The best gravel wheelsets can help transform the ride and performance of a gravel bike. There are multiple different gravel bike categories now, but whatever type of riding you are doing a wheels🥂et upgrade is one of the biggest upgrades you can make.
Fast forward a few years and there is a broad spectrum of gravel bike-specific wheelsets to choose from in both 650b and 700c sizes. Current gravel wheelsets are lightweight but strong and wide enough to cope with off-road abuse. They provide a far better fit for the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best gravel tyres (particularly tubeless ones) than in 🏅year💞s gone by.
If you are still unsure where to start when choosing a new wheelset, we have a useful guide at the bottom of the page to help you make the right decision for your type of ridi🧔ng.
A complete update of all the products in the guide. Every product recommended is backed up with real-world testing and in-depth reviews by the Cyclingnews Tech team. An 'Also consider' section was added to give readers more options that while not making the main list, are also worth considering.
Zipp's 303 Firecrest wheelset has been around for almost half a decade yet its goldilocks design means it's still𒁏 one of the best gravel wheelsets you can buy. When our product tester Guy Kesteven first reviewed these, he said they were the most quietly rapid, comfortable, versatile, responsive and enjoyable drop bar wheels he's ever ridden. Despite a fair bit of innovation in the gravel space over the last few years, ꦆwe still think this rings true.
The 40mm deep rim profile feels fast and efficient without becoming worrisome in windy weather, plus the 25mm internal rim width gives all but the fattest gravel tyres a g🎶reat shape. Ride quality is superb, especially when you consider it's a deep-section rim, and they have proven to be robust and durable enough to handle🔯 rough tracks and poor weather.
Even compared to the wider rims and lower pressures flooding the best gravel wheels market, the Zipp 303 Firecrests are, accordin💖g to our review, a "mic-drop moment". Pair that with a user-friendly setup, t⛄he top quality warranty and a more affordable price and the Zipp 303 Firecrest is really one of the best gravel wheels around for the majority of gravel riders.
Most affoꦇrdable and even some mid-range gravel bikes will come equipped with alloy wheels. While there is nothing wrong with alloy wheels, the models you get stock on bikes are usually not the best, so upgrading to a carbon set brings several advantages. Parcours Alta is an excel🥀lent option for those looking for a boost in performance at an outstanding price.
Rim dimensions are all in the ballpark for modern gravel riding measuring 36mm deep, 24mm wide internally and 33mm wide externally. Althou๊gh the 1500g weight can't compete with lighter and mor🌼e expensive wheelsets, it should save a good chunk of weight over a basic alloy wheelset.
Most importantly they ride well too, when Will Jones tested these wheels he found the Parcours Alta to be a step up in speed and aerodynamics compared to the ♑stock wheels they replaced. The rims use a more flexible resin for the side walls which helps with vibration absorption without sacrificing stiffness.
There are of course some concessions to be made for the low price point. There are no aero claims so although the U-shaped rim doesn't feel draggy in any way, if you want aero performance you may be better 𒁃off stumping up a little more for Parcours 47mm deep FKT wheelset. The 26t ratchet ring means hub engagement is a bit slow but for general riding, it's not an issue.
Help provide more speed, traction and comfort on gravel
+
Freehub should be easily serviceable
+
Standard J-bend spokes and external spoke nipples
Reasons to avoid
-
Slightly less responsive handling and line changes at speed
-
Small range of compatible tyres currently
SRAM launched 303 XPLR SW wheelset claiming it to be the fastest♏ gravel wheelset ever. Chasing increased gravel racing speeds, aerodynamic considerations, support for low-pressure cornering, and pinch flat protection, the resulting spec numbers are more radical than anything else on the market.
The 54mm deep rim profile isn't a surprise, we all know a deep rim will offer better aero performance at race speeds. The rims also get Zipp's dimpled tech which is also found on the 303 Firecrest. To support larger gravel tyres gravel rims have been getting wider but none🉐 come close to the huge 32mm inner diameter of the 303 XPLR SW. Despite being wider than most MTB r💯ims, the 303 XPLR SW are designed specifically to give tyres between 40mm and 60mm a better aero profile.
