The Finest Highway Bike Wheels of 2024

With regards to street bike elements, a top quality set of wheels is among the largest efficiency upgrades you may make. Whether or not you’re trying to enhance aerodynamics, cut back weight, or just enhance the experience really feel of your bike, there are many nice choices to swimsuit each want and choice.

In fact, having all these choices could make deciding which street bike wheels to purchase a problem, particularly when each model and mannequin claims to be higher than the following. And, the speedy evolution of street bike wheels in recent times signifies that choosing the proper wheels has gotten much more complicated than it was once. Carbon, aluminum, disc brake, rim brake, rim depth, rim width, hookless tubeless, hooked tubeless, or clincher? There are such a lot of choices lately it may make your head spin.

To assist present some readability, we’ve examined an enormous number of the most effective street bike wheels in the marketplace to offer sincere suggestions about how they carry out in the actual world. Every set of wheels was examined by overview writer Bennett Shane or one other member of our editorial crew. Over a whole bunch of miles of using, we examined and scrutinized every mannequin’s efficiency whereas contemplating necessary elements like weight, stiffness, stability, vibration damping, aerodynamics, tire compatibility, and total construct high quality.

Whether or not you’re a climber searching for a quick and feathery set of low-profile rims, a breakaway addict searching for a set of “deeps” to avoid wasting each watt of drag potential, or a roadie with an uncanny knack for getting misplaced on gravel, we’ve examined most of the hottest fashions and a few lesser identified newcomers that will help you determine on this important improve.

Among the many fashions we’ve examined, we zeroed in on our favorites that are listed under, adopted by the most effective of the remaining that are additionally nice choices we really feel are worthy of consideration. To see all of the fashions we examined at a look, take a look at our comparability chart, and should you need assistance deciding what you want, check out our shopping for recommendation and FAQ part.

The Finest Highway Bike Wheels of 2024

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Better of the Relaxation

Comparability Chart

Wheel Mannequin	MSRP	Weight	Tubeless?	Rim Materials	Brake Kind	Depth	Inside Rim Width
Reserve 40|44 DT 350	$1,799	1460g	Hooked Tubeless	Carbon	Disc	40mm (f), 44mm (r)	25.5mm (f), 25mm (r)
Hunt 44 Aerodynamicist	$1,279	1528g	Hooked Tubeless	Carbon	Disc	44mm	20mm
Cadex 36 Disc	$3,200	1354g	Hookless Tubeless	Carbon	Disc	36mm	22.4mm
Roval Alpinist SLX	$800	1485g	Hooked Tubeless	Aluminum	Disc	24mm	20mm
HED Ardennes RA Black	$1,300	1475g	Hooked Tubeless	Aluminum	Rim	24.5mm	21mm
HiFi EP30 SL Rim Carbon	$1,970	1320g	Hooked Tubeless	Carbon	Rim	30mm	19mm
Imaginative and prescient Trimax 35 DB CL	$550	1650g	Hooked Tubeless	Aluminum	Disc	35mm	19mm
Chris King ARD44	$2,850	1525g	Hookless Tubeless	Fusion Fiber	Disc	44mm	25mm
Zipp 303 Firecrest	$2,046	1352g	Hookless Tubeless	Carbon	Disc	40mm	25mm
Bontrager Aeolus Professional 49V	$1,800	1555g	Hooked Tubeless	OCLV Carbon	Disc	49mm	25mm
ENVE SES 3.4	$2,850	1455g	Hookless Tubeless	Carbon	Disc	39mm (f), 43mm (r)	25mm
Shimano Dura-Ace C50	$2,100	1461g	Hooked Tubeless	Carbon	Disc	39mm (f), 43mm (r)	21mm
OTHR Anywhr 40	$1,749	1360g	Micro-Hooked Tubeless	Carbon	Disc	40mm	24mm
Shimano 105 C32	$1,050	1504g	Hooked Tubeless	Carbon	Disc	32mm	21mm
Reynolds AR 58	$1,450	1700g	Hooked Tubeless	Carbon	Rim	58mm	19mm
HED Vanquish RC4 Efficiency	$1,750	1542g	Hooked Tubeless	Carbon	Disc	40mm	21mm
Bontrager Aeolus RSL 51	$2,700	1410g	Hooked Tubeless	OCLV Carbon	Disc	51mm	23mm
HiFi The 45 Disc Carbon	$2,090	1520g	Hooked Tubeless	Carbon	Disc	45mm	21mm
Ritchey Basic Zeta Disc	$449	1750g	Hooked Tubeless	Aluminum	Disc, 6-Bolt	23.4mm	19.5mm

