One of the most popular upgrade components for our bikes is carbon wheels. 

When bikers want to buy a new bike or upgrade their bikes, it comes to a point where we decide to choose our first carbon wheels.

But when we see the prices, we think twice to ensure enough benefits.

Ultimately, we often make that leap because carbon is generally considered a better material for frames than aluminum.

But is it? What are the benefits and differences between carbon and aluminum bikes?

Most bikes come with alloy wheels; generally, only the most expensive road bikes come with carbon wheels. 

Lets see what you need to know about the differences between the two to make the best decision. 

Carbon fiber price vs. aluminum

You can pick up a pair of carbon wheels for around 700 Dollars. But they also range from about 1k to 2k dollars.

In contrast, alloy wheels typically range from 100 to 700 dollars for a good quality pair. 

The price difference is because carbon manufacture is much more labor-intensive and also more expensive to produce compared to alloy wheels. 

So buying a pair of carbon wheels could be a very considered purchase. And you are spending a lot of your hard-earned money here.

Lets check the other differences to see if it is worth it.

Visuals

One of the most important subjects when we talk about carbon wheels is visuals. 

Those carbon rims are phenomenal because of the painting on it.

Even if youre not the fastest rider, you can still look fast, which is the most important thing.

But can you make some paintings of your alloy rims?

If you have rim brakes, its a waste of time because the braking of that surface causes the paint to chip off. So manufacturers just kept the brake track unpainted.

But if you have an aluminum disk brake wheel, you can paint it whatever color you like because the braking is done at the disk; therefore, it will not wear off the paint on the rim. 

Disk brakes are becoming increasingly popular on road bikes and, crucially, more affordable.

So if you have disc brakes, we can say there is no difference in visuals between carbon and alloy wheels.

Carbon Fiber Vs. Aluminum Weight

The next big difference is weight.

Carbon rims are generally made lighter than the equivalent alloy rims. 

For a pair of wheels without tires, an entry-level aluminum wheelset typically weighs around 2 kilograms, while a carbon wheelset weighs about 1,5 kilograms. So thats a savings of about half a kilo. But carbon wheels can be even lighter, so if you got some top-of-the-range, lightweight carbon wheels, they could weigh as little as just a kilogram per pair. 

But what do those weight savings mean in the real world, then?

That might not sound like a lot, but it is noticeable when out riding, significantly when accelerating, or attacking up a climb.   

On the other hand, some recent aluminum wheels can weigh as little as 1,3 kg. So what about the performance of carbon and alloy wheels having the same weight?

Interestingly, if we have 2 riders, one riding carbon wheels, and the other riding aluminum wheels, they both weigh roughly the same. The crucial difference is that the added mass in carbon wheels is functional. Its aerodynamic because theyre deeper.

 So, that brings us to our next difference, aerodynamics.

Carbon wheels aerodynamics

The most significant advantage of carbon rims is aerodynamics.

Carbon rims are more aerodynamic because the depth of the rim can be made much deeper. 

The benefit of deep-section, aerodynamic wheels is that you go faster for the same effort.

If you had a super deep alloy rim, it would just be heavy and probably, quite uncomfortable to ride. This is an essential benefit of having a carbon rim.

So, if you are bothered about getting more aerodynamic and faster, carbon wheels are the ones to go for. 

Carbon wheels vs. aluminum braking surface

Regarding braking, if youre running rim brakes, aluminum rims are accepted as having better braking performance than carbon rims. And this is particularly true when its raining.z

But if youre running disc brakes, the rims material doesnt matter because all the braking is done at the disc. 

And another advantage, if you have an alloy rim, is to do with rim wear. So, using your rim brakes can wear your rim, which can be very expensive on a carbon rim because it cant be repaired. 

But its not a problem if youre running discs.

Carbon wheels crosswind vs. aluminum

Deep section carbon wheels can be twitchier in crosswinds. And this is a common concern that people have. 

But its not as bad an issue as many people think because its something that has been dramatically improved with more modern rim shapes. 

Stiffness carbon fiber vs. aluminum

The next thing to talk about then is the stiffness  Of the wheels.

Its essential to have a stiff pair of wheels, which is important for power transfer. 

The last thing you want is a flexy, inefficient, and spongy feeling wheelset when sprinting or accelerating out the corners. Its a lot nicer and more confidence-boosting when having a stiff pair of wheels in the corners.   

So if your front end is not very stiff, it will make your bike slightly harder to handle around corners and over rough ground.

Are carbon wheels more comfortable?

And we finish with a crucial subject: is carbon more comfortable than aluminum.  

No studies or serious statistics confirm that. Because there is no way to measure differences in terms of comfort between two frames due to other factors, like :

• your tires
• how wide they are
• what pressure youve got on the map
• how much flex youve got in your saddle
• your seat post 

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Conclusion: are carbon frames worth the money?

 If youre a smaller, lighter rider, having carbon wheels can make your ride more pleasant. Its lightweight, aerodynamic, and not going to be too twitchy in the crosswinds, which is ideal. 

Otherwise, the difference is not as big as some people make it, especially if youve got disc brakes.

So if I have money to invest in new wheels, and I have the choice between an aluminum frame with better componentry or a carbon frame bike, I would go for the first option.

Hopefully, now you have more information about the difference between carbon and aluminum bikes and can pick the wheel that best suits your needs.