Tom Wieckowski reviewed these wheꦉels and out on the trail the wide profile helped generate a ton of grip from the Goodyear XPLR Inter 45mm tyres that were supplied with the wheels. They aren't a gravel wheelset for smashing through technical sections, but on the high-speed race-style segments they are designed and for set up with Zipp's recommended pressures they are very fast and surprisingly smooth.
The pursuit of speed does result in some limitations. Inserts don't work, because the rim bed is too wide, and SRAM is pretty specific about the tyres that are compatible with these wheels. They are designed in conjunction with Goodyear XPLR Slick and Inter tyres, but if you want to runꦍ a different brand, Zipp has an approved tyre list for these wheels on its website.
25mm internal width is compatible with a wide range of tyres
+
Light at 1,270g
Reasons to avoid
-
No specific aero claims
The Cadex 35 AR Disc wheelset sits on its own in Cadex's gravel/all-road and hits the sweet spot between lightweight and stro⭕ng reliability. The 1,270g wheelset weight is impressively light and enhances climbing withou𝕴t the feeling like they need to be handled with care when it comes to descending down the other side. A 60-tooth ratchet driver gives the wheels a responsive kick when putting the power down too.
The 35 AR Disc has excellent, fuss-free Cadex hubs that in our testing, have managed to shrug off the worst that winter riding could throw at them despite being subjected to around 1500 miles / 2400km in January and February. The hubs are als🐈o equipped with ceramic bearings giving the wheels a long-lasting smooth ride.
The hookless design shapes the tyres into the best possible shape for optimum traction, producing a rounder tyre shape for better grip and sidewall support. The only real dow♌nside for fans of all-out performance is that the wheels make no specific claims around aerodynamic efficiency, which will be a markdown for anyone with designs on being at the pointy end of a race nowadays.
Differential to other wheels is less at lower speeds
-
Cup and cone bearings may be a negative to some
These striking wheels from Fulcrum aren't technical🌟ly gravel wheels, instead, the Sharq's sit in the ambiguous all-road middle ground. Ignoring the labels, when Will Jones tested the Sharq's, their consistent performance on fast terrain was obvious.
Part of this performance can be attributed to Fulcrum's 2-Wave profile, which varies between 47mm and 42mm in depth. Not only does this help the whꦚeels efficiently cut through the air but it gives the Sharqs a noticeably stable character w🏅hen dealing with crosswinds.
Will Jones remarked that they aren't as whippy and responsive as a shallower depth rim, but the low 1,440g weight means they never felt sluggish at slow speeds. The deep profile and smooth spinဣning ceramic bearings definitely come into their own on faster rides which is why they are so suited to riders looking to mix uജp gravel and road sections.
The rims feature a 25mm, with a 'mini hook' design to ensure tyre security and compatibility. The width supports tyres from 30mm and above, covering most large road tyres and fast-rolling gravel tyres. Fulcrum has simplified the tu♌beless setup by not drilling the rim bed, foregoing the need for rim tape.
Compared to some of the other gravel wheels on this list, the DT 🎃Swiss GR1600 Spline 25s are pretty affordable, but that doesn't mean they compromise on quality. Of course, y😼ou get what you pay for, and this wheelset does feel chunky compared to lighter carbon models and the hub engagement is very slow, but you gain bombproof reliability that you'd expect from DT Swiss. The wide rims can take gravel tyres as fat as your frame can handle, and a great ride feel, all for a price that's easy to swallow.
Durability can be hard to quantify as it's hard to replicate and repeat impacts. That said, considering the GR1600 Spline 25 happily shrugged off the enthusiastic riding n🌱ature of Guy Kesteven's testing and my own experiences battering a set of these wheels down rugged gravel tracks and MTB trails, these are a properly tough set of gravel wheels.
In terms of ride feel, they hit a sweet spot between harsh and soft, tough enough to cope with low-pressure bumping, and a pleasure to ride on even the most punishing terrain. If you're not keen on the slow-engaging ratchet drive, you can easily upgrade the ratchet d🌺rive. Bearing life is great too and if they do need serviced, it's also easy to pop off and service at home.
