Best road bike wheels in 2022 | 32 road wheelsets tried and tested by our experts, 1,600 / $1,939 / 1,900 / AU$2,921 as tested, Great ride quality from redesigned hookless rims, Read our full Zipp 303 Firecrest wheelset review, Carbon gravel wheelset thats tubeless-ready without taping, Campags first carbon gravel wheelset, the Shamal comes with the N3W freehub body, so it will work with the. Theres a 28mm-deep disc brake version available too. DT Swiss says the wheels are more stable in crosswinds than before and, anecdotally, they feel faster than other wheels in this depth. These ERC 1100 wheels are 500 more than the ERC 1400 wheels, with the main difference being the ceramic bearings. Wider rims support wide road and gravel tyres a lot better and improve aerodynamics by smoothing the interface between the tyre and the rim. More areo than the original Hadrons, theyre also more stable than many other deeper section wheels weve tested and their lateral stiffness makes for a keen ride. Theyre expensive though, especially when compared to the already excellent Zipp 303 Firecrest. Theyre 20mm wide internally and built up on DT Swiss 180 Dicut hubs with SINC ceramic bearings. Zipp is a brand often associated with high-end bikes, but at 1,031 the 303S wheelset brings the brands tech to a lower price point. They usually consist of an inner tube sewn into a fully enclosed tyre casing, which then has to be glued or taped onto a compatible rim. The wheelset uses HEDs own hubs. Tubeless tubulars do exist (i.e. A gravel or all-rounder wheelset, the Roval Terra CLXs are 25mm internal width and 32mm deep and handle gravel tyres as well as 28mm road tyres with aplomb, with the width adding stability to wider tyres. Hunt has wind-tunnel tested its 60mm-deep (which we tested) and 48mm-deep wheelsets against its competitors and says it equals or betters their performance. Other options are budget wheels from major brands, which can be well built and have parts that arent too expensive to replace. , and there are also Shimano/SRAM and XDR options. Theyre 21mm wide internally, quick to set up tubeless and come with easy-to-service, super-smooth cup and cone bearings, which can cope with plenty of abuse. Try us today to see why so many of our customers come back again and again. VeloElite provides these wheels with a range of different hubs, including Industry Nine and Chris King. Theyre tubeless-ready and laced with J-bend spokes to hubs with a 10-degree engagement freehub. At 1,585g, theyre reasonably lightweight and come with differential 35mm front and 40mm rear rim depths to add firepower without sacrificing steering agility. DT Swiss updated its ERC wheels in 2022 and this version tops the new range. For more info on road tubeless technology, check out our podcast episode where some of our most knowledgeable writers sat down to discuss the what, why and how of road tubeless tyres. Also included are disc-brake rotor lockrings and the rims come taped for tubeless installation. This might lead you to think the wheelset would feel less than optimal when heading into turns, but in testing we found ourselves cornering with greater confidence. Your information will never be shared unless compelled to by law. The DT Swiss hubs are reliable and provide rapid freehub engagement. Unlike the SES wheels, the Enve 65s 21mm internal/28mm external width rims are identical front to rear. Hunts 4 Season Aero wheelset is a dependable, relatively affordable and unfussy alloy rim brake wheelset that is great for all-season use. Theyre also lightweight (1,450g for the set), tubeless-ready and braking is great too, with the supplied SwissStop Black Prince brake pads combining with the rim for powerful and consistent braking. However, there are of course examples where the opposites are true. Measuring 37mm deep, 25.2mm wide internally and a whopping 32.6mm wide externally, Bontragers Aeolus Pro 3V TLR wheels are right on the cutting edge of road bike wheel design. Improvements can include improved ride quality, faster average speeds or just a lower weight something that helps with both acceleration and deceleration. Too tight and theres an increased risk of the rim cracking at the spoke attachment point or a nipple failing. The 49mm-deep, 32mm-wide front wheel has a more U-shaped profile, while the 54mm-deep, 30mm-wide rear is more V-shaped to