With goal of improving serviceability, Shimano is bidding farewell to its long-standing cup and cone design in favor of sealed bearings for its latest set of hubs.
Sitting at the top, the TC600 is intended for use with thru-axles, featuring twin double-row cartridge bearings and a labyrinth seal on the outside of the shell that’s designed to prevent contaminants from entering the hub.
Treated to an anodized finish, the TC600 offers 10 degrees of engagement.
At the next rung down, is the TC500 / QC500, which also uses cartridge bearings and a labyrinth seal. However, the hub can be converted between quick-release and thru-axles, thus the prefixes TC and QC.
Like its more expensive sibling, the TC500 can also be quickly changed between Microspline and HG freehub bodies.
There’s currently no word on pricing, but one should expect the hubs to be a common option on Shimano’s wheelsets going forward.
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