Upgrading the wheels on your road bike is one of the best performance-enhancing upgrades you can do as best road bike wheels can increase speeds, reduce rotating weightꦚ🔥 and improve reactivity.
The biggest ♍performance gain from upgrading your road wheels is aerodynamics, although you can opt for deeper or shallower, 40mm to 50mm is typical for the best all-round performance. This depth offers aero efficiency without excess weight and without becoming difficult to manage in crosswinds.
It's difficult to compare wheelsets' aerodynamics based on manufacturers' claims, as protocols differ and results may be presented differently. So we took 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:18 mid-depth wheelsets to the Silverstone Sports Engineering wind tunnel in November 2024 to te🌳st them head-to-head under the same conditions.
The full results are available to 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Cyclingnews subscribers, whose subs helped to pay for wind 🥀tunnel time, but we've used them to inform our picks here.
Below you'll find our picks of the best road bike wheels we've tested here at Cyclingnews and lower down there's a buyer's guide to how to choose, as well as an explainer of some of the terms you'll come across when looking for♎ the best road bike wheels.
Al💧though the sawtooth profile and low weight are the talking points for the Zipp 353 wheels, it was the comfortable ride and crosswind stability that we found most impressive.
The fastest wheelset in our wind tunnel tests and particularly efficient at high yaw angleꦡs, the Scope wheel𒁃s are low weight and designed for wider tyres too.
Cadex's wheels offer a 50mm depth with a 1,316g weight that puts them in the lightweight category too. They're matched with Cadex tyres for aero efficieꦚncy.
Enve brings versatility to the table with it༺s SES 4.5 wheelset. They're light and aero-optimised at 32kph. They're also wide and hookless, stable when descending and com🐠fortable.
Updated the products to reflect Cyclingnews Labs' latest wind tunnel testing results, rest of the products were all checked to ensure the remaining products in the guide were still relevant and up to date. Navigation was updated to improve readability and navigation.
✅ You want ride comfort: The product offers exceptional ride comfort, which stands out compared to competitors.
✅ You want crosswind stability: The sawtooth profile handles crosswinds extremely well.
Don't buy it if
❌ You don't want limited tubeless tyre compatibility: ꧒The hookless beads ܫand 25mm internal width restrict the number of compatible tubeless tyres.
Although the low weight and sawtooth profile grabbed headlines, it was the ride comfort on offer that stood out for us. The sawtooth profile is eye-catching and is designed so that with the wind straight on, the 353 NSW behaves like♋ a 45mm depth wheel, while at greater yaw angles, it behaves like one that is shallower - clever.
With less material, it's also lighter and we weighed the wheelset at 1,307g with tape and valves. We rated the crosswind ♚stability, which we found to be a notch above the competition. We also enjoyed the new, simpler hub design, with an elastomer spring that makes the 54-point of engageme☂nt freehub very quiet.
There are some compromises: the hookless beads and 25mm internal width mean that there is only a limited number of tubeless tyres that are compatible and there's also the high price tag. We've not wind tunnꦦel tested these Zipp wheels either, so we can't quantify the aero benefits.
✅ You want great aero performance: The wheelset excels in aero-optimization, performing well at high yaw angles and across a range of speeds, making it ideal for both low and high-speed conditions.
✅ You want a lightweight deep-section wheel: At 1,280g for a wheelset, the 60mm deep Artech is impressively lightweight.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want a premium finish: The 3D printeꦚd alloy hub shells are prone to surface corrosion and the logos can c𒉰hip off.
The Scope Artech wheelset was the lightest wheelset and also saved the most watts in our wind tunnel test: over 10🐻 watts at 40km/h. They sail well at high yaw angles, as well as performing among the best across a range of speeds at lower angles൩ and in a straight headwind.
Although we tes🔥ted with 28mm tyres, the 6.A signifies Scope's all-road format, which Scope says is aero-optimised for 30mm width. In any case, our tyres measured up at 30.6mm on the 25mm internal width rims.
Weight reduction comes from low spoke count carbon spokes, as well as 3D printed alloy hub shells and a titanium ratchet free𒀰hub, although bearings are high-quality🌃 steel rather than ceramic.
✅ You want an optimised rim and tyre combination: Cadex designed the rim and tyre in conduction to maximise aeroperformance performance.