Why You Ought to Belief Us

At Bikerumor, we love using our bikes and we’re at all times looking for out the newest and best merchandise to assist enhance our efficiency and improve our expertise out on the street. And, we all know {that a} high quality set of street bike wheels is among the greatest efficiency upgrades you may make. Happily, we’re at all times testing out contemporary new wheels, and we get to strive nearly all the things in the marketplace. This provides us the chance to move alongside our expertise and make it easier to navigate the myriad choices which can be on the market.

For this purchaser’s information, writer Bennett Shane did a big group check together with the vast majority of the fashions included, supplemented by just a few fashions that our editorial crew has examined and beloved. Bennett is an avid street bicycle owner who has been using critically for over 20 years. Although his racing days are largely behind him, he nonetheless rides obsessively for enjoyable, health, and to check out an enormous vary of biking merchandise for evaluations. Bennett spent a few years working at numerous outstanding manufacturers within the biking {industry} and is about as educated as one might be about biking merchandise and applied sciences from attire to elements. His street biking and {industry} expertise mix to provide him a eager capacity to investigate the gear he exams, and we’ve known as on that ability rather a lot currently for an enormous vary of street cycling-specific purchaser’s guides. Along with street bike wheels, Bennett has examined attire like biking bib shorts and jackets, elements like street bike pedals, and equipment together with street bike sneakers and helmets.

To check wheels, we obtained every mannequin and arrange every wheelset tubeless. For the overwhelming majority of the wheels included right here, we used the Vittoria Professional Management TLR in 28mm as a management tire, though just a few fashions had been examined with different street bike tires for numerous causes. We used Silca’s Tire Stress Calculator to make sure that tire stress was optimum and typically rode the wheels over the identical check route to check them in the identical eventualities and floor situations. The first check route options flat, rolling, and hilly terrain with climbs topping out at across the 25-minute mark for a well-trained rider. We additionally deliberately rode deeper wheels every time windy situations arrived, to check their stability. We didn’t use a wind tunnel to confirm any aerodynamic claims made by producers, as a substitute, we selected to concentrate on the tangible issues that the majority riders care about, akin to experience high quality, dealing with, acceleration, sturdiness, and serviceability, together with guarantee and crash alternative provisions.

Shopping for Recommendation: Find out how to Select Highway Bike Wheels

With so many street bike wheels to select from, discovering the suitable set of latest hoops can seem to be a frightening proposition. Some issues are fairly easy, like selecting wheels for disc or rim brakes, however there are lots of different elements to weigh when making a purchase order resolution. Under, we offer a bit rationalization about decisions in rim materials, rim width, rim depth, tire compatibility, freehub our bodies, and extra.

Rim Materials

The fabric used within the development of the edges is among the largest elements separating aftermarket street bike wheels. Most street bike rims are comprised of both aluminum or carbon fiber and there are nice wheels being produced in both materials.

Carbon Fiber

Since carbon wheelset pricing begins above the place aluminum wheels usually max out, it’s truthful to imagine that just by selecting a carbon fiber wheel, your bike will immediately be a lot lighter. In actuality, carbon fiber rims are sometimes no lighter than aluminum rims, and relying on the depth of the rim, can typically lead to a hefty wheel that received’t be notably enjoyable for climbing. In fact, aerodynamics are an even bigger concern than weight for a lot of riders, and right here carbon fiber has an simple benefit over aluminum, in that it might probably molded into an array of shapes to cheat the wind.

Whereas rim materials has solely a fraction of the impact on experience high quality as tires do, carbon rims do usually give any bike a extra damped, environment friendly experience high quality, most noticeable on rougher surfaces. Carbon fiber, and extra particularly the interfaces within the composite construction, have a higher capacity to soak up high-frequency vibration than aluminum. This sense has been enhanced by the arrival of disc brakes, as engineers are actually free to design the rim/tire interface with no braking in thoughts. With the brake observe out of the image, the pattern has been to make use of much less carbon on the outermost fringe of the rim, and to dimension and form the carbon such that it promotes higher shock absorption and decrease rolling resistance via the tires.

