TESTED: Bouwmeester Composites Tammar V4.8 Wheelset

Based around a solid single-wall carbon fibre rim, the Tammar V4.8 wheel set is the first product to come out of Bouwmeester Composites’ factory in South Australia.

It features a wide rim profile, tubeless compatibility, and a standard 32-spoke build that employs DT Swiss hubs and spokes. With a claimed weight of 1750 grams, the Tammar wheelset is targeted towards enduro racing and hard-hitting trail riders. Currently, it only comes in a 27.5” diameter.

Subtle Styling

On every ride with the Tammar wheel set, I could never get far without someone stopping me to ask what they were. With their shallow profile and bulging moulded nipple beds, the carbon Tammar rims offer a unique aesthetic that bucks the current trend of super deep-section carbon rims and their “LOOK AT ME” fluoro graphics.

The Tammar rims measure 38mm externally and 31.5mm internally, putting them at the wider end of the scale. They have a hookless bead and a deep central channel to aid tubeless inflation. With every test tyre I used on the Tammar rim, they all snapped into place at around 20psi, and all without need for a compressor. Nice.

The rims are asymmetric to balance spoke tension, and to accommodate the different forces transferring through each wheel they’re front and rear specific. The front weighs 480 grams, and the rear is 490 grams.

You can get the Tammar wheel set built with DT Swiss 240 or Chris King hubs, though BC also offer a custom service with more hub options should you have something fancier in mind. They’ll only build the wheels with stainless steel DT Swiss Competition spokes though. This is because lighter spokes experience more elongation, and BC aren’t interested in compromising the handling of their wheels.

Functional? Yes. Fancy with proprietary parts? The Tammar is most definitely not.

Including the provided rim tape and tubeless valves, our test wheel set came out a confirmed 1840 grams.

Riding the Bouwmeester Tammars

The first thing I noticed with the Tammar wheels is just how incredibly smooth they are to ride. They’re also deadly quiet, because unlike a traditional hollow rim, the solid rim construction doesn’t resonate trail chatter.

Crank the pedals a little harder though, and the Tammar’s immediately respond with crisp acceleration that belies their on-paper weight figure. They’re highly reactive to steering inputs and there is little hesitation when you need to quickly change direction on the trail. Despite being heavier on paper than comparable competitors wheels, I put the Tammar’s zippier feel down to the taut build and the excellent overall wheel set stiffness.

The best attribute of the Tammar wheels though, is just how little you get pinballed off of rocks. During high-speed entries into an ugly rock garden on my local test loop – the kind that eats tyre sidewalls for breakfast – the Tammar wheels added a whole new level of composure and stability to the bike. When I’d normally be wrestling with the handlebar, all of a sudden I found a greater ability to keep the bike tracking in the direction I wanted it to.

This in-built compliance is very deliberate on BC’s behalf, and it’s a result of that thick, single-wall carbon rim. While the wheels have plenty of ‘global’ lateral stiffness, the rim is allowed to flex at the tyre contact point. This helps to drive more of the tyre back onto the trail surface for added traction and a smoother ride.

And this is what is most impressive about the Tammar wheelset. It’s as if BC have combined the responsiveness of a stiff carbon wheel, with the smooth riding nature of a lightweight alloy rim.

The Verdict

At $3499, the Tammar wheel set is an expensive upgrade for any mountain bike. That said, they are hands-down the best riding 27.5” trail wheelset I’ve ever ridden, and they are bombproof. Factor in the unique design, their brilliant on-trail performance and the fact that they’re handmade and handbuilt in Australia, and I believe they’re worth every dollar. For peace of mind, BC offer a 3-year warranty to back their workmanship. Going one further, if you manage to break a rim within the first 12 months of ownership, they’ll replace it no questions asked. How’s that for product confidence?

Relative to the competition, the Tammar wheelset comes in around the same price as an equivalent Reynolds, SRAM or Shimano wheelset, and they’re actually cheaper than an ENVE wheel set.

Hits

• Australian made
• Beautifully smooth and quiet performance
• Super tough and durable design
• Easy tubeless setup

Misses

• Not available in 29”. Yet.

RRP: $3499

From: bouwmeester.com.au