The best lightweight wheels will help you to climb more easily as well as provide faster acceleration and make your bike feel all-over more lively. They're a natural complement to the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best lightweight bikes.
Much of the weight-shedding gains can often come from the rims, which lowers inertia so that you get a more rapid take-off than with heavier options. Lightweight wheels🌄 are also typically carbon-heavy, with carbon hubs and even carbon spokes often featured.
Many of the all-rounder 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best road bike wheels we've shortlisted have deeper r📖im depths and provide greater aero benefits. You don't have to sacrifice aerodynamics by reducing rim depth to keep a lightweight wheelset's weight down t💜hough and you can find lightweight wheels with rims up to 60mm depth but still skimming under 1,300g weight.
Her♛e's our pick of the best lightweight wheels you can buy. Further down, we've got a guide to how to choose the best lightweight wheels for yourꦆ needs.
The Cadex 36 Disc wheelset boasts all the lateꦓst tech, including hookless beads and carbon spokes for a wheelset weight of 1,302g. Cadex even has its own tyres designed with wheels for aero gains and improved tubeless fit.
The Partington MKII R Series whee𝓡ls are some of the lightest disc clinchers around. Featuring carbon hub sh🎉ells, spokes and rims. They roll on CeramicSpeed bearings as standard
Lightweight has held a reputation as a manufacturer of some of the lightest wheels on the planet for decades. These wheels are under a kilo for the pair but are rim brake on꧂ly.
At 1,265g, the updated Roval Alpinist wheels are among the lightest availaꦗble and this second version is now tubeless-ready. Despite their lack of weight, they're stiff and they hold speed well on the flat too.
The 353 NSW wheels weigh 1,290g and have Zipp's sawtooth rim profile t♏hat varies between 42mm and 45mm depth and a wide 25mm internal rim that's designed to fit 28mm or wider tubeless tyres.
The Vision Metron 30 SL wheels are sub 1500gram clinchers that are a little more affordable and well-rounded than some of the more exotic option﷽s here. Featuring a 30mm ൲depth front and rear and a hooked 19mm internal rim width.
The latest set of wheels from ♏Cadex didn't set out chasing a reduction in weight. Instead, it was designed to be an all-day wheelset that balances weight, a🅘erodynamics, stiffness and comfort. Being designed with a depth of 36mm, hookless bead and carbon fibre spokes, a positive side effect is that they come in as some of the lightest wheels available today.
Weighing in at 1,302g, they are beatable on the scales (and for less money) but the performance they offer extends beyond a reduction in weight. The carbon fibre spokes offer extreme stiffness without being harsh, the ceramic bear🌞ings 💜offer increased durability and efficiency, and the wide internal width maximises stability and cornering confidence.
But most impressive is Cadex's continued ability to make tubeless wheel systems that just work. In all our testing with all three of Cadex's tubeless wheels, the tubeless tyres have been a breeze to fit, and have retained air perfectly - no snapped tyre levers, a𝓰nd no leaks whatsoever.
All in🧸 all, while the price is high, the Cadex 36 is a wheelset that works in all scenarios, so is a great choice ඣfor those looking to own a single wheelset that will perform brilliantly no matter what your ride entails.
If you're looking for a deeper section wheel, don't discount the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Cadex 50 Ultra Disc, which we weighed at 1,316g in🌄cluding tape and valves when we tested them.
Partington has a single wheelset range, The R Series MKII which has a 1,160g claimed weight, despit꧃e its mid-depth wheel profile which is higher at the rear than the front as well as having a different profile.&nbs🍃p;
Partington has worked with CeramicSpeed to develop the carbon hub shell and the bearings. The rim profile is fi🐬lled with low-density aerospace-grade foam which the brand says adds to its rigidity.
The wheelset uses rim-to-rim carbon spokes, which Parting♕ton says adds to their exceptional rigidity compared to other wheels of this weight. As with the Campagnolo Bora Ultra wheels, there's a non-pierced rim bed, which means no taping, saving yet more weight. The wheels are hooked and can be run with tubes or tubeless. They're stiff and hold speed really well on the flat, but deliver an obvious return when🦂 climbing at a little over a kilo for the pair.
If your search for lightweight wheels is purely one-dimensional and the reduction in wꦅeight is literally the only thing that matt🧜ers, then you needn't look further than a brand called Lightweight.
The Lightweight Meilenstein Obermeyer wheels are tubular in design and are some of the lightest wheels available today. At 935 grams pe♔r pair, they are lighter than many deep-section rear wheels aloꦕne.