The first draw back to carbon fiber is that it’s costly, with carbon wheels typically costing double that of their aluminum counterparts. And, till very just lately, carbon fiber rims haven’t been essentially the most environmentally pleasant given the problem of recycling the fabric. A small handful of manufacturers are actually making carbon fiber rims with thermoplastic resin that makes them extra simply recyclable together with the Chris King ARD44 wheels that are made with thermoplastic Fusion Fiber.

Aluminum

Aluminum has been used for a few years within the manufacturing of street bike wheels and is usually way more inexpensive than carbon fiber. Not solely is the uncooked materials inexpensive, however the manufacturing prices are additionally usually a lot decrease. Consequently, most aluminum street bike wheels are inexpensive, although there are nonetheless loads of premium aluminum choices. As a result of decrease price, many low to mid-range full bike builds will often include aluminum wheels/rims. This isn’t to say that wheels made with aluminum rims received’t be a efficiency improve over a set of cheaper inventory wheels, removed from it. In truth, there are aluminum wheels that rival their carbon counterparts when it comes to each weight and experience high quality, whereas beating them handily in the case of value. A main instance is the Roval Alpinist SLX, which at $800 are way more inexpensive than premium carbon choices with out giving up a lot when it comes to efficiency.

Rim Width

Highway rims have grown in width just lately to enhance their compatibility with the corresponding progress within the width of street bike tires. Some manufacturers and fashions are actually at 25mm in inside width, a 20% enhance in some instances from just some years in the past. The width refers back to the inside distance between the bead hooks on the within of the rim, not the exterior width together with the bead partitions. Growing inside width improves the connection between the rim and tire, notably when utilizing wider tires. Wider fashionable street tires within the 28-32c vary will tackle a extra domed form with barely bigger air quantity when mounted to a wider rim, thus enhancing the aerodynamics of the rim/tire system as a complete, whereas lowering rolling resistance, enhancing dealing with, and boosting consolation via a bigger quantity of air.

In our opinion, rims narrower than 21mm (inside) are virtually outdated at this level. Rims within the 21-23mm wide selection are adequately huge for any true street tire. Rims with 25mm inside width are designed and supposed to have the ability to accommodate street and gravel tires which can be upwards of 40mm in width, so whereas not any drawback, per se, this rim width means these rims will usually solely work for tires 28c and wider. That mentioned, those that prefer to discover clean gravel or poorly maintained paved mountain roads could take pleasure in the advantages of a wider rim paired with a plumper all-road tire. It’s price mentioning that since older frames, whether or not made for rim or disc brakes, could also be designed to solely clear a most of 25mm, you’ll wish to take a look at the areas of your body and fork the place clearance is tight, to make sure that newer, wider rims shall be suitable and secure to experience.

Rim Depth

With many aftermarket street bike wheels being made for functions like aerodynamics or climbing/light-weight, the edges themselves are being designed otherwise for his or her particular use instances. Probably the most apparent and visual differentiators is the depth of the edges which vary from deep to shallow, and all the things in between. Generally, the deeper a rim will get, the extra aerodynamic it turns into, so aero wheels usually have a taller rim profile, often 40-50mm and above. Whereas deep part rims can present aerodynamic advantages, the additional materials wanted to assemble them can add weight and the extra construction can current as stiffer and fewer forgiving than lower-profile choices. Aero rims are additionally extra inclined to the results of cross winds which may influence your bike’s stability and dealing with in gusty situations.

Shallow part rims usually don’t present the identical aerodynamic advantages as deeper aero rims, however they’re usually lighter-weight and the decrease profile of the rim permits them to be a bit extra compliant. Whereas that may be a very broad generalization, most tremendous gentle climbing wheels additionally occur to be comparatively low-profile. Many fashionable all-around wheels have a mid-section depth, 30-40mm or so, which goals to steadiness the attributes of low weight, experience high quality, and aerodynamic advantages. These are sometimes the only option for riders who need a wheelset that performs day in and day trip on any sort of experience.

