Wheels are often the first place people look when it comes to making an upgrade because they can have a dramatic affect on the way your bike rides. Lighter wheels are easier to accelerate, more aerodynamic wheels make it easier to hold high speeds and tubeless-ready wheels should reduce your chances of suffering a puncture.
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But all these benefits come at a cost and the more of them that are built into a wheelset, the more that wheelset is likely to cost. So if you’re pockets aren’t as deep as the Mariana Trench, you’ll probably want to prioritise certain benefits over others depending on the type of riding you tend to do.
If you’re riding sees you heading into the hills a lot, then weight is going to be high on your list. The less a set of wheels weighs, the less effort it’s going to take you to propel them up the climbs, meaning faster ascents and more summits.
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On the other hand, if you prefer riding time trials then speed and efficiency trumps weight so you’ll be looking for wheels with the best possible aerodynamic performance. That, generally speaking, means greater rim depths, fewer spokes, carefully shaped cross-sections and possibly even hidden nipples.
For riders that like to lark about off-road — at cyclocross races or gravel-grinding events for the more fashionable, on-trend types — wheels that can handle wide tyres, harsh treatment and a lot of grit, mud and water are going to be the ideal. This by no means rules out ‘traditional’ clincher-tyre wheels with a track for rim brakes, but tubeless-ready wheels that rely on disc brakes are carving out a widening niche for themselves for this sort of riding.
Or, you may just want a decent ‘jack of all trades’ wheel that can make a decent hash of any type of riding you want to do aboard your road bike. And the good news is there are plenty of these to choose from. Bottom line is, as long as it’s round, fits your tyres and matches your braking system, you can ride any wheel; it’s just that some are a little more tailored towards a particular purpose.
Stan’s NoTubes Avion Disc Pro
- Price: £1,900 / US$2,250 / AU$3,250
- Competitively priced compared to rivals
- Light, durable and stable in crosswinds
- Pump up tyres for a fast and comfortable ride
DT Swiss RR 21 Dicut
- Price: £650 / US$ N/A / AU$ N/A
- Compatible with clinchers and tubeless tyres
- Reasonably wide internal width creates a bigger tyre profile
- Low weight and a great ride quality
Zipp 404 NSW
- Price: £2,150 / $3,100 / AU$ N/A
- Price: Front £950 / $1,350 / AU$ N/A Rear £1,200 / $1,750 / AU$ N/A
- High-performance all rounders
- High-tech materials, mechanisms and design
- Light, fast and great with wider tyres
Mavic Ksyrium Pro Carbon SL C
- Price: £1,425 / US$ N/A / AU$ N/A
- Light yet stiff enough to resist flexing even under sprinting or out-of-the-saddle-climbing
- Quick and easy to accelerate
- Outstanding braking in the wet or dry
Zipp 202 Firecrest CCL Disc
- Price: £1,920 / US$2,100 (Front $950, Rear £,1150) / AU$ N/A
- Stable and responsive
- Quick to accelerate, especially on the climbs
- Carbon rims with assured braking thanks to the addition of discs
Vittoria Qurano 46 Graphene
- Price: £1,199 / US$1,999 / AU$3,250
- Great braking for carbon rims
- Ingenious freehub that allows tool-free removal
- Fast and plush ride feel
Mavic Ksyrium Pro
- Price: £675 / US$ N/A / AU$ N/A
- Slightly wider rim than previous Mavic offerings
- Stiff and snappy enough to keep heavier riders happy
- Lightweight package that includes Mavic’s own tyres
Mavic Ksyrium Elite
- Price: £675 / $799 / AU$1,099
- A great value, versatile pair of wheels
- Include improved versions of Mavic GripLink and PowerLink tyres
- Wider rim to accommodate wider tyres
Mavic Ksyrium Pro SL T
- Price: £1,575 / US$ N/A / AU$ N/A
- Featherweight carbon wheels
- Better bed for broader tyres, thanks to wider rim
- Instant drive and rapid, responsive handling
3T Discus C35 Team Stealth
- Price: £1,500 / $1,900 / AU$ N/A
- Carbon rims that work with almost all disc brake and axle standards
- Offset rim design for added durability
- Understated good looks
Zipp 30 Course DB
- Price: £800 / US$1,000 / AU$1,599
- Fast, comfortable go-anywhere wheels
- Available in disc/rim brake and tubular/clincher configurations
- Wide rims improve ride feel and contact-patch grip
Curve Cycling CC38
- Price: £ N/A / US$ N/A / AU$2,679
- Wide front rim for better steering and impact resistance
- Clincher rims that are tubeless-ready
- Great hubs and fine, fast handling
Rolf Prima Ares4 ES
- Price: £1,499 / US$1,899 / AU$3,150
- A rapid and surefooted platform
- Predictable handling under braking and in the wind
- A little aero advantage with only minimal weight penalty
Hunt Race Season Aero Wide
- Price: £399 / US$529 / AU$604
- Good value and good looks
- Tubeless ready
- Stiff, comfortable and lively
Bontrager Aeolus 5 TLR D3
- High-quality hubs and spokes
- Durable, tubeless-ready wheels
- Fast and stable in crosswinds
DT Swiss RC28 Spline C Mon Chasseral
- Stiff and lightweight
- High-quality build
- Great performance, particularly on the climbs
Easton EA90 SLX
- Price: £1,050 / US$ N/A / AU$ N/A
- Wide rim for broad tyre stance
- Swift, lively feel
- Easily up to dirt road riding and cyclocross
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