WTB CZR i23 Rim
WTB's carbon race rim: reinforced spoke beds, 4D angled drilling and an asymmetric section, with the TCS 2.0 Solid Strip molded in so the tire stays seated even if a spoke lets go. The CZR i23 runs 23mm inside, which suits 38 to 55mm gravel tires and 2.1 to 2.3in cross-country tires. Published weight is 345g in 29in, and WTB lists it in 24 and 28 hole.
This page covers the WTB CZR i23 Rim in 29in. It comes from us 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 CZR i23 is a carbon rim with a reinforced spoke bed, 4D angled spoke drilling, an asymmetric section and the TCS 2.0 Solid Strip. TCS stands for Tubeless Compatible System, WTB's bead profile that seats a tubeless tire with a floor pump and holds it at low pressure. 4D drilling angles each spoke hole toward the hub flange it serves, so the nipple sits straight and the spoke is not bent where it leaves the rim.
The spoke bed is offset 3mm, which evens out the spoke tension between the two sides of the wheel and is one reason a CZR i23 build holds its truth.
How it rides
At 23mm internal the CZR i23 supports 38 to 55mm gravel tires and 2.1 to 2.3in cross-country tires without the sidewall folding over in corners. It is built for cross-country racing and fast trail riding, and in our strength model it scores 5.81 out of 10 — read that against the other rims in the configurator rather than on its own.
Specifications
| Wheel size | Inner width | Weight | ERD | Rim size designation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29in | 23mm | 345g | 590 | 23-622 |
ERD is 590 in 29in, measured by WTB. We use those figures directly when we cut spokes, so the length is right the first time.
WTB rates the CZR i23 to a maximum rider weight of 265lbs and a maximum spoke tension of 110 to 120 KgF.
About this listing
This is the rim on its own as a component of a hand-built wheel. Choose your diameter and drilling above; we build the wheel around it.
Build it into a wheel
This rim is live in our Custom Wheel Program for gravel and road disc and MTB single-speed builds. Start a build with the CZR i23 and the configurator opens with this exact rim pinned at the top of the WTB list — you choose the hub, drilling, spokes and nipples and it validates every combination as you go.
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.
Sizes, fit and compatibility
Available in 29in, 24 and 28 hole, disc brake only, for external nipples. WTB specifies 28mm tubeless tape; we fit tape and a valve when you choose the tubeless option.
Testing, standards and warranty at WTB
WTB back the CZR carbon rims with their Ride With Confidence guarantee: break one riding, as the original owner, and they replace it free. WTB state the TCS Beadlock bead profile is designed to ISO/ETRTO standards, and that the CVX spoke bed is patented. Their rim technology page covers both, and the 4D drilling that angles each spoke hole toward the flange it serves.
WTB published video on this rim: Introducing CZR Carbon Wheels, CZR i30 Carbon Wheel Technology.
ProWheelBuilder does not test rims. We report what WTB publish and build to it.
Building it at ProWheelBuilder
Every CZR i23 leaves here laced, tensioned and trued by a person, not a machine. Spoke length comes from the measured hub and WTB's published ERD, and we set tension to the rim maker's figure.
Warranty
WTB's warranty. WTB's cover depends on the rim: CZR and CGR carbon rims carry a limited lifetime warranty to the original owner, Ci24 and Ci31 carbon rims three years, and every other rim 24 months, all against defects in material and workmanship. A CZR rim broken while riding is replaced free; damage from a non-riding incident is replaced at half the current list price. Claims must be raised within 60 days of finding the defect.
ProWheelBuilder. Built into a wheel by us, this part is covered by our own one-year wheel warranty on top of the maker's. For a year we replace broken spokes whatever caused them, and we cover the labor on the wheel - truing, re-tensioning, a rebuild if it needs one. If a rim or hub fails and its maker covers it, we run that claim for you; if the maker says no, you get an eligible replacement rim or hub at 25% off retail. You pay the shipping each way. Wheels built from parts you send us are excluded.
Full terms are on our Policies & Warranty page.
CZR i23 Rim questions
What tires fit a 23mm inner width?
38 to 55mm gravel tires and 2.1 to 2.3in cross-country tires.
Is it tubeless-ready?
Yes. WTB lists the CZR i23 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 24 and 28 hole 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.