Tire Compatibility

Nearly all street bike wheels being produced lately are suitable with some tubeless street tires. Nevertheless, it is advisable make certain that you utilize tires which can be suitable along with your particular rims. Every sort of rim has benefits and disadvantages. That is notably true of hookless tubeless rims which aren’t suitable with all tubeless tires and are wholly incompatible with clincher tires. Hookless tubeless rims have comparatively restricted tire choices and may solely be used with ETRTO-approved hookless tubeless tires, however present the most effective influence safety for the rim, and complement bigger, 28-32c tires greatest. Whereas most of the greatest street bike wheel producers within the enterprise are making hookless street rims and wheels, there may be loads of full of life debate about hookless rims and tires for street using.

Hooked tubeless-ready rims function a small bead “hook” that’s supposed to offer added safety with the bead of the tires. Hooked tubeless rims supply compatibility with any tire, however are barely extra weak to influence and will incur a very slight aero penalty on the rim-tire interface in some instances. Clincher rims should still be accessible however have dwindled with the industry-wide transition to tubeless. Clincher tires are suitable with tubeless-ready hooked and micro-hooked rims however require a tube. Clincher rims and tires are simple to arrange and keep should you’re okay with foregoing tubeless expertise. 

-Hookless tubeless rim compatibility: APPROVED hookless tubeless tires (with or with out inside tube)

-Hooked tubeless-ready clincher rim compatibility: ALL tubeless and clincher tires (with or with out tube)

-Clincher rim compatibility: ALL tubeless and clincher tires (WITH innertube)

Brakes and Axles

Virtually each new bike launched in 2023 and 2024 is being made to be used with 12mm thru-axles and disc brakes with just a few exceptions. And after years of blending street and MTB expertise collectively to type a maelstrom of “requirements”, issues have settled down and are extra easy when it comes to wheel-to-frame and hub-to-brake compatibility. The requirements are under.

-Axles: 100mm x 12mm entrance; 142mm x 12mm rear. 

-Brake rotor interface: Heart lock is the most typical by far, though there are some 6-bolt hubs accessible as nicely.

There are nonetheless loads of people preferring rim brakes and there are fairly just a few rim brake frames in use (and a few nonetheless being produced), so they’re nonetheless related however much less widespread. Happily, there are nonetheless fairly just a few wheels being produced for rim brakes, and we examined just a few of the most effective choices accessible. The HED Ardennes RA Black and the HiFi EP30 SL Rim Brake Carbon wheels are a few our favorites.

A lot of you studying this may occasionally have bikes comprised of 2013-2018 that use disc brakes but additionally have dropouts made for conventional quick-release skewers (9mm) to carry the hub axles within the body and fork. Due to this fact, you’ll want to verify that any wheel you buy to improve this bike might be transformed to quick-release axles with totally different finish caps. That is executed by altering the top caps and is a simple job, assuming that quick-release finish caps are included or accessible for the wheels you might be selecting. 

Freehubs

When choosing wheels on-line, the seller will usually current a menu of freehub choices that correspond to the kind of cassette that shall be mounted on the hub rear wheel. Choices will embody Shimano HG, SRAM XDR, Campagnolo, and presumably Shimano Mircospline. If the choice you want isn’t accessible on the time of buy, it doubtless might be ordered straight from the producer individually, at a further price. Most wheel and hub producers make a full assortment of freehub our bodies, with some notable exceptions, essentially the most obvious of which is Shimano, which solely presents freehubs which can be optimized for its personal Hyperglide and Microspline cassette interfaces. Whereas different 11-speed cassettes, and 12-speed cassettes from various manufacturers, like Rotor and KMC, are suitable with Shimano wheels, SRAM and Campagnolo 12-speed cassettes should not. 

Freehub Engagement

Freehub engagement is an typically missed facet of street wheel efficiency and is an enormous deal for riders who prefer to experience in hilly terrain or race. With out getting too technical, larger engagement hubs lower the variety of levels between engagement factors and subsequently the delay from when your energy hits the pedal to when the cassette engages, and that energy is translated into ahead progress. Whereas freehub engagement velocity is arguably much less necessary in street biking the place riders usually spin the pedals at a smoother, extra even cadence than mountain bikers or gravel riders, fast engagement is appreciated by many on the street as nicely. Hubs utilizing no less than 5 “pawls” or a “ratchet” system will present this speedy engagement, and also you’ll really feel it working when hopping out of the saddle on a steep climb or accelerating laborious out of a nook. 