However, they come with a few downsides.✤ Not least the price, which hovers around the £5,000 mark. They are compatible with tubular tyres and rim brakes ♛only.
They also have a particularly old-fashioned V-shaped rim profile, which has been proven to be less aerodynamic than a more blunt shape, although on terrain where you're going to need t𝐆hese wheels, aerodynamics probably doesn't make much of a difference.
Race proven at the highest level
(Image credit: Specialized)
4. Roval Alpinist CLX II
One of the lightest pair of clinchers on the market
Reasons to buy
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The wheels' stiffness is impressive without being jarring
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They manage to hold speed better than expected on flatter ground
At 1,265g including tape and valves, the Alpinist CLX II is one of the lightest options on this list, which makes it an exciting proposition given the price is reasonably competitive among th🎉e best lightweight wheels. Of course, they're still a big investmen🌌t, but they're less than half the price of the most expensive wheels on this list.
While the original wheels were not tubeless compatible, the version II is, with the hooked bead extending tyre compatibility. Thanks to th🍨at minimal mass, their acceleration is instant and they climb like little else we've ridden. The 33mm depth means crosswinds aren't an issue, and despite expecting them to suffer aerodynamically ꦫon the flats, they hold their own much better than we anticipated.
Wide internal rim width means round tyre shape which increases cornering stability
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Great stability in crosswinds
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Great weight for their depth
Reasons to avoid
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Minimum tyre compatibility of 28mm
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High RRP
The Zipp 353 NSW was launched as the lightest wheel ever produced by Zipp and, at 1,290g (with XDR f🌃reehub and tubeless valves included), they're extremely competitive. This weight reduction is made possible thanks to Zipp's switch to hookless rims, the sawtooth rim design, and a redesigned clutch that uses fewer parts.
They're designed as🐷 a 'road en💃durance' wheel, meaning despite their low weight, they're not restricted to short-term hill climbs. Instead, they are ready to be ridden all day long.
With a particularly large 25mm internal rim width, they come with a minimum recommended tyre width of 28mm, which is perfectly in line with current road bike trends, and is also pretty future-proof. That rim width means 28mm tyres are given a nice rounded ܫprofile, which offers extreme grip, stability and confidence during corners, to a level that is quite possibly the best on the market. It also makes for a more aero tyre-to-rim transition.
These are disc-brake and tubeless-type only, yet 🌊like any tubeless-ready wheelset, you can still fit an inner tube should you wish.
The downside, however, is th🐷e huge price tag, and if it's purely the minimal mass that you're after, there are similar-weight wheels available for less. 🧸;
Affordable carbon performance
(Image credit: Vision)
6. Vision Metron 30 SL
Affordable and trouble-free carbon climbing wheelset trusted by the pros
Reasons to buy
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Affordable
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Balanced rim depth for all-round performance
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Trusted lineage and reputation
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Tubeless-ready
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Easy tyre fitment
Reasons to avoid
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Not the lightest option, but reliability makes up for it
The Vision Metron 30 SL is the brand's climbing focussed wheelset. At 1,470g, they may not be the lightest option here but when it comes to reliability and all-round performance, they deliver in spades. U༺nlike some of its rivals, Vision offers both rim- and disc-brake options whichꦇ broaden its appeal to a bigger audience.
Furthermore, the Vision Metron 30 SL wheel family is 🃏available in tubular and clincher TLR versions - it all depends on your individual preference. Measuring in with a 19mm internal rim width, the Metron 30 SLs are right up there with contemporaඣry standards allowing you to run wider rubber and lower pressures.
The 2:1 spoke lacing pattern ensures stiffness of the highest order without compromising ride quality, enabling the wheels to respond instantly to pedal inputs - a boon for out-of-the-saddle attacks. The wheels are compatible with most hub standards; Shimano 10/11-speed, Sram 10/11-speed and FSA 12-speed. Like all of V✱ision's products, the Metron 30 SLs are covered by a two-year warranty.
Best of the rest
(Image credit: Josh Croxton)
7. Black Inc 28//33
Purpose designed for the new Factor O2 VAM
Reasons to buy
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Hooked bead for compatibility with a wide range of tyres
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Aero efficient across broad range of yaw angles
Reasons to avoid
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A little shallower than some lightweight options
Released in 2023 alongside the updated 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Factor O2 VAM lightweight/aero bike, the Black Inc 28/33 wheel⭕set has a claimed 1,142g weight. Black Inc says that this is thanks to😼 a nano-impregnated resin, high modulus T-700 and T-800 carbon fibre and an offset spoke bed.
