Guide · Big wheels
32" wheels, honestly
The problem
Nobody makes the fork
Suspension forks for 32" wheels are rare, and the ones that exist are heavy. That leaves rigid — and a rigid fork needs to be light, stiff and have genuine clearance for a big wheel and a muddy winter tyre.
Our EVO Prong was designed as a 29"/29+ fork, and it happens to be one of the few carbon forks with room for a 32" wheel: 680 g, 15 × 110 Boost, 498 mm axle-to-crown and clearance up to 3.0" tyres. For a loaded winter bikepacking bike it's an easy argument — nothing to service, nothing to freeze, and the mud goes straight through.
Check before you buy: your frame's recommended fork length, tyre clearance at the crown and stays, and how much your bottom bracket height changes.
What exists
32" and 36" carbon rims
Rims are made to order by Nextie — about six weeks — then hand-built here in Rochford. We ship wheels across the UK and Europe.
Questions
32" FAQ
What is a 32" wheel?
A rim bigger than a 29er, taking the overall wheel diameter towards 32 inches with a normal-depth tyre. The appeal is the same as the 26" to 29" jump: it rolls over rough ground more easily and holds speed better.
Will a 32" wheel fit my bike?
Usually not without checking. You need frame and fork clearance, and the extra radius changes your bottom bracket height and front-end geometry. It's a question of measuring your own frame, not a yes or no.
Which fork works with 32" wheels?
There's very little suspension for 32" yet, so a rigid fork with the clearance is the practical answer. Our EVO Prong carbon fork takes 32" wheels where tyre, frame and brake clearance allow, at 680 g and 15 × 110 Boost.
Can you build me a 32" wheel?
Yes. Nextie makes 32" carbon rims, and we build them with Hope or Shimano hubs and Sapim or Halo spokes. The rim is ordered in, which takes about six weeks.
Is it worth it for bikepacking?
That's where the case is strongest: loaded bikes on rough tracks benefit most from rolling over things rather than into them, and a rigid carbon fork means nothing to service in the middle of nowhere.