replacing a 9 speed with a 10 speed wheel / cassette

[Rob_T]

i currently have a 9 speed (shimano) cross bike that i use for communting. i've put 35mm tyres on them.

i have a spare set of wheels from my road bike with 25mm tyres that has a shimano 10 speed cassette. i've hung up my road bike for the winter, but don't want to be doing weekend rides on 35mm tyres as it is hard hard work.

if i simply replace the wheels will there be any issues with the putting effectively this 10 speed cassette on a drivetrain that is used to a 9 speed? will i have to do any major adjustments? a simple question if you know the answer, but i'm not sure!!!

[matt-ITR]

A 10sp cassette will fit on a cassette body that currently has a 9sp cassette.... if that is what you mean?
Bit confusing.

[andySC]

Your 9spd shifters won't be compatible with the 10spd. You'd need to change these to make it work. I'd whip of the 10spd cassette & put a 9spd on for the time being.

[hopkinsgm]

As others have said, a 9 speed Shimano cassette should fit on a 10 speed Shimano compatible freehub. One thing to be aware of tho - there are some small detail differences in Shimano compatible freehubs, and they're not all at 100% compatible as you might expect. The most well known of these is Mavic. If the wheels use Mavic hubs, you'll need a wee spacer to run a 9 speed cassette.

[Gren]

Will have to change the chain as well - 10spds are narrower

[shalmaneser]

Gren said:

Will have to change the chain as well - 10spds are narrower

That's just confusing him.

Short answer is that if you put your 10spd wheel on your 9spd bike it definitely won't work.

Longer answer is if you want to use the (currently 10spd) wheel you can remove the 10spd cassette and fit a 9spd one and it'll work just fine, although the gears may need a bit of indexing. Depending on the width of the rim the brakes may need some minor fettling too, although thats very unlikely to be an issue.

[khushy]

Ride the 35's through winter and when you get back on your road bike . . . . .