Stan's No Tubes Arch MK4 Disc Brake Rim
The Stan's NoTubes Arch MK4 is the trail all-rounder in Stan's range: wider, stronger and stiffer than the Arch EX it replaced, in 6069 alloy with the asymmetric MK4 profile, an offset spoke bed and the BST hookless bead that seats a tubeless tire with a floor pump. It is the rim for trail bikes on 2.3 to 2.5in tires that want the Stan's tubeless experience in a lighter package than the Flow.
This page covers the Stan's No Tubes Arch MK4 Disc Brake Rim in 29in, 27.5in, 26in. The Arch MK4 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
BST, Bead Socket Technology, is Stan's low, hookless bead wall: the tire bead sits in a socket rather than under a hook, which is why a tubeless tire seats so easily on a Stan's rim and stays put at low pressure. The low wall also gives the tire a larger effective volume and makes pinch flats less likely because there is no sharp hook to cut the casing. The Arch MK4 profile adds an offset spoke bed, which brings drive-side and non-drive-side tension close to equal on a Boost rear, and a reinforced spoke bed that takes high tension.
The Arch MK4 is 6069 alloy, stronger than 6061, welded rather than sleeved, wider and stiffer than the Arch EX it replaced, with a three-year warranty and a one-year crash-replacement program. Standard nipples, J-bend spokes, disc only.
How it rides
An Arch MK4 wheel is quick and stable. The bed gives a 2.4in tire a supportive shape at trail pressures, the BST wall makes tubeless setup easy and burp-free, and the offset rear stays true. It is lighter than the Flow and tough enough for all-mountain riding.
For enduro the Flow MK4 is wider and stronger; for cross-country and gravel the Crest MK4 is lighter. For trail riding, the Arch MK4 is the Stan's rim we recommend.
Specifications
| Wheel size | 29in, 27.5in, 26in |
|---|---|
| ERD | 600 (29in), 561 (27.5in), 536 (26in) |
| Inner width | 28 mm |
| Depth | 18.9 mm |
| Drillings | 28h, 32h |
| Weight | 481g (700c/29in), 451g (650b/27.5in), 431g (26in) |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Tire type | clincher tubeless compatible |
| Brake | Disc |
| Spoke bed | Offset 2.5 mm |
| Nipples | External |
| Finishes | black |
About this listing
Version notes. 29in, 27.5in, 26in, 28h, 32h, about 481g, 28mm inside, 18.9mm deep, disc. The other sizes and brake versions of the Arch MK4 have their own listings; this page is for this one.
This is the disc-brake Arch MK4: 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 Stan's No Tubes Arch MK4 Disc Brake Rim comes in 29in, 27.5in, 26in and 28h, 32h drilling. It is a disc-brake rim. We build the Arch MK4 on DT Swiss 350 and 240, Industry Nine 1/1 and Hydra 2, Hope Pro 5, Onyx Vesper and Bitex BX 211 hubs, usually with Sapim Race, D-Light or DT Competition spokes and brass nipples.
Tire range on the Arch MK4 is 2.25 to 2.5in with tubeless-ready tires on the BST bead. Pick your bike type and weight in the configurator and it recommends a spoke count and lacing pattern.
Build a wheel around it
Offered for tandem and e-bike, mountain bike, MTB single-speed and fat bike builds in our Custom Wheel Program. Start with the Stans No Tubes Arch Mk4 Disc Brake 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 Stan's No Tubes
Stan's NoTubes of Big Flats, New York builds its rims around patented Bead Socket Technology (BST), a low-profile sidewall that secures the tire bead rather than the sidewall, which Stan's states gives an airtight seal and lighter, stronger rims. MK4 and EX3 aluminum rims are welded 6069 alloy with a reinforced spoke bed, which Stan's states is "10-15% stronger" than 6061; S2 rims are sleeved 6061 with stainless eyelets.
Published limits: max spoke tension Crest MK4 115 kgf (1130 N), Flow EX3 125 kgf (1225 N), Flow S2 130 kgf (1275 N), Crest CB7 and Valor carbon 105 kgf. Max pressure depends on tire width, for example Crest MK4 55 psi with 40 mm and 39 psi with 2.3"; Flow EX3 39 psi with 2.3" and 34 psi with 2.6"; Grail CB7 85 psi. No rider weight limit is published.
Warranty (original owner): CB7/SRD carbon 7 years with registration plus lifetime crash replacement at 50% off MSRP; MK4/EX3 aluminum 3 years; S1, S2, MK3, D and K 2 years; all aluminum rims 1-year crash replacement at 50% off.
Stan's No Tubes's videos
Certifications
- Patent — Stan's states Bead Socket Technology (BST) is patented (source)
Sources on Stan's No Tubes's site:
- Bead Socket Technology (BST) - Stan's
- Warranty Information - Stan's NoTubes
- About Us - Stan's
- Crest MK4 Rim - Stan's
- Flow EX3 Rim - Stan's
The figures, certificates and media above are Stan's No Tubes's own. ProWheelBuilder does not run these tests; our part is the wheel we build on the rim.
Building it at ProWheelBuilder
Stan's NoTubes makes the Arch MK4; ProWheelBuilder is an independent wheel builder in Georgia, not the manufacturer. We calculate Arch MK4 spoke lengths from the rim's measured ERD and offset, tension every Arch MK4 wheel in stages with a gauge within Stan's published range, stress-relieve it and true it before it ships. Stan's tape and a valve are fitted on request.
Only compatible hubs and spokes appear in the configurator, impossible combinations are struck through rather than hidden, and the price is live.
Warranty
Stan's No Tubes's warranty. Stan's covers aluminum rims for two years against manufacturing defects. Registered carbon wheelsets carry seven years of warranty cover plus lifetime crash replacement, and registration must be completed before a wheelset claim can be made. Crash damage, abuse and normal wear are not warranty items.
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.
Arch MK4 Disc Brake Rim questions
What tire width suits this rim?
At 28mm inside this is a trail width, sized around 2.1 to 2.4in tires. That is wide enough to stop a modern trail casing rolling under you in a corner without pushing the tread so flat that it wears down the middle.
Arch MK4 or Flow MK4?
Arch for trail riding on 2.3 to 2.5in tires where weight matters; Flow for enduro on 2.4 to 2.6in tires where strength matters.
Is the Arch MK4 hookless?
Yes. BST is a low hookless bead; use tubeless-ready tires and stay under the pressure printed on the rim.
What tires fit the Arch MK4?
2.25 to 2.5in. A 2.4in trail tire is the pairing most of our customers run.
What is the Arch MK4 warranty?
Three years on the rim, with a one-year crash-replacement program from Stan's.
Is it tubeless-ready?
Yes. Stan's No Tubes lists the Arch MK4 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.
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.
