Are the ZAC19 rims actually any good?

[Eric Daume]

I just picked up an '82 Trek 510 off my local CL, to replace a very similar Trek 610 that I sold last year and have kind of regretted. I'm all about fatter tires these days, so I'm thinking about trying another 650B conversion on this guy. Because I'm cheap, I'm looking at the ZAC9 wheelsets on ebay for ~$100, but I've read hit and miss feedback on difficulties mounting tires on ZAC rims. So, how are they?

So far, my experience with 650B rims has been uniformly bad:

- on my Rawland rSogn, I used Velocity Synergies, which I couldn't get the tire to mount straight on

- on my old Trek, I used Pacenta something or anothers, which were horribly difficult to get the tire on and off of without pinching the tubes (even with soap, thin rim tape, tire bead in the well, etc... just awful rims)

Thanks,

Eric Daume

Dublin, OH

[Brad]

I have a wheel set I built on ZAC 19 rims and they work well.  My son has a set of the eBay ones and I hear no complaints from him.  The extrusion shape is based on historic 650b rims - the Rigida Sphinx- which ended up as the ZAC 19 in the corporate reorganization with Weinmann and Rigida being owned by the same company.  A similar rim is made by Ambrosio called the KEBA and is marketed only through C.P.A., a French dealer to the Confrerie des 650B randonneur market.
 
  Good tire levers including the VAR or Kool Stop Bead Jack are a wise investment generally.
  What tubes are you using? 
How much rim tape are you applying?  
What were your prior tire experiences upon which you base your expectations?

[Eric Daume]

To answer Brad's questions:

- I generally try not to use tire levers when installing a tire, because of the risk of pinching a bead (but it was a must with the Pacenti rims)

- I was using 26" tubes, probably part of my problem (though I can use a 26 or 27.5" tube in my 29er tires without much difficulty...)

- rim tape is typically a layer of strapping tape

- for 650B, I used CdV on the Rawland, and Compass Loup Loups on the Trek. On my 700c and 26" rims, I've used countless tire and rim combos over the last 25 years, and never had much difficulty. I can 99% of the time mount a tire by hand, air it up, and be on my way without swearing or throwing tools across the garage.

Thanks for the feedback on the ZAC rims.

Eric

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[David Cummings]

On Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 5:09:44 PM UTC-6, Eric Daume wrote:

Because I'm cheap, I'm looking at the ZAC9 wheelsets on ebay for ~$100, but I've read hit and miss feedback on difficulties mounting tires on ZAC rims. So, how are they?

Are you referring to the rims for sale by uglyrm? If so, they are decent for what you pay.  I think what I offered ended up being $102 shipped. I had to go through the hubs and retighten them.  I also had to take a BB from one side of the front hub and put it in the other side - 8 on one side, 10 on the other!  I also had to true them up a bit.

I have tried PariMotos and Soma B Lines and both gave me trouble trying to mount them straight.  I used 650b tubes.  I haven't tried the soapy water or baby powder methods, but I did leave them on at high pressure for a while then remounted them.  I got them passably straight but not as well as I would have liked compared to how easy other tires are to mount.  I used a double layer of 1/2" vinyl tape I had hanging around as a rim strip.

David Cummings

Kalispell, MT

[Tim Gavin]

I agree with the others.

I bought a wheel set from uglyrm on eBay based on decent recommendations on this and the RBW list.  

I rode ~1500 miles on them (I'm #220) and then I passed them on to my daughter's bike.  No problems on the road; the rims are still true, and the cheapo Shimano hubs are still fine.

I also concur that the ZAC19 extrusion seems to have a deep well that makes proper tire seating difficult.  I've had some success by lubing the bead with liquid soap.  Next time I change a flat, I'll add a second layer of rim tape to build up the well a bit; supposedly that helps.

In my experience, the ZAC19s are harder to mount a tire than Velocity Synergy or Pacenti PL23 rims.

Tim

Cedar Rapids, IA

[Chris Cullum]

I've used a number of 650b rims and the Zac19 was by far the worst. The price is right but I can't recommend them. If you have been disappointed with the seating issues of the Synergy the Zac19 is far worse.

The Pacenti SL23 is tight to mount new tires on (it's fine with uses ones) but tires seat perfectly. The PL23 is easier mounting and tires also seat well. The VO Raid is OK, tires fit a bit loose and seating needs to be massaged. Velocity Dyad seems a bit better than the Synergy but also has a fairly deep well for bead seating.

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[Andrew]

The Keba rim is different. It's a section that Ambrosio has made at times in 559, 584 and 622 sizes, and has different features like a wear indicator in the sidewall. Not light (mine are 588 and 589g) but very easy to mount and the tyres just about centre themselves.

[David Cummings]

And it's back in stock at xxcycle

[Hoffsta]

Aside from not having tried the pacenti rims yet, I agree with everything you said, Chris. I never could get a set of ZAC19 to evenly seat Cul De La Vie, PariMoto, or Hetre tires despite many wasted hours and sore thumbs. Sold them. I had slightly better luck with old Synergy's, in that eventually I got a useable seat, but again with sore thumbs and hours spent. Dyads were pretty easy. Looking forward to building some Pacenti wheels one of these days!