The rims have a hooked𝓰 bead, so they're compatible with a wider range of ꧅tyres than a hookless design and are aero-optimised for 28mm tyres on the 23mm internal width rim. Black Inc says that they're aerodynamically efficient at a wide range of yaw angles.
The alloy hubs are thru-axle compatible and are available with the full range of freehubs including SR🦩AM XDR and Campagnolo N3W. They turn on CeramicSpeed ceramic bearings for that touch more speed.
The weight isn't exceptional, but it's competitive at this price point
In our Parcours Ronde Review, we concluded that the Ronde wheels hit a sweet spot between comfort, handling and all-out speed, thanks to the solid build and stiffness-to-weight ratio. But more impressively, they do so with a c👍ompetitive 1,423g weight and an impressive £1,049 price tag.
They achieve this by designing two al💖together separate rims, the froﷺnt is 35.6mm deep and 32mm wide, while the rear is deeper at 39.3mm but narrower at 30.5mm.
The result is a stable front wheel that tracks well through corners and remains unaffected by crosswin🅺ds and a rear wheel that benefits from extra aerodynamic performance.
Beautifully finished wheels with rather special hubs
Reasons to buy
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Visually striking
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Hidden spoke nipples for extra aero performance
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Ceramic bearings
Reasons to avoid
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Can easily get lighter wheels for less money
The headline features of Campagnolo's Bora Ultra WTO 33 wheels aren't the most impressive in this list, but once you get to riding them, you begin to understa💙nd why so many people love the Campagnolo brand.
At 1,385g, they're 130g heavier than the lightest tubeless-ready wheels featured here, and yet they still request a ratherꦺ high asking price. However, there is so much more to the😼se wheels than meets the eye. Firstly, the rim itself is completely sealed, meaning there's no need for tape or plugs when setting them up tubeless. The spoke nipples are hidden inside the rim, and they're laced to an all-new striking-looking hub. These hubs encase a 36-tooth ratchet system with Campagnolo's own CULT ceramic bearings for speed and efficiency.
They a🦩re disc brake and tubeless only,𝕴 and their 21mm internal rim width is bang on trend with the progression towards wider tyres.
Heavier than similar-priced, similar-depth options
When our reviewerཧ put these wheels to the test, the only negative he came aw♍ay with was the price tag, proving that the Bontrager Aeolus RSL wheels are a darn good set of wheels to use.
Everything about them checks the future-proof boxes. They are tubeless-ready, disc-brake compatible, and feature an on-trend 21mm internal width. The 37mm depth is a few mm deeper than some of the purebred lightweight wheels here, meaning they capture a little bit of the extra flat-land aerodynamic performance without gaining too much weigh༺t.
At 1,360g, they're not the lightest mainstream wheelset available, but they're certainly sprightly on the 🦹climbs.
Syncros has managed to pack a mid-depth 40mm rim with a wide 25mm internal width into a wheelset with a claimed weight of just 1,170g. The Syncros Capital SL wheelset ℱisn't just available in this depth though, there's a 60mm depth ඣwith a claimed 1,290g weight. For the depths, both wheelset weights are impressive.
It's achieved𒀰 this using a 💃similar rim-to-rim carbon spoke design to Partington and a patented process which it says achieves high tension in its 16 spokes front and rear.
Syncros has worked with Schwalbe to develop new Pro One Aero tubeless tyres in 28mm width to help increase the Capital SL wheels' aerodynamic performance. These have differential front and rear characteristics, with the front tyr🍰e more aero and the rear tyre more durable and grippy.
Rim internal width is a little narrow by modern standards
Another lightweight wheel☂set with a rim-to-rim monocoque carbon spoked construction, the Mavic Cosmic Ultimate 45 Disc has a claimed wheelset weight of 1,255g.
It's a little deeper than some here at 45mm, with a profile designed for aero efficiency, although its 19mm internal width is a little narro🅘w by current standards. Mavic says that it's compatible with 25mm to 32mm tyres and the undrilled rim means that you can s⛦et up tubeless without the need to add tape.
The carbon hubs include a free hub with 40 points of engagement and Shimano 11-speed compatibility, a🧸lthough you can also convert to SRAM XDR or 🅠Campagnolo N3W. The wheels are thru-axle but are also convertible to quick release by replacing the end caps.
How to choose the best lightweight wheels
Before splashing out on the first set of wheels you set eyes on, it's worth looking at the various attributes that make up the best lightweight wheels. Not only are the following factors fundameꦏntal in terms of compatibility with your bike (disc, tubeless, wheel width), but they also have a direct impact on the strength, efficiency and longevity of a wheel.
