 27.5IN Wheelset. The choices on this page are front axle: Thru Axle 15x110mm Boost Front, Thru Axle 12x110mm Boost Front, 15mm Thru Axle Front, 12mm Thru Axle Front, 9mm QR Front; rear axle: 148mm Thru Axle Boost Rear, 141mm QR Boost Rear, 142mm Thru Axle Rear, 135mm QR Rear; driver type: Shimano HG 10/11, SRAM XD, Shimano Micro Spline. This listing is the complete wheelset - front and rear together, not a single wheel.
Fit and compatibility
The Ralos 30 is 27.5 inch (650b) only in this listing. Front end caps cover Boost 110 (15mm or 12mm), 15x100, 12x100 and 9mm QR; rear end caps cover Boost 148, Boost 141 QR, 142x12 and 135 QR, so it fits current Boost trail bikes and older non-Boost frames.
Freehub bodies are Shimano HG 10/11, SRAM XD and Shimano Micro Spline, which covers 11 and 12-speed mountain drivetrains from both brands. Rolf's tire chart governs sizing on the wide inner width; we recommend 2.25 to 2.6 inch tires.
Testing, standards and warranty at Rolf Prima
Rolf Prima builds every complete wheelset by hand at its facility in Eugene, Oregon. The company states that all orders are built by hand there by its own builders, and describes its process as building each wheel three times with two stress cycles in the build to seat and stretch all components. Rolf Prima says hand building lets it hit uniform spoke tensions that machine building cannot match, and that its design allows higher and more targeted spoke tension than a traditionally laced wheel, which it credits with increasing stiffness and improving spoke durability by decreasing the load cycle on each spoke.
The defining feature of a Rolf Prima wheel is Paired Spoke Technology, introduced in 1997. Bringing the spokes to the rim in pairs neutralizes the left and right outward pulling forces, which Rolf Prima says allows it to build true wheels on lighter rims with fewer spokes. Fewer spokes and lighter rims are the basis of the brand's aerodynamic and weight claims. The wheel systems combine paired spokes with the Delta rim profile, internal nipples, and patented details including the Jacketed Nipple, Self-Aligning Nipple, Differential Flange Diameter and Dish Reducing Design. Rolf Prima cites eleven patents behind its technology.
Rolf Prima runs an in-house engineering and testing lab and states it uses the ISO 4210 standard as a base starting point but considers it not tough enough, so it applies its own in-house standards. Published test capabilities include an in-house drum fatigue tester it calls the Thrasher, which compresses years of riding into days; an impact test using a weight calibrated steel anvil that exceeds the UCI 40 joule requirement, striking at spokes, between spokes and at the valve hole; lateral and radial stiffness measurement of rims alone and complete wheels; brake energy, distance and temperature testing developed for carbon clinchers; wind tunnel evaluation; and field testing by sponsored athletes. The Certainty page cites over 10,000 hours of lab testing to above industry standards.
On racing eligibility, Rolf Prima explains that UCI approval only matters for mass start UCI road races, UCI cyclocross and draft legal ITU triathlon. Its standard wheels (Aspin and the Elan family) do not require approval, while most of its deeper or lower spoke count models are non standard and are listed on the UCI approval registry. Rolf Prima does not publish a fixed rider weight limit; it says every wheel has limits that involve riding style and road conditions as well as weight, and directs heavier or more aggressive riders toward stiffer models such as Vigor, Echelon or Ares6. All road wheels can be set up tubeless with the brand's tubeless kit, and adventure, cyclocross and mountain models ship tubeless ready with tape and valves installed.
Rolf Prima backs its wheels with the Certainty program: a five year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for the original owner, lifetime crash replacement at a discount for registered wheels, a 30 day trade out or return window in the USA, replacement parts availability for any Rolf Prima wheel regardless of age, and stated service response times of same day to 24 hours on calls and email with service work resolved within three days of receipt.