✅ You want lightweight performance: The Cadex 50 Ultra Disc wheels weigh only 1,413g, placing them among the best lightweight wheels withou💮t sacrificing depth.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want consistent aerodynamics: The wheels perform better with 25mm tyres, but when used with 28mm Schwalbe tyres, their aero efficiency isn't as imﷺpressive, which could limit their versatility.
The 1,316g weight of the Cadex 50 Ultra Disc wheels puts them in the realm of the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best lightweight wheels, but without excessive depth. They come with an 🦩aero hub with 40 points of engagement that's connected to the hookless rim using 5.2mm wide carbon spokes with an aero blade profile. The wheels are stiff, s🔴o you get good reactivity, but they're also comfortable and stable.
The 50 Ultra Disc wheels are designed to work as a system with Cadex's matching tyres, which have a profile tuned to up the combinaౠtion's aerodynamics, although they're optimised for 25mm wide tyres, which is now a little narrow.
In our wind tunnel tests with 28mm Schwalbꦅe ಞtyres, they performed mid-pack, saving around 8 watts at 40km/h versus our Fulcrum Racing 5 baseline, although the more comprehensive testing by Giant, Cadex's parent company, suggests better performance with a range of 25mm tyres.
Cadex has a battery of tests to back up its aero claims for the 50 Ultra wheels, which you can read about in our review. We also put them in a 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:three-way test with Enve🅰 and Roval wheels, wherꦆe their weight and stiffness shone forth.
✅ You want a comfortable ride feel: They are some of the most comfortable road wheels we've ever ridden.
✅ You want a hooked rim design: Hooked des꧅ign 🦂is compatible with more tyre options.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want the best aerodynamics: The Roval's didn't offer as much aero performance inꦺ our testing.
The original Roval Rap🍌ide wheels needed to be run with tubes, but version two has added tubeless compatibility. The wheels are wide, with an external width of 35mm front and 30mm rear, with differential 51mm and 60mm rim depths and different rim profiles. The front is designed for stability and the rear for aerodynamics and power delivery. In the aero hubs are ceramic bearings and a DT Swiss Ratchet EXP freehub.
We rated the Roval Rapide CLX II wheels both fast and comfortable when we tested them as part of a three-way test with Cadex 50 Ultra and Enve SES 4.5 wheels. The hooked bead ensures wide tyre compatibility for tubeless running too. In fact, when Josh Ross tested these wheels, he found them to be some of the most comfortable road wheels he's ever rid🐼den.
♓Our late🤡st wind tunnel test was of the Roval Rapide CL II, which shares the same rim, but with lower-priced hubs and spokes and a slight weight increase to 1585g. Our results showed a saving of over 7 watts at 40km/h versus our reference wheelset, although Specialized says that this doesn't align with its own results.
✅ You want a top spec yet affordable wheelset: The Sub50 are competitively priced and can be upgraded to carbon spokes and ceramic bearings for extra performance.
✅ You want lightweight performance: The Sub5ඣ0 is a great option for riders 🔴focused on reducing weight while maintaining aero performance.
Don't buy it if
❌ You don’t want potential limitations from hookless rims: While they improve comfort and volume, hookless rims may limit tyre compatibility for some riders.
❌ You want the best descending stability: The Sub50 can't quite match the most stable 50mm deep wheels on descents.
The Hunt Sub50 Limitless Aero Disc is Hunt’s latest move to show the💃y can hang with the big names in the wheel game. It’s a lightweight, aero-focused wheelset that’s built with everyday riders in mind—but with plenty of high-end tech, including carbon spokes and CeramicSpeed bearings upgrades if you want to save weight and reduce rolling resistance.
In our wind tunnel test, the Hunt Sub50 wheels saved over 8 watts at 40km/h and scored well for 🎃efficiency at both higher and lower speeds, unlike some other wheels tested.
Not only does the 49.5mm rim depth cut through the air efficiently, but the rims also have a 34.2m🦂m external, 23mm internal width that is perfect for modern 28–3🎃0mm tires, giving you more comfort and better aero without the weight penalty.