Are lighter bike wheels better?
Reducing the rotational mass of a wheel is a far more important upgrade than tryi🌠ng to lighten your frame. If you think about it, climbing wheelsets are around 350-500g lighter than the aero equivalent, so not only are you losing total mass, you get the added benefit of saving energy (and wattage) to overcome inertia.
Of courꦇse, all else being equal, a lighter wheelset will be faster, but 'all else' is never equal. Reducing weight will usually come at the ♒expense of something else. That could be depth, strength, or even compatibility with tyres.
Take a moment to consider your requir🅺ement for aerodynamics. If you're only ever riding along on the flat, then a lightweight pair of wheels will ultimately be slower than a heavier, more aerodynamic pair.
Are disc brakes heavier than rim brakes?
Despite their surge in popularity, and the many benefits that come with them, dis🐽c brakes are indeed heavier than rim brakes, so if you're a weight weenie trying to keep your setup as minuscule as possible, you might want to bear this in mind.
On the other hand, disc brake wheel rims can be built lighter than rim brake wheel rims, as they don't need to handle the forces and heat generated by braking. They can also be wider and have a more aero profile because they don't need to fit into a rim brake calliper. This has also driven the trend to 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:wider tyres on road bikes, themselve💛s potentially faster, mo꧑re comfortable and more aero than the 23mm tyres of yesteryear.
Of course, if you o🤡nly have one bike to work with, then that will already dictate which type of braking system you'll be using. A disc-brake wheelset won't work with a rim-brake frame and vice versa. When choosing the best lightweight wheels for your bike, you'll need to ensure you get the correct braking type.
Are thru-axles heavier than quick-release?
Again, yes. With disc brakes came the requirement for stiffer axles, and the solution was 142x12mm thru-axles. Modern disc brake bikes will usually have these thru axles. Modern rim brake bikes will usually still use quick release skewers, and the best lightweight wheels tend to follow the same script.🐻 But just to be on the safe side, double-check your bike's axles and ensure your new wheels match or can be converted🗹.
Which rim depth is best for lightweight wheels?
Lightweight wheels for climbing possess a far shallower profile than their deep-dished brethren, usually arounౠd 25-🦂40mm, which is great for climbing and cross-winds but not so much for straight-line efficiency.
For many, however, the sacrifice in aerodynamics is worth the gain in gravity-trumping weight. It all comes down to the type of terrain you ride - if your local training roads are mountain♕ous or hilly then it's wise to go with a climbing wheelset; if it's flat or rolling, go aero.
Are carbon wheels worth it?
While it's no secret that carbon is stiffer, more responsive,൲ and better at absorbing vibrations than aluminium, there isn't much of a weight discrepancy between the two materials. In fact, in some instances, alumi෴nium is lighter, and it's certainly cheaper. If the wheels listed in this guide are a little on the steep end of your budget, then look to aluminium for some cost savings.
Do lighter tyres make a difference?
The best lightweight wheels are all about keeping weight to a minimum while still retaining stiffness so it's imperative that you choose a tyre that complements its function - there's little point in fitting chunky 30mm tyres as this defeats the purpose. It's also worth considering the compatibility, as, with the introduction of tubeless wheels and hookless beads, not all tyre manufacturers are 澳洲幸运5开奖๊官网在线查询开奖结果:guaranteed to be compatible.
The brands behind all of the best lightweight wheels will have ꦛa tyre compatibility chart that tells you what's safe (and more importantly, what's not safe) to use.
Note too that the trend to wider rims may mean that a tyre that's nominally 25mm wide plumps up closer to 28mm on many wheelsets. You're getting the best of both worldꦓs: a lighter tyre and added tyre width.
Should I go tubeless?
Almost all wheels are now tubeless-ready, so you can set a pair of tubeless tyres up without inner tubes. Compared to butyl inner tubes, 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:tubeless sealant will save you a slug of weight. It's more nuanced if you want to spend more and fit latex or TPU inner tubes. Tube-type tyres are usually lighter than even the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best tubeless tyres.
One source of rolling resistance is the friction between the inner tube and the tyre casing, which you'll avoid by going tubeless. It's more significant with butyl inner tubes than with 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:latex inner tubes. Tubeless also reduces the risk of pinch flats and tꦓhe sealant provides some added puncture protectionꩲ.
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 tꦿhroughout that time he's covered everything from buyer's guides and deals to the latest tech 🉐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 convenience and fitness, and outdoors for fun on road, gravel, 'cross and cross-country▨ bikes, the latter usually with his two dogs in tow.