Out of all the gravel wheels we have reviewed on Cyclingnews the above options are t🐬he ones that we think are the best options, howeܫver, there are several other options that we think are well worth considering if you are in the market for new gravel wheels.
Hunt is known for producing some high-performance yet competitively priced wheels. While we haven't had hands-on experience with the latest Hunt 40 Limitless, we really rated the previous generation 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Hunt 42 Limitless gravel race and adventure wheels and would expect the newer generation wheelset to offer equally impressive performance. Both 42 Limitless wheels featured a deep aero rim profile that gives a noticeable aero advantage over a standard rim on fast rides. Handling characteristics are impressive and durability has been faultless over the꧃ 4000km I have personally ridden using these wheels.
If you're interested in increasing the gear range of your gravel bike, Hunt has a Classified equipped wheelset. The 澳洲幸运5🍌开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Classified x Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel꧟ Race Wheelset pairs Classified's two-gear planetary hub system with its 40mm deep carbon gravel rim. The wheelset doesn't include the Classified internals, they need to be𒆙 purchased separately which increases the overall cost plus the system adds a little more complexity when setting up.
澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Zipp's 303 S sits below our best-in-test gravel wheelset although despite sharing the same 303 namesake it's not꧋ just a budget Firecrest. The 303 S rim is a little deeper at 45mm and narrower with a 23mm internal, it will handle up to 50mm tyres but Zipp says they are optimised for 28mm tyres. The result is a fast, budget-friendly wheelset that is more road-leaning than the overachieving Firecrest.
If you are looking for a smooth spinning gravel wheelset with an exceptional aesthetic the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Campagnolo Levante is a great option. The Levante's spin effortlessly and when free♊wh🧜eeling the sensation is more akin to gliding than rolling. Racers will want to look elsewhere as the 30mm deep rim doesn't make any aero claims however the rims C-LUX finish gives them an ultra-premium feel.
Forge+Bond is a bit of a left-field option but the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:F+B 25 GR wheelset has a uni🧔que selling point. The rims don't use carbon fibre, rather a material F+B calls FusionFibre. This is a proprietary thermoplastic composite material that uses nylon, rather than epoxy. Without going deep into the manufacturing process FusionFibre is said to reduce the number of chemicals and waste during production, plus it's possible to downcycle FusionFibre when it reaches the end of its life. Potential eco-claims aside the F+B 25 GR gives a snappy, responsive, ride feel although the 25mm height doesn't offer any aero advantages and is expensive compared to similarly performing wheelsets.🍨
How to choose
Look closely and you will be able to tell a difference between a gravel wheelset and a road-specific one, especially the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best road bike wheels which will tip the scales at under 1400grams per pair. Gravel wheels will feature wider rims to accommodate wider, gravel-specific tyres as well as make them♛ burlier to withstand the rigours of off-road abuse and riding.
There are different categories of riding that fall under the gravel umbrella now and this will influence your buying choice. If you are planning on competing in events and races on your gravel bike you may want to consider a stiffer, more aerodynamic wheelset that will offer some performance advantages in competition. If you want a wheelset upgrade that will cope with everything then perhaps consider an aluminium wheelset with a higher spoke count and look into spare part availability and ease of hub servicing. Gravel riding often involves a lot more mꦫud and water and easily serviceable components will help protect your investment long-term.
What size wheels do I need?
This is going to be led initially by your frame; if it can only run either 700c or 650b wheels then you'll have to stick to what will work for your frame. Many fra🌄mesets now have the option to run either size, so which one is right for you?
Generally speaking, 650b wheels can ac⭕commodate a wider tyre than the larger 700c size, with a small sacrifice in 🌳rollover (how easily the wheel itself rolls over bumps).
In simple terms, a 700c wheel will be the choice for fast riding on narrower tyres, especially with tarmac sec𓄧tions sprinkled in, whereas for rougher adventures we'ꦯd recommend you opt for 650b. Smaller wheels are also stronger, so if you are worried about strength for a loaded tour then perhaps opt for the smaller size too.