🐠On the road, the Sub50's feel super light and quick to accelerate, especially if you opt for the carbon spokes and ceramic bearings. They’re comfy over long distances and handle wider road tyres well, adding extra tyre volume and r𒐪ide comfort. There's not quite the stability when descending that the 60mm depth offers though.
✅ You want everyday aero benefits: With aero optimisation at 32km/h, it offers performance gains at realistic speeds for most cyclists, not just professionals.
✅ You want versatility: The Enve SES 4.5 performs well across different terrains, from road to gravel, making it ideal for a variety of riding conditions.
Don't buy it if
❌ You don’t want hookless limitations: The use of hookless beads may limit compat🤪ible t♐yre choices and can be a drawback for some riders.
Enve pitches the SES 4.5 as the most versatile wheelset in its lineup, light but aero and with a 25mm internal rim width that adds a couple of millimetres to the tyre width, so that the 28mm Schwalbe tyres in our wind tunnel test a▨ctually measured 30.1mm.
E𒁃nve's aero rims are optimised at 32km/h r🐬ather than the more normal 45km/h, so their aero qualities are more geared to everyday riders than the pro peloton, despite their use by UAE Team Emirates.
The front wheel is lower profile than the rear, for greater crosswind stability and Enve uses hookle🐎ss beads. The wide rims make for very stable descending and they're comfortable for th💎e long ride; they can easily be set up with wide tyres for gravel riding too.
We tested the Enve SES 4.5 wheels as part of a three-way group test with wheels from Cadex and Roval and rated thei🌜r versatility and ri✱de quality.
Best road bike wheels for affordable deep sections
Reasons to buy
+
Affordable
+
Good aero performance
+
Three-year warranty and crash replacement guarantee
+
Easy tubeless setup
Reasons to avoid
-
Lack of brand cachet
-
Minimalist aesthetics may not appeal to all
Buy it if
✅ You want great performance: The Scribe wheels outperformed most competitors in wind tunnel tests and saved over 9 watts at 40km/h, making them highly aerodynamic.
✅ You want solid aftermarket support: Scribe offers a lifetime crash replacement, a three-year warranty, and a trade-in scheme, providing excellent post-purchase support.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want to run wide tyres: The 21mm internal rim width is on the narrow side by modern standar♔ds, which might limit optimal tire performance for some users.
They may not have the cachet of some other brands' offerings, but the sub-£1,000 Scribe wheels bettered most in our wind tu𓆏nnel tests and, at 1442g many on weight as𝓰 well.
The 21mm internal rim width is quite conservative too, although our 28mm test tyres💦 did measure up at closer to 29mm. There was a saving of over 9 watts at 40km/h versus our Ful🉐crum 5 reference wheelset, placing the Scribes on the aero podium.
Scribe backs its wheels up with a lifetime crash replacement scheme, a three-year warranty and a trade-in scheme. It's also one of the few brands to offer a rim brꦐake as well as a disc brake option.
Beyond our wind tunnel work, we've not yet reviewed the Scribe Core Superlight wheels, but we've road-tested the brand's predecessor wheels of the same depth, you can read about those inour Scribe Aero Wide+ 60D wheels review to get the full picture.
Best money-no-object wheelset
(Image credit: Will Jones)
8. Syncros Capital SL Aero
Most stylish option
Reasons to buy
+
Stunning monocoque design
+
Low weight
Reasons to avoid
-
Very expensive
-
Non-replaceable spokes
Buy it if
✅ You want aerodynamic efficiency: The wheels showed a 10-watt-plus saving at 40km/h, indicating excellent performance in wind tunnel tests.
✅ You want a lightweight deep-section wheelset: At just 1311g for a 60mm depth set, these wheels are impressively light.
Don't buy it if
❌ You are prone to damaging wheels: The one-piece monocoque design means spokes can't be trued or replaced if damaged.
❌ You don't want to spend loads of money: At just 1311g for a 60mm depth set, these wheels are impressively light.
The runner-up in our wind tunnel testing, we found a 10 watt-plus saving at 40km/h for the Syncros Capital SL versus the Fulcrum 5 baseline.&nꦏbsp;
The wheels are fully monocoque, with the rim, spokes and hub flanges built as one piece.🍃 This results in a very rigid structure and allows Syncros to reduce the spoke count to just 16 front and rear. This does mean that they can't be trued and damaged spo൲kes can't be replaced though.
