hdultra17

I'm looking to purchase a new carbon wheel set for a couple of races and several century rides. I'm looking at the Zipp 404, HED Jet, Reynold, Easton... I like the idea of the alum and carbon rims for the braking power and everyday rideability. Anyone have any thoughts, experience as to which is best? Functional, durable, and cool looking are important to me.

BOHICA

I have the Easton EC70s and like them a lot. There are lighter wheels out there but they ride very nice. Other than the deepness/aero of the rim, I'd bet the EC50 and EC90 would have pretty similar ride qualities.

fa63

Zipp and HED wheels are known for their aero qualities, but durability may be an issue if you are a bigger rider (although both companies offer heavy-duty options of these wheels). Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL are known to be very durable and with good aero properties, but are quite heavy. Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLR are slightly lighter with the carbon spokes, but I am not sure if that justifies the additional $800 or so asking price. I think one of the most overlooked wheels in this category are the Shimano WH-7850-C50-CL wheels. These have 50 mm rims with an aluminum braking surface, and you can't really get much better than the Dura Ace hubs. Plus Shimano builds very durable wheels with no rider weight limits. They are about 100g lighter than the Cosmic Carbone SL, and come with a 3-year warranty.

For me, I would choose between the Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL with the MP3 protection plan or the Shimano WH-7850-C50-CL. The tie-breaker would be the aesthetics.

Good luck.

asmallsol

something with a powertap.

mike868y

+1

If I was going to drop a chunk of change on wheels at this point, they would definitely have a powertap (or I would just get an SRM/quarq and save up for nice light wheels)

patentcad

These Zipp 404 clinchers are the best wheels I've personally ever ridden. Very fast and stable. They feel great on the bike. Zipp 404 clinchers are 58mm deep rims that only weigh 1615 grams/set (with regular hubs, mine have a Powertap SL rear hub). Arguably the best all around wheels you can buy in my view.

These are pricey new ($2000+) but you can buy them slightly used on eBay all day long for much less.

ericm979

That's quite the stem extender on the rear wheel.

KendallF

The Hed Jets are cheaper, and probably get the durability nod, with the caveat that the fairing can be damaged; it just won't affect the rim's function as the spokes pass through it to a regular aluminum rim. You seem to hear about more cracked Zipp rims, but that may just be because they have the majority of the market share.

jonestr

Hed Jet 60s have great aero numbers and have been known to hold up well

+whatever on some sort of PM

nausjl

I just put out for a set of DV46C UL. For what it's worth, I've been riding with a bunch of guys who have beat these things to s__t and had NO problems. We are a distance group and average 300-400/week so that gives you some idea of durability. MSRP is a bit high, but some good deals can be had. Also, the DT Swiss 240s are sweet.

patentcad

It has since been replaced with a shorter one.

patentcad

Those are a whopping 224 grams heavier than the Zipp 404s. That's a lot of weight on a comparable wheel set.

youcoming

I would second the DA Wh7850 carbon clinchers. I have a set and love these things. Not the lightest but then again neither am I. Roll like a dream and look great while going down road. Swiched out bikes with a buddy last year so he could try out my set up and man those wheels looked amazing in action. An dhey we all know it's all that matters right?

patentcad

'Not the lightest'? They weigh 1400-1410 grams without rim tape/skewers. Can you name many clincher wheels lighter than that? I'm buying a set because they're very light and I'm reading so many great reviews of them.

But they're not going to be as fast for fast rides/racing. If you do a lot of solo rides or hilly rides, the DA 7850s. If you do fast group rides/races the Zipp 404 clinchers.

fa63

I believe he is talking about the WH-7850-C50-CL, which are the 50mm carbon-alloy clinchers, and not the WH-7850-C24-CL, which are the 24mm carbon-alloy clinchers. The claimed weight on the 50mm version is 1,695g.

hdultra17

Yeah the Zipp 404s are just so darn nice to look at. Not too much logo and not too little. I'm thinking they should be durable since I only weigh 150. What size tires are you running 23 or 25?

JonnyHK 

Sram S60?

About $1100. Built on Zipp technology.

Trucker Dan

I broke my front dv46t on a pot hole. Reynolds wanted $600 for a crash replacement rim even though I only paid $1000 for the wheel set new. You can only get the RAP replacement plan if you pay retail for the wheels.

Also the dv46C are all carbon and the op wanted an al brake track.

jonestr

Correct me if I am wrong, but HED posts all of their data on their wheels, while I couldnt find the same for Zipp. If it was my money I would want the wheel where they are up front about what you are getting CdA wise.

Also the weight difference is less than 150grams

Lectron

Zipp 808......And yes...HED posts all data on their wheels...and others hehe,
but they are not exactly conservative when they claim the drag of their wheels.

But there again....who are

patentcad

700 x 23c Conti GP4000s.

patentcad

Then we read different specs, the 404s are 1615 grams vs. 1860 or so for the HEDs. If you look at those drag charts, the 404s offer 98% of the aero benefit of wheels like the 808, but at a weight that's closer to normal light clincher wheels (1600 grams, that's only 50-100 grams heavier than most light aluminum low profile rims).

Lectron

If you look at wind tunnel tests...the 404 has close to 20% more drag than the 808.

On that same test, the H3 comes out with a drag at 50km/h at about 140g....about the same as 404.
this is weighted average force (different angles)

Hed claimes 404 to average close to 50% over the H3

jonestr

Zipp claims 1658g and HED claims 1768g

https://www.zipp.com/wheels/404-clincher#
https://www.hedcycling.com/wheels/jet6.asp

also, the tests I can find are for older 404s and 808s and not for the new rim profiles that both HED and Zipp have introduced since then.

Lectron

I am also talking about pré 2008 rims, but I think it's pretty safe to say that both has gone toward improving the 10% (+) yaw angles and that both has in increased the frontal area.

I think it's safe to assume the average difference between 404-808 (stinger6 - stinger9) to be even higher than previous estimates (tests).

As for HED...They can improve their wheels...Not re-invent it