Of all the components that can affect the character of a bike, wheels arguably have the best ability to make or break the way a bike rides. A light and stiff (but not too stiff) wheel will make your bike feel like it’s gliding up a climb, help you effortlessly hold speed along the flats, and also improve steering accuracy. High-quality hubs keep things spinning along for years with a bit of elbow (or waterproof) grease here and there, and, most importantly, keep the elements out.
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With more options than ever, between carbon or alloy rims at different depths, clincher, tubeless, and tubular tyre compatibility, disc or rim brakes, and quick release or thru-axle options, finding the right wheelset to buy isn’t always straightforward.
We've compiled a list of our favourite mid-to-upper-range road wheels to help you find and buy the best road bike wheels for the money you have.
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What to look for in a set of road wheels
With everything from deep-section carbon wheels that prioritise aero performance over all else, to lightweight climbers and even bombproof alloy wheels that can be ridden through pothole after pothole and remain as true as the day you bought them, there are a few things to keep in mind when you’re shopping for a new set of hoops.
One of the first things you’ll see talked about when you click a review or a news story about a wheelset, regardless of their intended use, is rim width. Wide rims allow the wheel to better slice through the air while also creating more air volume inside the tyre, allowing you to run lower pressures and improving ride comfort.
It’s crucial to differentiate internal vs external rim width because they have different effects; internal width will affect how the tire is spread across the rim, and allow you to run something wider because the rim can support the casing. External width, while somewhat dependent on the internal size, is more closely related to aerodynamics. And, as wheels and tyres have become broader, an unfortunate side effect is that some newer wheels won't fit in older frames.
Best road bike wheels 2019
Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 series C60
- Depth: 60mm (also available in 24mm (C24) and 40mm (C40))
- Brake: Rim, Disc
- Tyre format: Tubular, tubeless, and clincher (23mm-32mm)
- Rim width: 28mm
- Spoke count: 24
- Weight: 1508g (disc, pair)
- Price: (Starting from) US$1656 / £1,4500 / AU$1915
- Buy Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 wheels in the UK
- Buy Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 wheels in the USA
- Buy Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 wheels in Australia
Shimano Ultegra RS-700
- Depth: 31mm
- Brake: Rim, (Shimano Ultegra RS-770 Disc)
- Tyre format: Tubeless (23mm-32mm)
- Width: 20.8mm
- Spoke count: 16 front and 21 rear
- Weight: 1540g (rim, pair)
- Price: Starting at US$TBC/ £675/ AU$TBC
- Buy Shimano Ultegra RS-700 wheels in the UK
- Buy Shimano Ultegra RS-700 wheels in the USA
- Buy Shimano Ultegra RS-700 wheels in Australia
Campagnolo Bora 45 WTO
- Depth: 45mm
- Brake: Rim, Disc
- Tyre format: Tubeless, clincher
- Width: 26.5mm (outer)
- Spoke count: 18 front, 21 rear
- Weight: 1476g (rim, pair)
- Price: $2000 / £1,850 / AU$TBC / €2160
- Buy Campagnolo Bora WTO 45 in the UK
- Buy Campagnolo Bora WTO 45 in the USA
- Buy Campagnolo Bora WTO 45 in Australia
Campagnolo Zonda C17
- Depth: 24mm front, 30mm rear
- Brake: Rim, Disc
- Tyre format: Clincher
- Width: 22mm external
- Spoke count: 16 front, 21 rear
- Weight: 1540g (rim, pair)
- Price: $710 / £539.99 / AU$650
- Buy Campagnolo Zonda C17 in the UK
- Buy Campagnolo Zonda C17 in the USA
- Buy Campagnolo Zonda C17 in Australia
Bontrager Aeolus XXX 4 TLR
- Depth: 47mm
- Brake: Rim, Disc
- Tyre format: Clincher, tubeless, tubular
- Width: 21mm inner
- Spoke count: 24 front and rear
- Weight: 1455g (disc, pair)
- Price: US$2400/ £2000 / AU$3600
- Buy Bontrager Aeolus XXX in the UK
- Buy Bontrager Aeolus XXX in the USA
- Buy the Bontrager Aeolus XXX in Australia
Mavic Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST
- Depth: 40mm
- Brake: Rim
- Tyre format: Clincher, tubeless, tubular
- Width: 19mm
- Spoke count: 18 front, 24 rear
- Weight: 1490g (rim, pair)
- Price: Starting at $2099.99 / £1899 / AU$3150
- Buy Mavic Cosmic Pro Carbon SL in the UK
- Buy Mavic Cosmic Pro Carbon SL in the USA
- Buy Mavic Cosmic Pro Carbon SL in Australia
Mavic Ksyrium Pro UST
- Depth: 22mm rim
- Brake: Rim, Disc
- Tyre format: Clincher and tubeless
- Width: 17mm (rim), 19mm (disc)
- Spoke count: 18 front, 20 rear (rim); 20 front and rear (disc)
- Weights: 1650g (disc, pair)
- Price: Starting at US$1099.99 / £1350 / AU$2198
Roval CLX 32
- Depth: 32mm
- Brake: Disc, Rim
- Tyre format: Clincher, tubeless, tubular
- Width: 20.7mm internal
- Spoke count: 16 front, 24 rear (rim); 21 front, 24 rear (disc)
- Weight: 1350g disc
- Price: US$2400 / £1850 / AU$3600
Zipp 404 Firecrest
- Depth: 58mm
- Brake: Rim, Disc
- Tyre format: Clincher, tubeless, tubular
- Width: 19mm
- Spoke count: 18 front, 24 rear
- Weight: 1615g (rim, pair)
- Price: Starting at US$3200 / £2,678 / AU$4798
- Buy Zipp 404 Firecrest in the UK
- Buy Zipp 404 Firecrest in the USA
- Buy Zipp 404 Firecrest in Australia
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/best-road-bike-wheels-2019
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