On the 23mm rim bed our 28mm tyres measured 30mm and 🐭the 1311g weight is low for their 60mm depth. There's no need for rim tape either, which helps sav✨e weight and simplifies tyre setup.
The corollary𒉰 of the bleeding-edge tech and amazing looks i🍰s an eye-watering price tag, the highest of the 18 wheelsets we took to the wind tunnel.
Tyre format: Hooked clincher/tubeless (tubular option)
Rim width: 21mm (internal)
Spoke count: 21/24 front/rear
Weight: 1,240g
Reasons to buy
+
Agile handling
+
Low weight
+
Robust
Reasons to avoid
-
No specific aero claims
Buy it if
✅ You value exceptional handling: They ride like shallower wheels, delivering sharp, agile, and responsive cornering, especially on descents.
✅ You want premium aesthetics: The high-gloss finish, seamless unidirectional carbon♑, and subtle Italian styling make them a visual standout.
Don't buy it if
❌ You prioritize measurable aerodynamic performance: There are no concrete aero claims or data to support speed gains, which is unusual for a wheelset in this price range.
❌ You want maximum comfort on rough roads: Their stiffness, while aiding performance, can lead to a harsh ride over uneven or poor surfaces.
Claimed to be an all-rounder wheelset, the Campagnolo Hyperon Ultras aim to balance aerodynami🦋cs, weight and handling. T𝓡hey look great too, with a luxurious gloss rim finish, seamless-looking unidirectional fibres and classy graphics.
We lamented the lack of any aero claims or hard numbers, altꦑhough, in fairness, these are easily manipulated a𒉰nd every brand claims that its wheels are the fastest. At 1,240g a pair, the wheels are impressively lightweight though.
Handling feels more akin to a much🌜 shallower wheelset and the Hyperon Ultras are taut and stiff with low inertia. That tautness does detract from ride comfort a little, with a skittish ride 🌸on poor surfaces. They don't lack durability, holding up absolutely fine during our testing and the cobbled streets of Bristol left no chipping, no denting, and still they were still straight as an arrow afterwards.
✅ You want razor-sharp handling and smoothness: The Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels deliver excellent on-road control and a smooth ride, making them ideal for high-performance cycling.
✅ You want lightweight strength: At just 1,410 grams, they offer an impressive combination of low weight and strong impact resistance, great for all-road adventures🐬.
Don't buy it if
❌ You don’t want tyre limitations: These wheels are only compatible with 28mm+ hookless tyres, restr🐻icting 🌃your choice—especially with brands like Continental.
Pushing the boundary of road wheels, Zipp's 303 Firecrest offers phenom𝓰enal per𓆉formance both on and off-road.
They offer razor-sharp handling and outstanding smoothness on-road, complemented by the low weight - just 1,410 grams with tubeless valves - when the road picks up. That weight becomes astonishing when you consider the impressive impact strength on offer, making the 303 Firecrests an outstanding wheel for fast-going all-roaꦯd use.
The only potential downside is that you'𒆙re limited - according to Zipp's recommendations - to 28mm ty𒁃res and up, although, in reality, that's the way the trend is going, so our advice is to embrace it. Being hookless, you're also limited to tyres that are hookless compatible, and that rules out everything from Continental besides the GP5000 S TR, AS TR and TT TR.
✅ You want excellent value: The wheels deliver top-tier aerodynamic performance at less than half the price of competitors.
✅ You want stability at speed: They remain stable on fast descents, enhancing rider confidence and safety.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want wide tyres: Our testing found these wheels to be fastest when fitted with a 25mm tyr♊e.
Hunt 🗹threw away constraints on wheel width and profile when it designed the Hunt 60 Limitless Aerodynamicist wheels and the result is a wheelset that has a 21mm internal width, but an external width that bulges out to 34mm. Hunt has🐼 a patented hybrid structure to keep weight in check at 1,670g.
Although Hunt says that the wheels are optimised for 28mm tyres, our wind tunnel tests found that they were more aero when fitted with 25mm rubber. They also came out as the second-fa🥃stest overall, which is impressive given they cost less than half the price of others.