compensate for this. This spline system hasnt changed a great deal in the last 20 years, with the exception of 11-speed forcing a wider freehub. Its perfectly possible to use an 11-speed Campagnolo cassette with a Shimano or SRAM 11-speed drivetrain (and vice versa) though, so you might not need to switch the freehub at all in that instance. Handbuilt wheels are commonly kept for training, long-distance and everyday uses. DT Swiss describes the CR1400 as an all-road wheelset. But with hundreds of bike wheel brands offering thousands of options, buying new wheels can be a confusing task. At 1,745g, theyre not light but feel more lively than that, with enough give to be comfortable without dulling the ride. The latest Campagnolo wheels use a new standard called N3W. Generally speaking, race wheels are mostly sold as factory options. This is the most common wheel type on road bikes. Confusingly, factory wheels are, in fact, commonly built at least partly by hand. Typically, the deeper a rim gets in its shape, the harsher the ride therefore climbing wheels are often more compliant. We baulked at the 2,200 price tag though, when Roval makes significantly less expensive wheels with a similar spec but a little heavier and theres significantly cheaper competition. Even with only 35mm-deep rims, these wheels offer an aerodynamic performance advantage without being affected by side winds. When budget is no issue, a super-light climbing wheelset should weigh between 900g and 1,300g. Typical values are between 24 and 48, but some hub designs go much higher. The key distinction however is that factory wheels are built to an exact specification and you buy them as an off-the-shelf item, often with proprietary spoke and rim designs. Some brands quote points of engagement, while others tell you their hubs engagement angle, which is 360 degrees divided by the number of points of engagement. They roll on Zipps Cognition V2 hubs with a magnet-engaged freehub. Because of the high forces these rotors exert on a wheel when braking, disc-brake wheels often feature higher spoke counts, which add a little weight. Light. Naturally, then, theyre also tubeless-ready, with Bontrager supplying tubeless rim strips and valves with the wheels. SUMMER SALE | Try 3 issues of Cycling Plus magazine for 5 + Get a pair of Lusso cycling socks! Yes, there are cheaper aluminium options that will fulfil a similar purpose, but if youve just gotta have carbon wheels then these are a reliable option at a competitive price. Aerodynamic wheels have quickly become a popular choice for adding some free speed and creating that pro look. Tubeless setup was a breeze too, though the hookless rims (something thats more common on MTB wheels) means you need to be careful in selecting compatible tyres. The wheels are suitable for riding on rough roads and light gravel and can be set up tubeless. With superlative ride quality, impressive levels of stiffness and wonderfully smooth hubs, Zipps 202 NSW wheels have a lot to offer. If you look closely enough at your road bike tyre, youll likely see numbers such as 23-622 or 25-622. The Zipp 404 Firecrest wheelset is a superb wheelset for fast road cycling, offering low weight and a great ride feel that belies the 58mm-deep rims. We reckoned that was a fair trade-off for the 1,500 saving. Carbon Fiber Rim Brake Bicycle Wheels & Wheetsets, 1 product ratings - ~ Very Nice SHIMANO DURA-ACE 7800 WH-7800 Wheelset - Rare 2005 10 Speed Silver ~, 1 product ratings - J2Velosport J2-50 Carbon Clincher 25mm Wheelset. The ride feels fast and they handle well for their depth, being relatively unaffected by crosswinds. The 303S is aimed squarely at those wanting to go fast, but the wide 22.7mm internal width and recommended low tyre pressure bring gravel riding and cyclocross within the wheelsets remit. Simon also makes regular appearances on the BikeRadar Podcast and BikeRadars YouTube channel. Theyre laced up with alloy nipples, which contribute to the low weight of 1,296g. Just like with road bike frames, carbon fibre has become the standard material for performance race wheels, where stiffness, weight and aerodynamics are the priorities. The wheels are supplied with tubeless tape and we fitted 25mm Schwalbe Pro One tyres with no fuss. Designed in collaboration with aerodynamics expert Simon Smart, ENVEs SES 3.4 wheels have a differential