Shimano MTB chainring compatibility (M442 : deore)

[robjh]

I have a 5 year-old Shimano M442 chainset running 44/32/22 chainrings, all of which need replacing. I could go for a whole new chainset, and upgrade for example to the FC-M590 Deore for about £65, but as I have no noticeable problems with my current cranks or BB I was looking at replacing just the chainrings.

There are a whole range of Shimano LX and Deore chainrings in the right sizes, eg. in the M440, M580, M590 ranges.

Are all of these chainrings compatible with each other, and with the same cranks?

 

[I like Skol]

Just buy the NEW 442 CHAINSET for £21 delivered, you won't get individual rings for less. I just fitted one of these to a friends bike about 2 weeks ago and was very impressed with it for the price. The M590 is Hollowtech II and the bottom brackets have a poor reputation for lifespan.

 

[robjh]

Just buy the NEW 442 CHAINSET for £21 delivered, you won't get individual rings for less. I just fitted one of these to a friends bike about 2 weeks ago and was very impressed with it for the price. The M590 is Hollowtech II and the bottom brackets have a poor reputation for lifespan.

Any idea what the differences between the chainrings on the M442 and the M590 (or similar) Deore ones are? I'm guessing it's weight, but anything else, eg. durability ?

 

[I like Skol]

Any idea what the differences between the chainrings on the M442 and the M590 (or similar) Deore ones are? I'm guessing it's weight, but anything else, eg. durability ?

I have the M590 on my hybrid and the rings are durable steel. The M442 rings are...... durable steel. IMO they are almost the same chainset but one is square taper and the other is a more fashionable Hollowtech, hence the price difference. Get the 442.

 

[Howard]

It's possible the rings on the 590 are produced with better precision and may have better profiling for more consistent shifting. Possible - who knows?

But ultimately cranks aren't really where upgrades are felt, and moving to Hollowtech adds other complications - you'd have to get your BB shell cleaned up (faced) for example.

£20 on the 442 seems like money well spent.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Any idea what the differences between the chainrings on the M442 and the M590 (or similar) Deore ones are? I'm guessing it's weight, but anything else, eg. durability ?

The way it goes is by the time you get to XT and XTR the rings are not steel (plus some plasticy thing they call carbon composite), saving you 350/400g for the complete chainset/bb combo, but with no obvious benefit in durability, ime. Some chainsets below XT have different rings in different materials. The lightest rings are around half the weight of a steel set (i.e. ~150g lighter), with the rest of the set weight reduction accounted for by the arms and bb which are semi-integrated for the Hollowtech systems. For most people who value durability, even if they don't care about the cost difference, would be best off getting the M442 (because it is square tapered) and, if necessary, a matching UN55 bb.

 

[robjh]

I've gone and ordered another M442 chainset. Clinching arguments were the surprisingly low price with Chain Reaction, and the fact that I've had no complaints about my current one over the last 5 years.