On the road, our review found that they were stable too, which we felt particularly on fast descents. With hooked rims, there's wide tyre compatibility and you're not paying the earth for top-notchܫ aero performance.
✅ You want versatility: The 303 S wheels are compatible with a wide range of tyre widths (25–50mm), making them suitable for varied riding conditions on-road and off.
✅ You want a smoother ride for less: An efficient, smooth ride at a more affordable price point.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want proper gravel tyre support: Gravel riders using wider tyres may find the 23mm internal rim width limiting.
❌ You want more tyre choice: The hookless rim design may limit tyre choice.
Many will see the 303 S as an affordable ꦬversion of the Firecrest, however, while the ticket price is lower, there are some key differences. The rim is 5mm deeper and has a narrower 23mm internal rim width.
If you're lookin𝔍g for a wheelset that will offer versatility, then you could do much worse than the 303S wheels, which are compatible with tyres from 25-50mm wide. With that said, gravel riders looking to run wider gravel tyres will be better served by the 25mm inte💯rnal width of the 303 Firecrests.
They weigh 115g less than their predecessor and fall under Zipp's Total𓃲 System Efficiency ethos for wider and lighter wheels. This results in a smoother, faster and more cultured ride for a great price.
Harnessing the latest trend for wide tyre, low pressure, they're suitable for on-r🥂oad and ofꦡf, and as a bonus, they come with a lifetime warranty. Tubeless tyre installation is a breeze thanks to the hookless rim design, although not all tyre brands are compatible, most notably Continental (except the GP5000 S TR).
✅ You want excellent ride performance: The Aeolus RSL 37 wheels deliver flawless handling, grip, and stability, especially in crosswinds.
✅ You want easy setup and maintenance: Tubeless setup is simple, and the DT Swiss hubs are light, durable, and easy to maintain.
Don't buy it if
❌ You don’t want to spend a lot: The high price tag is a significant downside, even for a premium product.
❌ You want cutting-edge design: The 21mm internal width isn’t as progressive as some competing options.
When our reviewer's only hang-up about the Aeolus RSL 37 wheels🐎 is the price tag, you know you're looking at an outstan🌞ding pair of wheels.
While not quite as progressive as some options here, the 21mm internal width will play nicely with road tyres, blowing them up nice and wide to help with lower tyre pressures, increase grip and handling, and avoid pinch flats. Tubeless setup is a cinch too, blowing up with little more than a cheap track pump, and ride 𝔉performance is simply faultless, especially when it comes to crosswinds.
They roll on DT S꧅wiss' new Ratchet EXP hubs, which are light, stiff,♚ durable, and super-simple to maintain, and if you manage to write off a wheel in the first two years, Bontrager will replace them and also backs them with a lifetime warranty.
✅ You want aerodynamic performance: Despite less-than-ideal test conditions, the wheels still performed respectably in the wind tunnel.
✅ You want easy tubeless setup: We found tyre setup to be a simple process.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want a lightweight wheelset: At 1750g, the wheels a♐re heavier than expected for their depth, especially noticeable on steep climbs.
The FFWD Ryot 55 wheelset is a pretty solid all-rounder that we'd happily recommend to racers ꦉand competitive club riders alike. When we took them to the wind tunnel, our testing protocols put them at a slight disadvantage (they were competing against wheels 5-10mm deeper, and we tested with 25mm tyres, while these are designed for use with 28mm) but despite that, they came out in a respectable 6th place.
Their weight is a little heavier than we'd expect for a 55mm wheel, at 1750g with ღvalves, but we only noticed that extra weight in theꦕ real world when trying to accelerate on a 12% climb.
During our testing, we had no issues with crosswin𓆏ds, no durability concerns, and tubeless setups were a walk in the park eachꦓ time.
(Image credit: Cyclingnews)
15. Enve Foundation 65
Best Enve wheels on a budget
Reasons to buy
+
Low price (for Enve wheels)
+
Wide hookless rim tech to help avoid rim damage and pinch flats
Reasons to avoid
-
Still not inexpensive
Buy it if
✅ You want strong aero performance: The Foundation🐷 65 wheelset scored well in ♌our wind tunnel testing.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want wider tyre compatibility: The aero optimization is specifica💖🌳lly for 25mm to 28mm tyres, which may limit broader tyre choices.