Rolf Prima's videos
From Rolf Prima
Warranty and certifications
- Limited warranty — Five years from original retail purchase against defects in materials and workmanship (2016 and newer wheels), original owner, non transferable; decals and bearings two years (source)
- Certainty program — Five year warranty, lifetime crash replacement, 30 day trade out or return in the USA, replacement parts for any Rolf Prima wheel regardless of age, same day to 24 hour service replies, service work resolved within three days of receipt (source)
- Crash replacement — Lifetime crash repair or replacement discount for the original owner; wheels must be registered within 30 days of purchase; proof of purchase and serial numbers required; freight not covered (source)
- UCI approval — Non standard models (rims taller than 25 mm, fewer than 16 spokes) are listed on the UCI approval registry; Aspin and Elan are standard wheels that need no approval (source)
- Test standards — ISO 4210 used as the base with tougher in-house standards; impact test exceeds the UCI 40 J requirement; in-house drum fatigue, stiffness, brake and wind tunnel testing (source)
- Hand built in USA — All wheels hand built in Eugene, Oregon; each wheel built three times with two stress cycles; eleven patents (source)
Sources on Rolf Prima's site:
- Rolf Prima: Testing
- Rolf Prima: Paired Spoke Technology
- Rolf Prima: Our Technology
- Rolf Prima: Certainty Program
- Rolf Prima: Warranty
- Rolf Prima: FAQ (UCI, rider weight, build process)
Rolf Prima publishes those results; ProWheelBuilder sells the finished wheel and does not test it in a lab.
A note on Rolf Prima
Rolf still fields service questions on Vector wheelsets with thirty years and more of riding on them. That is the practical case for a company that stayed in one place doing one thing: the wheel is older than a lot of bike shops and can still be sorted out.
Ordering it from ProWheelBuilder
Rolf Prima builds each Ralos 30 to order in Eugene, Oregon, and we sell it from ProWheelBuilder in Georgia. Because this is a closeout in 27.5 only, we confirm availability with Rolf when your order comes in and check your axle spacing and freehub body against your bike before it is built.
If you need a 29 inch alloy wheel, or want a different hub, a 28 or 32-spoke lacing or a specific rim width, we build custom mountain wheels on Astral rims, Rolf Prima's rim brand, and can quote that for you.
Warranty
Manufacturer's warranty. Rolf Prima gives a one-year limited warranty on its wheels under normal use. Astral is Rolf Prima's rim brand; ask us and we will confirm the current terms for the exact rim before you buy.
ProWheelBuilder. This is a complete wheelset built by its manufacturer rather than in our shop, so the maker's warranty above is the one that applies to it. ProWheelBuilder's own one-year wheel warranty covers the wheels we build. We will still handle a manufacturer claim on your behalf.
Full terms are on our Policies & Warranty page.
Ralos 30 27.5IN questions
Is ProWheelBuilder the manufacturer of the Ralos 30?
No. Rolf Prima builds the Ralos 30 in Eugene, Oregon. We are a reseller and handle your order.
Is the Ralos 30 available in 29 inch?
Not in this listing. It is a 27.5 inch closeout. For 29 inch look at the Alsea 30 carbon, or ask us about a custom build.
What is the inner width of the Ralos 30?
Rolf's spec table lists 32mm inner width for the current rim; the model name reflects the earlier 30mm version. Both are wide enough for 2.3 to 2.6 inch tires.
Does the Ralos 30 fit Boost spacing?
Yes. Boost 110 front and Boost 148 or Boost 141 QR rear are offered, along with non-Boost options.
Which freehub bodies are offered on the Ralos 30?
Shimano HG 10/11, SRAM XD and Shimano Micro Spline.
Is a closeout Ralos 30 still under warranty?
Yes. Rolf's Certainty program applies: five-year warranty, lifetime crash replacement and permanent parts availability.
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 wheels for a living.