rim height (a shallower front wheel and a deeper rear wheel) that is said to optimise aerodynamics, weight and stability. Luckily, our expert testers put dozens of wheels through their paces every year so you dont have to. DT Swiss specs the wheels with hybrid ceramic bearings, meaning ceramic balls in metal races. Another first-for-the-brand gravel wheelset, the Drifts aero 36mm deep hookless carbon rims are 24mm wide internally to handle tyres up to 60mm wide. The carbon rim is significantly wider than the previous version, internally and externally. The 404s have a hookless rim with an internal width of 23mm. Before joining BikeRadar, Simon was a freelance writer and photographer, with work published on BikeRadar.com, Cyclingnews.com and in CyclingPlus magazine. However, if your bike has disc brakes, this isnt a concern. As the name suggests, tubeless tyres dont require an inner tube just like a car tyre. Already have an account with us? We are committed to delivering outstanding value and service to our customers, every day. Below the best list is our extensive buyers guide to road wheels, too. Something went wrong. The HED Ardennes RA Pro is a high-value alloy wheelset, suitable for less-than-perfect tarmac, cyclocross and all-road riding. Another benefit of such a wheel is seen in ride quality. Supplied with ENVEs own tubeless tape and valves, our test set weighed in at a respectable 1,491g with Chris Kings well regarded R45D hubs and their build quality impressed as much as the ride quality. Recently there has been a trend towards wider rims because they offer greater tyre volume and a stiffer wheel, which in turn provides a more comfortable ride, improved bike control, lower rolling resistance and potentially fewer pinch flats. Zipp says that the wavy profile of the 45mm-deep rim gives it the aerodynamics of a deeper wheelset, with the variable-sized, clustered dimples helping with crosswind stability. See Shipping for details. Its built around DTs lightweight, aero 240s hub with its sophisticated freewheel ratchet. They are accurately machined and the bearings are well sealed but easily serviceable. Tubeless setup is easy, with a secure seal to the rim, and the 1,746g a pair weight is good for a wide alloy rim. The confusing part is that some brands quote external rim width, while others internal. The rims have hooks, meaning you can use pretty much any tyre even gravel tyres up to 50mm, according to the brand. Because rims on rim brake bikes wear out over time with braking, particularly if youre riding through winter, having a cheaper set of wheels for training can extend the life of your race wheels. Tubeless setup was pleasingly easy and braking is good in the dry too, though it does suffer in the wet somewhat (as often with carbon wheels). Get a Snycros iS Couple bottle cage when you subscribe to Mountain Biking UK today! The wheels have a high build quality. Aluminium still sets the benchmark for braking performance on rim brake wheels, especially in wet conditions. For all-round riding, these wheels are an ideal blend of aero and efficiency with enough stiffness for sprinting and short, sharp climbs. Simon von Bromley is a senior technical writer for BikeRadar.com. Theyre 21mm wide internally, quick to set up tubeless and come with easy-to-service, super-smooth cup and cone bearings, which can cope with plenty of abuse. But find a tyre that fits and the wide rim combined with the low pressures you can run with a tubeless setup means this version of the 404 is much more comfortable than its predecessor. Theres a fast ride feel thats unaffected by gusts. SRAM 11-speed cassettes use Shimanos spline system, so are cross-compatible. Look for a small dimple or groove on the surface of your rim this is a wear indicator. We were impressed at the wheels ability to smooth the road and add comfort to our rides. There is a slightly vague feeling to the wheels when accelerating out of the saddle, but this doesnt impact cornering. Furthermore, the switch to tubeless tyres and disc brakes has also shaken up the market substantially, with new designs pushing the boundaries of what was previously possible on road bikes. Looking at internal width, anything under 14mm is considered very narrow, 20mm and over is wide and anything between is sufficient for common 25mm tyres, although theyll sit happily on wider rims too.