Can you use rim brakes on a disc brake wheel? (And other questions on disc brakes…)

If you want to purchase a new set of wheels that are rim brakes, it is your best choice to do so now. Soon there will not be many left available. If you are shopping for wheels and you find your favorite wheel of choice, though the wheel is a disc brake and your set up is a disc brake, you may be wondering can you use rim brakes on a  disc brake wheel?

This comes up pretty often as the conversion from rim brakes to disc brakes for road cyclists continues to happen.

In short, no. Because of the makeup of a disc brake wheel, unless you want to damage the wheel prematurely, you can not run rim brakes on a disc brake setup. Your wheel or tire will not last as long and your wheel may need to be re-trued or it may become permanently damaged. If you want to learn more on why and many more pieces of information on disc brakes, read on.

In this post we will discuss why you can not turn rim brakes on disc brake wheel sets. Second we will discuss if you can convert a bike to a disc brake set. We will also discuss if you can convert a disc brake wheel to a rim brake wheel.

We will discuss if you need a specific set of wheels for disc brakes if you are a fan (and there are many reasons to be a fan).  Finally we will discuss if you can use rim brakes on full carbon tires and what you need to be able to do this.

Can you use rim brakes on a disc brake wheel?

No, you cannot. The reason being is that both carbon and aluminum rims are made with extra material when they are made for rim brakes. Using brake pads on this thinner material will cause your wheel to fail sooner than you would like. Disc brake wheels are made with less material and are lighter and typically easier to maneuver for that reason, though it does come with the added drawback that they are not convertible in nature. Disc brake rims are not designed to be gripped by a caliper.

Are disc brakes better than rim brakes?

Disc brakes are not better or worse, except in two specific instances.

1. Are you riding in mud, rain or gravel? If so then disc brakes will be a standout in terms of responsiveness and stopping power. The gravel, mud and water tends to make the rim brakes slicker and affects the stopping power. You will notice that your brakes are not as responsive in the rain or mud. This is not the case with disc brakes because the stopping mechanism in inside the disc rather than along the rim. 
2. Are you riding downhill often? Your thumbs, pointer finger, actually all of your fingers including your pinky will thank you if you make the switch to disc brakes for high speed downhill cycling. You simply don’t need to apply the same amount of pressure to have the responsive stopping power that rim brakes will give you with an obtuse amount of hand squeezing. This is more subjective because it is easier to use rim brakes, though the type of brake does not make a cyclist.

What are the disadvantages to disc brakes?

Disc brakes are have a higher level of stopping performance to rim brakes when the weather is inclement. There are some disadvantages though. They can be more costly, they can be a touch more difficult to repair at home (though not as difficult as hydraulic brake sets).

Cost: As of 2023, the cost of disc brakes are becoming close to if not equivalent with rim brakes, and within one year this will be a moot point. However, disc brakes, and higher end hydraulic brake sets are still at a higher price point than traditional rim brakes.

This is due to their setup along the wheel hub and the frame structure rather than the simplified setup along the bed of the rim.

As more suppliers become more efficient with producing these sets of brakes along with their compatibility with more bicycle wheels, their pricing will continue to decrease.

DIY Repair: The maintenance of a rim brake is bone simple. Move the calipers so that they are on the bed of the rim, and make sure that you have enough brake cable for the bicycle to connect to the levers.

Hydraulic brake sets use fluid to transfer the energy (far more efficiently) and disc brake sets transfer energy to the hub of the wheel. The adjustments are far more fine, and many have trouble with making the initial transition from rim brakes.

However, making adjustments to disc brakes and hydraulic brakes is quite simple once learned – but the learning curve is steeper than learning how to adjust rim brakes.

Can I change a disc brake to a rim brake?

The frames are not interchangeable on the bike, and making the conversion is not advisable. It is simply a different structural setup for the bicycle. There are far more moving parts to a disc brake system and it would cost more than a new bicycle to do the conversion – new calipers, new braking cables, new disc, new hub body and the list goes on. If you are buying a used bicycle and are deciding between rim and disc brakes, this is good information to know.

Do you need specific wheels for disc brakes?

Yes, the wheels will come different from rim brake wheels. They will have a specific hub that is able to mount the disc brakes onto your bicycle. Your bicycle also needs to be made to be disc brake specific. The fork size will be different and the cabling and calipers are specifically made for the wheelset and bicycle.

Can you use rim brakes on carbon wheels?

Yes. You can, though it is recommended to use carbon specific brake pads. The typical brake pads will eat away at the wheel far quicker and may damage the wheel. Also, using old brake pads from your older wheel may have some aluminum pieces grated into the pad which will also increase the amount of damage to the wheel if used on a carbon wheel set.

Conclusion

The industry and sport of cycling is ever evolving. There are a lot of moving parts to brakes, and even more moving parts to disc brakes. Can you use rim brakes on a disc brake wheel? No, they are made completely different. The wheels are not set up in a way that they are able to bear the force of the caliper eating away at the rim. Rim brake wheels and disc brake wheels are made completely separately.