Disc brakes on road bikes are gaining popularity and gradually we're seeing more choice for aftermarket wheels. There aren't many options if you want a disc-ready thru-axle wheelset that is also tubeless compatible though, but ticking those three boxes are the latest wheels from DT Swiss.

DT Swiss introduced their Spline wheels a couple of years ago. Spline refers to the use of straight pull spokes in very low profile hub flanges (DT wanted to avoid using spokes with the traditional J-bend). They first introduced disc versions of the Spline wheels last year, and they’ve now updated the hubs, making them thru-axle and tubeless-ready. Tubeless is a technology we hear at road.cc like a lot, but the wheel choice is a limiting factor, so seeing another company go tubeless is great to see.

The hubs are compatible with 15mm front and 12mm rear thru-axle (only available on their carbon models though) both standards ported directly over from the mountain bike world. It’s still very early days for disc brakes on road bikes, and one of the big debates/arguments is whether they need thru-axles instead of conventional quick releases.

The hubs use interchangeable end-caps so you can switch between axle types easily, a system common in the mountain bike world. This allows you to use the wheels any just about any bike. For mounting rotors to the hubs, DT Swiss us the Shimano Center-Lock system, but with adapter you can use the 6-bolt international standard.

The Spline DB range consists of both carbon fibre and aluminium options, but it is only the carbon wheels that get the thru-axle compatible hubs. Topping the range is the RC 28 Spline C DB above, it has a 28mm deep section carbon fibre clincher rim and is tubeless-ready. The rims feature a 15mm internal and 21mm external width, and weigh a claimed 1,325g.

The RC 38 Spline DB uses a 38mm deep rim if you want a bit more aero, and with this wheelset you also have the choice of clincher (1,455g) or tubular (1,325g. Both rims have a 21mm external width and 15mm internal width.

There is also an aluminium disc wheelset as well – unfortunately the aluminium wheels don’t have thru-axle compatible hubs, so you’re stuck with regular quick releases with these wheels. The rim is still tubeless-ready though. The R 23 Spline DB uses a 23mm deep rim with a wider 18mm internal width (22mm external width) than the carbon rim though, making it a great option for anyone wanting to fit wider tyres. The wheelset weighs a claimed 1,655g.

Also available are the R 24 Spline DB wheels, with a 24mm rim and a claimed weight of 1,775g. Both wheelsets feature tubeless-ready rims and Shimano Centre-Lock rotor mounts, with an adapter if you want to fit a 6-bolt rotor.

More at www.dtswiss.com and we'll have prices soon, and we're looking to get some in for testing pretty soon.