I cant imagine there is a single person who doesnt want a carbon wheelset.
Getting the best wheelset will make an absolute difference to your bike.
Wheels mean everything. Buying a cheap bike and investing in an expensive wheelset is preferable to the opposite.
I have selected a shortlist of the best carbon clincher wheelsets for the budget.
Table of Contents
Superteam 50-millimeter Carbon-fiber wheelset 
These are large, fast, stiff, and strong wheels.
You will receive extra spokes, two brake pads, and valve extensions with the wheels.
You can choose the type of braking surface you want: the aluminum braking surface could be a good choice because it is difficult and expensive to get carbon fiber brake pads.
But to get the aluminum braking surface, you must sacrifice some weight (about 100 hundred grams) on each wheel.
They look good with the black decals on the sides.
The carbon fiber is 3k carbon fiber. It comes with flat arrow-shaped spokes and 30 hubs.
Zipp 404 Firecrest wheels
This is the latest version of the venerable 404. The technology from the flagship NSW line has migrated to the Firecrest.
The Zipp is the best-selling wheel on the market. Its light enough to climb on yet still very aerodynamic.
The Zipp 404 Firecrest can be considered a medium-depth wheel. Its profile is 58mm high.
And I think its important to remember that when the Firecrest shape was introduced in 2010, it was a game-changer from a performance standpoint.
It ushered in a new era of crosswind stability and impressive straight-line speed.
Now, what about those significant changes coming from the NSW line?
The Look
Its look is so striking: the Zipp logo might be the fastest logo in all of cycling. It looks pretty fast even when its stopped.
But it looks like a rocket even when youre going slow. Brilliant! Who wouldnt want that?
Aerodynamic
These new rims have been optimized for 25mm wide tires. The overall width of the rim has been increased.
So its now 26.4mm wide and 17mm wide on the inside.
This means that the all-important transition between tire and wheel, and wheel and tire, is much smoother, which is very important for the aerodynamic performance of the entire wheelset.
Wind resistance
In this model, engineers tried to make it aerodynamic whenever the rim hits the wind.
Those traditional and familiar Zipp dimples have now evolved into the ABLC sawtooth pattern.
This is similarly designed to improve the wheels stability in crosswinds and works smartly.
Traditionally, when the wind hits a wheel from the side:
- the pressure builds up until your wheel contracts
- the pressure is released
- and it all starts again.
And thats why, traditionally, you would find a standard deep-section wheel a little uncomfortable to ride in windy conditions.
But with these, the dimples trigger the aerodynamic shear at a higher frequency.
So there are a lot of small depressions instead of one big one.
Yes, so you can use these wheels in more conditions, more often.
Showstopper brake tracks
The next piece of technology to migrate from NSW is the Showstopper brake track. This dramatically improves brake performance, especially in the wet.
And if you look closely at the rim, youll see lots of little grooves embedded in the brake track. And its the same on both sides of the wheel and the same on the front and rear.
And what they do effectively is not only to increase the surface roughness of the brake track, but they also act as siphons to channel water away from the braking surface.
Zipp brake pads
Of course, as with all-carbon wheels, you must use the right skates.
But with that, its worth noting that you have to remember to put your front wheel in the right direction. And there is an arrow on the wheel to show you the direction.
Its also worth noting that it makes an incredibly cool noise when you brake.
With carbon tires, its essential to mention that the heat resistance increases when braking because, historically, its been incredibly difficult to design carbon tires to withstand that kind of braking power.
Except Zipp has an incredible track record in this area.
And according to engineers, no carbon tire rim has ever failed due to heat build-up.
Weight
After ranting about safety, Im happy to tell you that the new 404 is 75 grams lighter than its predecessor. It now weighs only 1615 grams for the pair.
And dont forget they have an exceptional 58 ml depth for carbon tires.
The wheels are also delivered with :
- Brake pads
- A quick-release spindle at the front and rear
- And valve extenders, because now that youve opted for 58 ml deep wheels, you need to think about having a valve of the right length.
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Enve 4.5 Clincher Wheelset
One of these carbon wheels I tried is the Enve 4.5 Clincher Wheelset.
The Enve 4.5 Clincher Wheelset have been around for a long time, and they are incredibly remarkable wheels.
Enve has developed over the years regarding how its carbon is developed and how its wheels are built.
Every year they seem to improve and perfect the wheels in many ways.
The 4.5 is a fantastic wheel for climbing. There is no doubt about it.
