HerrKaLeun

I have my eye set on some DT Swiss rims (they seem good and really affordable ordered from bike24). but DT Swiss nowhere advertises them to be actually tubeless ready or UST.

There is a tubeless kit by DT Swiss that seems to include normal rim tape to cover spoke holes (as expected) but also soem trasnluscent tape or soem thing. I'm a bit afraid the rims then are not really tubeless if they need that additional whatever it is (if you follow the link, on the right side of the picture). so are they not really tubeless (meaning a tubeless tires hooks into the rim and seals it there)?

DT swiss is good in providing information on ASTM rating, weight supported etc. I would think they would say if they are tubeless. On the other hand I can't imagine in 2018 a major manufacturer has non-tubeless MTB-oriented rims. the manual linked in each rim's description shows tubeless conversion to just require the rim tape (as expected). Is that above conversion kit for older (non-tubeless) rims and outdated?

Going tubeless is part of my motivation to build new wheels. And I don't want to go Mcgyver when using all new rims (I converted my fatbike to tubeless and that was relatively easy with proper rated tubeless rims ans tires).

jimc101

Just about all rims can be tubeless, it depends on how much effort you want to put into it, for the DT Swiss kit, this look to be designed for their tubeless ready rims.

Pretty sure that all DT Swiss's current MTB rims are tubeless, looking at their website, the only non-tubeless rims the currently do are the Trekking series.

ThermionicScott 

Which rims in particular are you looking at? The kit tells you which rims it can be used with, and tubeless-ready/friendly rims have a distinctive look to the inner wall.

HerrKaLeun

the key is I want to have the least effort because i think a properly tubeless designed rim will be better. If i went tubeless on an existing set I'm willing to compromise. but when building all new i want to do it "right".

Where on the website does it state if they are tubeless? When I look at the description of each rim I see ERD, weight, ASTM class, maximum weight etc. I guess what I'm looking for is the manufacturer statement they are tubeless.

I'm looking at their low-end (it is just a hybrid bike, not MTB. for example:
X-392
M 442
X-412
M 462

i basically narrow down to what bike 24 has available. It seems they have good DT swiss prices (since both are European I assume).

I weigh a bit over 170# and with a hybrid I assume I'm OK with one of their lighter rims (ASTM 2 or 3 should be fine). Here is an ASTM class sheet
. Even when I'm not likely to abuse them, I still want to build them right (double-butted spokes, eyelets)
I also looked at Mavic (they plaster the UST all over their site), WTC etc. I like that DT Swiss have the eyelets give good information (except the tubeless part). My goal for this my first wheel build is to have a wheelset lighter or as light as my current one, stronger and still relatively cheap. This isn't gonna the wheelset of my dreams, it is just to get my feet wet and get me a good wheelset.

ThermionicScott 

It is strange that they don't come out and say it in words, but all four of those rims have the characteristic tubeless-ready shape. And my hunch is that their lawyers wouldn't let them list tubeless tape and tubeless valves as optional items if they didn't endorse using them with those rims.

To back up what @jimc101 posted, note that the TK540 rims list "rim tape -- non tubeless" under options.

WhyFi

They all have the typical tubeless channel in the middle of the rim bed and all of them list tubeless tape and tubeless valve stems as available options. Do it up.

dsaul

I can tell you for certain that the M442 is tubeless ready, because that is what I have on my mountain bike and they are set up tubeless.

jimc101

i'm not looking at all of them, but for this on, about half way down the page, it says options - Tubeless