The Enve 65 wheels (Enve has dropped the Foundation moniker) come from Enve's lower-priced wheel range. Nevertheless, we were impressed by the aero performance in our comparative wind tunnel testing o🍸f 10 aero wheelsets, where they were the fourth best of those tested.
Enve says that the wheelset is aero-optimised for 25mm to 28mm tyre width and are tested at wind speeds from 32km/h up to 48km/h, so there's a wide speed range for which they've been aero-tested in development. They also inclu🀅de Enve's patented wide hookless bead tech, designed to protect the rim and your tyres from damage from a hit on poor road surfaces.
✅ You want versatile performance wheel: They are lightweight, fast on straights, and stiff without sacrificing comfort, making them suitable for varied terrain and year-round use.
✅ You want excellent value for money: The Hunts Race Aero Wide wheelset offers top-tier features and performance at a very competitive price point.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want to run wider tyres: The narrow 19mm internal rim doesn't support wider tyres as well as contemporory rims designs.
❌ You want carbon wheels: Alloy construction is durable but adds additional weight to the wheelset.
Hunts Race Aero Wide wheelset is incredibleℱ value for money when you consider what you get in the box. At this price point, there doesn’t appear to be anything that can match them. They’re light, they appear to be faster on the straights for the same eff💜ort, and they’re also very stiff without being uncomfortable.
You get🅰 decent hubs, in the form of Hunt’s Race Straight-Pull with 10-degree RapidEngage four-pawl freehub, high-quality sealed cartridge bearings fro🍬m Ezo, and the freehub is coated with H_CERAMIK coating, which Hunt says increases protection from cassette damage.
If you’re looking for a relatively𒊎 inexpensive wheelset that will suit the majority of your types of riding all year round (save for the harshest of winters) and can even be used off-road as well as on it.
Contrasting front/rear rim profiling for improved aerodynamics and performance
+
Affordable pricing
Reasons to avoid
-
Decals prone to scratching
-
Can only accommodate tyre sizes of 25c and up
Buy it if
✅ You want a performance budget wheelest: Aero considerations and excellant ride feel is offered🍰 at a compe𒀰titive price.
Don't buy it if
❌ You ride at slower speeds: The Strada's really come into their☂ own at 40kph and above.
As a robust, disc-equipped option, the Strade wheelset is versatile ꧂in that it can be used for both training and racing and can be run using traditional tubes or tubeless tyres, the latter will, of course, provide a far more engaging and granular riding experience.
The wheels use machined Parcours-branded alloy hubs laced in a 24 fr🦹ont/rear, two-cross pattern with Sapim CX-Ray aero spokes - the freehub body comprises a four-pawl, three-degree engagement system. Both hubs employ EZO cartridge bearings and centre lock disc threading and have bee🦩n optimised for 12mm thru-axles front/rear (adapter kits are available for other axle standards). The hubs can be optioned with ceramic Kogel bearings on request. The wheels come ready-to-ride as a tubeless application out of the box with pre-installed rim tape and valves, and freehub spacers for 8/9/10-speed cassettes.
Whether you're after a set of bombproof winter🅰 wheels, a race day only set of deep sections, or something in between that you can venture off down a gravel track on then there are going to be a few universal considerations that will inform any choice you make.
Rim width, tyre and tubeless compatibility, and braking options are going🐓 to be considerations alongside the usual budget constraints to make sure you get the most for your money.
Are wider rims better?
The trend in modern road bikes is moving towards wider tyres, so mode🐻rn wheels have wider internal widths to better support this wider rubber, all made possible by casting off the shackles of rim braking in favour of disc. If you have a road b🐈ike that can accommodate wider tyres (32mm isn't uncommon nowadays) then a wider rim (21mm internal or thereabouts) should be on your shopping list.
Conversely, if yoꦚu're still running rim brakes, an ultra-modern wide rim may not clear your brake caꦡllipers and frame, so make sure to consult the tech specs of your brakes before spending your hard-earned cash.
Are deeper wheels faster?
In general, deeper wheels wil🍌l be more aerodynamic, and therefore faster. However, bombing about on 80mm deep rims in a gale can be a frightening experience, as there﷽ is more material to catch crosswinds. Improved rim shapes, from a 'V' to a 'U' have certainly improved matters, but if you live somewhere super windy it's definitely something to consider before purchasing.