The great thing about Enve is the debt collection of their wheels: you have 3.4, 4.5, and 5.6.
And basically, its just a three-deep front, four deep rear, seven deep fronts, and eight deep rear to find the perfect match of different sized wheels from front to rear. The advantage is to give you the ideal configuration, whether you go up or down.
The Enve 4.5 wheelset gives you excellent stiffness at the front when you stand up, a little above the handlebars, and go uphill.
And the deep 5s in the back give you more aerodynamics to make the ride on the flat or downhill a little faster.
The new brake track is an excellent improvement for Enve, and of course, they also improved their spindles.
So Envejust continues to make a fantastic wheelset; the carbon is awesome.
Easton wheels ec90
They look really good and very cheap compared to the competition.
They cost a third, sometimes a quarter, of the price of a set of branded carbon fiber groupsets, so they are worth looking into.
The rim is pretty deep. They are 50 millimeters, which is perfect for the average rider.
They have steel spokes with aluminum nipples and are painted rather than rusting.
This standard Chinese carbon set uses heavy-duty spokes. They have been around for years and are very easy to replace if you break a spoke.
Buyer’s guide to carbon wheels
Some factors to consider before buying a carbon clincher wheelset:
- What youre going to use them for, maybe a triathlon, road racing, or even mountain biking, but in particular, were interested in road racing.
- The terrain youre going to use them on, even the weather.
- And the rider, his riding style, his power, and especially his weight.
In short, it all comes down to the weight of the rider and the quality of the wheelset.
The front-wheel doesnt bear much stress, but the rear wheel does.
The rear wheel carries 65 to 75 percent of the riders weight.
Especially over bumps and the power transfer through the transmission, causing a twisting effect on the rear wheel.
A heavier rider exerts more torsional forces on the rear wheel than a lighter rider.
This is especially true in races and sprints.
So lets focus on the rear wheel.
Weight of the rider
The lighter rider does much better than, the heavier rider; he can ride with all those ultra-light wheels.
But the heavier rider will have to avoid the so-called ultra-light wheels.
And youll have to go for something more robust
Otherwise, you risk breaking the wheel.
And that will cost you in the long run. Youll probably end up buying stronger wheels anyway.
You will have weight specifications for each wheelset, so check this information before buying.
- A lightweight rider weighs up to 79 kilograms / 175 lbs.
- A medium cyclist can weigh up to 86 kilograms / 190 lbs.
- And a heavier cyclist will be considered to weigh 86 kilograms / 190 lbs or more.
What constitutes a more robust wheel?
- Having more spokes will undoubtedly make the wheel stronger.
- Have a deeper section rim, but remember what you want to use your wheels for. If you make it very deep, it will take more wind.
- Have two extra layers of carbon where the smoke enters the rim, but thats up to the manufacturer.
The spoke tension
The slightly less tensioned wheel will be more comfortable and forgiving over bumps. But you will get less power transfer.
The taut one will give you more power transfer.
But if they are too tight, they will pull the spoke through the rim or maybe even the spoke out of the hub flange itself.
quality of the parts
Have a look at the quality of the parts and make up the wheel :
- the hub
- the spokes
- the carbon rim itself
Spokes
Which is better, steel or stainless steel spokes?
Both metals have been used in bicycle wheels and spokes for several decades. And they have proven to be good metal, so either way.
So whether you can have a round, flat, straight spoke or one of the many-colored spokes, the spoke arrangement should be tailored to your weight needs.
Rims
Rims are an essential part of the wheel hub. You can replace the bearings and your axle if you break them or if they are worn out.
You can also replace the spokes if they break, but they dont often cause serious accidents.
But the rim, made of carbon fiber, shows very little sign of wear until it suddenly breaks, which can cause a serious accident.
So its essential to do a regular, thorough inspection for wear or cracks.
If you suspect your wheel is performing strangely or your brakes are binding, take a closer look for rim deformation.
There may be some hairline cracks, or the lamination may be whitening.
The braking surface should be flat, level with the rest of the rim, and not sagging.
Sometimes its hard to see, but when you run your fingers over it, you can feel it sagging on the braking surface.
You can also inspect for discoloration in certain areas.
Wear indicators
Many aluminum wheels have wear indicators, which are usually a small dot.
When this dot wears out, it is time to replace the rim or wheel.
Some carbon fiber wheels also have indicators under the lamination. When you see your mark appear, its time to replace it.
But many carbon fiber wheels do not have indicators. You have to remember to inspect the braking surface regularly.