Chain Compatibility by Chainring Tooth Profile
Wolf Tooth is committed to provide the most precision components possible and has three different tooth profiles for optimal performance based on your chain type.
| Tooth Profile | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Tooth Profile |
Drop-Stop® B |
Drop-Stop® A |
Drop-Stop® ST |
| Chain Compatibility | |||
Chain Compatibility |
All 9, 10, and 11-speed Chains 12-speed Chains:
Not compatible with 12-speed Shimano HG+, KMC, or 13-speed Campagnolo chains |
All 9, 10, and 11-speed Chains 12-speed Chains:
You can use Drop-Stop B when Drop-Stop A is not available* Not compatible with 12-speed SRAM Transmission (T-Type) and Road Flattop, 12-speed Shimano HG+, 12-speed KMC, 12-speed Campagnolo, or 13-speed Campagnolo chains |
12-speed Chains:
Not compatible with all other chains |
| Details | |||
Details |
 Tooth shape is nearly identical to Drop-Stop A, but has narrower teeth. Valley between teeth is deeper to accommodate larger rollers on Flattop chain. Outside faces of narrow and wide teeth touch chain to guide alignment. Drop-Stop B Chainrings |
 The original Drop-Stop tooth profile. The wide teeth are wider than Drop-Stop B. Outside faces of narrow and wide teeth guide chain alignment. Drop-Stop A Chainrings |
 Narrower teeth than Drop-Stop A. Wide teeth use Symmetric Trapezoidal (ST) profile to match extended inner edge on chain to create alignment (outside faces of wide teeth do not touch). Interaction of narrow teeth and chain are similar to Drop-Stop A and B. Drop-Stop ST Chainrings |
*We are in the process of migrating most Drop-Stop A to Drop-Stop B to make them compatible with SRAM Road and Transmission (T-type) Flattop chains.
DROP-STOP A
- Wolf Tooth Drop-Stop A is the original patented wide/narrow chainring compatible with multiple drivetrain brands including all 9, 10, and 11-speed chains; 12-speed SRAM Eagle; KMC; Wippermann; etc.
- NOT compatible with 12-speed SRAM Transmission (T-Type) Flattop, 12-speed Shimano HG+, or 12-speed Campy
Drop-Stop A Chainrings
DROP-STOP B
- Compatible with all 9, 10, and 11-speed chains; 12-speed SRAM Eagle; 12-speed SRAM Transmission (T-type) Flattop; 12 and 13-speed SRAM Road; 12-speed Campy; and 12-speed KMC
- Not compatible with 12-speed Shimano HG+ chains
Drop-Stop B Chainrings
DROP-STOP ST
- Compatible with 12-speed Shimano Hyperglide+ chain and 12-speed KMC chain only
- Symmetric Trapezoidal (ST) tooth shape is optimized for Shimano HG+ chain
Drop-Stop ST Chainrings
Quick-Links & HG+ Chain
- 12-speed Shimano Hyperglide+ Quick-Links have an inside width narrower than the rest of the chain so there will be interference if you use any chainring not specifically designed for HG+ chains.
- The extended inner link plates of the HG+ chain will also quickly wear into the wide teeth of a non-HG+ chainring so the hack of using a KMC quick-link on Shimano chain is not a recommended solution
- The HG+ chain requires a chainring specifically designed to be compatible with its unique shape
How do Wide/Narrow chainrings improve chain retention?
On a wide/narrow chainring the wide teeth guide the wide chain links and prevent excessive lateral motion of the chain. Thus the chain has a guiding force on both the narrow and wide links compared to a standard chainring where only the teeth contacting the narrow links aid in alignment
What causes a chain to fall off when riding with a traditional chainring?
In most cases, chains fall off when they bounce up and down and simultaneously move laterally out of plane. The narrow-only teeth of a conventional chainring allow this lateral movement when they interface the wide links on the chain. When the unguided chain lands outside of the chainring tooth it will fall off as you pedal.