Deeper wheels are usually more expensive too, given the added material involve🦹d. They can take longer to get up to speed, so may not feel quite so nimble. They will also be heavier, and while heavier will naturally mean slower uphill, the aerodynamic advantages on offer can still be had at low speeds, so in many cases, you won't feel any performance drop when the road points up.
Can I use any tyre on any rim?
In a word, no. You can run non-tubeless tyres on tubeless rims, with a tube, and you can run tubeless tyres on non-tubeless rims with a tube, providing they're all 'clincher' syste💞m (i.e. designed for hooked rims). Some tubeless tyres however will only be tubeless compatible, and trying to fit an tube inside one will be a fool's errand. If you're unsure, check with the manufacturer as things can get confusing.
You can only run 𝐆tubeless with both a tubeless compatible tyre and rim combo, though Zipp wheels for e𓆏xample aren't compatible with 25mm Continental tyres, since the edge of the rim - known as the bead - is hookless.
Hookless rims are the new kid on the block, doing away with the hook on the inside𝄹 of the rim bead that locks the tyre in place. These are absolutely only usable with hookless-compatible tyres, or you risk a blowout.
Can I use rim brakes on a disc wheel?
In general, no. Some rims have a brake track, 💎but also come with disc-compatible hubs, but they're a rarity nowadays. Disc rims have 𝐆no brake track, so not only won't you be able to stop but you'll also likely damage the rim if you try and clamp a calliper onto them.
What freehub do I need?
Wheels come with a freehub to match the cassette that's part of your bike's drivetrain. Shimano 11-speed freehubs are compatible with Shimano drivetrains from 8 to ꦕ12 speeds and SRAM freehubs up to 11 speeds.
Otherwise, you'ܫll need a SRAM XDR freehub for cassettes from most SRAM 12-speed groupsets or a Campagnolo N3W freehub for Campagnolo drivetrains. Although in most cases you can spec the freehub at purchase, in some cases these might require you to buy a replacement freehub.
What are points of engagement?
Points of enꦏgagement refer to how many positions your freehub can engage with the wheels i🌊n when you start to pedal. More points of engagement will lead to faster pick-up or drive when you start to pedal.
You'll also see the degrees of engagement quoted sometimes. This is 360 degrees di꧙vided by the number of points of engagement. A freehub with 36 points of engagement will have 10 dꦺegrees of engagement, for example. More points of engagement will lead to a lower number of degrees of engagement.
What are ratchet or pawl freehubs?
Many freehubs use pawls to engage the freehub with the wheel🐟 hub. These are ♓sprung metal pins in the freehub body that engage with teeth in the wheel hub.
In contrast, ratchet freehubs have two tꦑoothed rings, one on the freehub and the other on the hub that are foജrced together by a spring to engage the freehub. This gives more contact points than a pawl mechanism and is potentially more robust. It can be lighter too sometimes.
What axle standards do road bike wheels use?
Rim brake road bike wheels have historically used quick-release s🦋kewers and or had 9x100mm front and 10x130mm rear axles. Over the last few years, that's changed, with most disc brake wheels using a 12x100mm front thru-axle and a 12x142mm rear thru-axle.
You occasionally find quick-release disc brake wheels with a 10x135mm rear axle. There are even fewer road bikes that use 12x110mm Boost front axles and 12x147mm Boost re𝓀ar axles or ܫthat use 15x100mm front thru-axles.
Often you can buy adapters from the wheel brand to fit other axle s🅷tandards, but it's worth checking that your bike is compatible with any new wheels you plan to buy.
How do we test?
You'll see from the above that we've invested in wind tunnel test👍ing of wheelsets, to provide a consistent set of head-to-head data. Actual weight and other specs are also important considerations which we ♔check.
But watts saved and wheelset weight only part of the equation, so we've also put in the distance on all the wheels above to compare ride feel 🔯and ride experience across a variety of riding and racing and a range of conditions, with the results documented in our detailed reviews.
Which wheelsets has Cyclingnews wind tunnel tested?
In al💛phabetical order, the wheelsets which we took to our November 2024 wind tunnel test were:
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 guide𝓡s 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.