It's worth nothing that from an industry perspective we've seen fewer 650b tyres being available in recent years, perhaps indicating that 700c is being settled on as the de facto 🦩standard, so if you want to be totally futureproof we'd suggest going with 700c.
Centrelock or six-bolt discs?
This decision will be dictated by the disc brake rotors you already have on your bike. Most gravel bike groupsets are equipped with centre-lock rotors, so this is the more commonly found spec in wheels too, but it's worth knowing 🗹the difference.
A centre-lock system relies on a single lock𓄧ring that threads directly to the hub of the wheel to attach the disc to the hub, the same kind that holds your cassette to the freehub in most cases. It's a simpler system and allows for a lighter hub too, but with heavier rotors themselves. If you are working on your bike you can use the same lockring tool to remove cassettes and rotors.
The six-bolt mounting system uses six T25 Torx bolts to mount the rotor to the hub shell and has b🐓een around for a few decades.
Neither is advantageous enough to warrant an intentional swap, so in our opinion, stick with what you've got and save yourself from having to buy a new pair of compatible rotors. You can also buy adaptors to get around any 🍨potential issues.
Are wider rims better?
And what about gravel deep sections?
Rim with, in terms of performance for a disc brake wheelset, will be referring to the interꩲnal width of the rim.
Road rims generally vary between 17mm and 21mm, but you can find gravel wheels much wider than that. to make the most of mode༒rn tyre widths you'll want to go for something around 21mm unless you're running particularly voluminous rubber.
External width does play a part in terms ofౠ aerodynamics, but given 🎐the variety of tyre widths that are possible to run on a single rim, it's hard to offer specific aero benefits without also quoting a specific setup.
As for deep-section wheels, the aero obsession from the road has yet to translate into truly gravel-specific deep aero wheels, especially as handling is more of a consideration here. For most riders, 30mm dꦑepth is a good point to aim for in this regard.
Are carbon wheels better than alloy?
'Better' depends on the metric you are using. In terms of absolute performance then the best gravel wheelsets are invariably going to be made of the black stuff, but they will also be significaﷺntly more expensive. Also, while they're stronger in testing, when they do fail it's usually catastrophically, rat🙈her than alloy rims which tend to bend or buckle.
If y🧔ou're on a tighter budget, there are a myriad of fantastic alloy options out there, so don't be put off by the material they're made of.
Should I go tubeless?
The mꦬajo𒉰rity of decent gravel wheelsets nowadays will be tubeless ready, as will the best gravel tyres, so even if you're still staunchly using inner tubes against the general industry trend then you can make the switch one day if you so wish.
While tubeless for the road is a hotter debate, gravel tubeless, like disc brakes, has become the norm for good reason. It offers better puncture resistance and allows you to ride at lower pressures without risking pinch flats. Sure, you might have to carry an emergency tube just in cas෴e, and they're more of a faff to set up, but the advantages while out riding more than make up for it in our view.
Testing gravel wheels requires testing over a lot broader a range of surfaces than road wheels. We give each set a thorough run out on tarm൲ac and broken roads, through smo♛oth tarmac, to terrain where you could justifiably say you should have bought a mountain bike.
Rocky descents test the longevity and strength of the components, and as we're oꦫut in all weathers we are also able to tell you if the hubs are impervious to grime over a whole winter or whether the rubber seals are as effective as a chocolate teapot.
Testing is the backbone of the tech department at Cyclingnews and 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:how we test is taken s✱eriously, so read on to find out 🎐more.
Josh is Associate Editor of Cyclingnews – leading our content on the best bikes, kit and the latest breaking tech stories from the pro peloton. He has been with us since the summer of 2019 and throughout that time he's covered everything from buyer's guides and deals to the latest t🌳ech news and reviews.
On the bike, Josh has been riding and racing for over 15 years. He started out racing cross country in his teens back when 26-inch wheels and triple chainsets were still mainstream, but he found favour in road racing in his early 20s, racing at a local and national level for Somerset-based Team Tor 2000. These days he rides indoors for 𒁏convenience and fitness, and outdoors for fun on road, gravel, 'cross and cross-country bikes, the latter usually with his two dogs in t🐻ow.