Hub Bearings

The vast majority of street bike wheels spin on metal bearings as a result of they’re extra inexpensive, work nicely, and usually final a fairly very long time. Ceramic bearings are a preferred improve choice in ultra-premium wheels. Tougher than metal, with a smoother floor and extra uniform dimensions, ceramic bearings distribute the load equally throughout each ball whereas additionally lowering friction. The result’s much less energy required from the rider to spin the bearing. With out publicity to excessive contamination from street spray or stress washing, ceramic bearings could outlast metal bearings in most conditions. Good factor, too, as they price as a lot as some good wheelsets to interchange in the event that they ever do put on out. The underside line is that biking by no means will get simpler, you simply go sooner, so should you’re searching for wheels to vary the best way your bike rides, ceramic bearings should not needed. In case you’re searching for each potential effectivity acquire on your subsequent race, or to personal each piece of glitz equipment below the solar, then go ceramic. In case you’re ceramic-curious but it surely’s not an choice on the time of buy, you may usually improve down the road. 

Spokes

Spoke rely refers back to the variety of spokes connecting the hub to the rim. Typically talking, the extra spokes used to construct a wheel, the stiffer, extra sturdy, and heavier that wheel is. Spoke high quality, nipple materials, construct high quality, rim design, rider weight, and particularly use case all issue into figuring out the proper spoke rely on your subsequent wheelset. However spoke rely alone shouldn’t be used as a threshold for a wheel to be thought-about sturdy, stiff, or secure. Excessive-quality spokes, laced to well-designed rims by hand will typically facilitate a decrease spoke rely with no compromises on stiffness and sturdiness. 

Inside nipples on tubeless rims might be problematic from a upkeep standpoint. Whereas this design could supply a small aerodynamic benefit and supply svelte aesthetics, it additionally requires removing and reinstallation of the tubeless tire system to make changes to spoke rigidity. It’s an added price or time requirement that’s one thing to pay attention to. 

Carbon spokes have gotten extra prevalent, and whereas they tangibly enhance responsiveness, the potential downtime to supply replacements makes this a alternative worthy of shrewd judgment. In case you’re on the lighter aspect, are likely to experience clean roads which can be near dwelling, and have the funds to preemptively order some suitable spares, carbon spokes are a pleasant improve. All mid-range and high-end spokes are bladed or butted to various levels. These options assist enhance power, enhance experience high quality, save weight, and improve aerodynamics. Straight pull spokes additionally bolster responsiveness and total wheel power. High spokes embody Sapim CX-Ray and Dash, DT Swiss Aerolite, and Aerocomp, however quite a few choices compete with these. If a wheelset doesn’t disclose the kind of spoke used within the construct, or solely the model, it’s price digging to seek out out, as this a part of the wheel is unfortunately typically used as a cost-control measure, and but is vital to how a wheel feels, performs, and holds collectively long-term. 

Worth

Whereas a pleasant set of aftermarket wheels can completely be a significant efficiency improve, many premium choices price greater than some full bikes. Fancier supplies, high-end hubs, ceramic bearings, carbon fiber manufacturing prices, and plenty of engineering could issue into the value of many wheels to make the value larger. In fact, if price isn’t a priority, then among the super-premium wheels just like the Chris King ARD44 or the Cadex 36 Disc could also be simply the ticket to remodel the best way your bike rides. Nonetheless, most of the efficiency good points could solely really matter to high-performance cyclists and racers.

If, like most individuals, you aren’t swimming in money, then there are some higher values to be discovered in additional reasonably priced wheels with efficiency variations that can doubtless be negligible. In fact, once we say “reasonably priced” we’re speaking about wheels within the $1,500 to $1,800 vary, just like the Reserve 40|44 DT 350, or the OTHR Anywhr 40, which nonetheless most likely sounds costly to numerous folks. However, when in comparison with wheels that price $2,500 or extra, they’re actually extra inexpensive, comparatively talking.

Since even mid-range street bike wheels will nonetheless be out of many individuals’s funds, it’s good to know that there are fairly just a few aftermarket choices that can blow the efficiency of most inventory wheels out of the water. A few good examples are the $800 Roval Alpinist SLX or the $550 Imaginative and prescient Trimax 35 DB CL wheels. These wheels could also be made with aluminum rims, however they carry out nicely whereas costing a fraction of the value of most of the high-end rivals.

Often Requested Questions