Best street bike wheels 2025: Aero choices for a sooner journey

Upgrading the wheels in your street bike is among the finest performance-enhancing upgrades you are able to do as finest street bike wheels can enhance speeds, cut back rotating weight and enhance reactivity. 

The largest efficiency acquire from upgrading your street wheels is aerodynamics, though you possibly can go for deeper or shallower, 40mm to 50mm is typical for the perfect all-round efficiency. This depth affords aero effectivity with out extra weight and with out changing into troublesome to handle in crosswinds.

It’s troublesome to match wheelsets’ aerodynamics primarily based on producers’ claims, as protocols differ and outcomes could also be offered in another way. So we took 18 mid-depth wheelsets to the Silverstone Sports Engineering wind tunnel in November 2024 to check them head-to-head underneath the identical circumstances.

The full outcomes can be found to Cyclingnews subscribers, whose subs helped to pay for wind tunnel time, however we have used them to tell our picks right here.

Pro groups typically swap between completely different wheel depths for various terrain. If you are on the lookout for a climbing wheelset, we even have a information to the perfect light-weight wheels, whereas we now have deeper choices and disc wheels lined in our information to the perfect triathlon wheels.

Below you may discover our picks of the perfect street bike wheels we have examined right here at Cyclingnews and decrease down there is a purchaser’s information to how to decide on, in addition to an explainer of among the phrases you may come throughout when on the lookout for the perfect street bike wheels.

Best street bike wheels: Quick record

Best street bike wheels out there in the present day

Best street bike wheels

Although the low weight and sawtooth profile seize headlines, it was the journey consolation on supply that stood out for us. The sawtooth profile is eye-catching and is designed in order that with the wind straight on, the 353 NSW behaves like a 45mm depth wheel, whereas at better yaw angles, it behaves like one that’s shallower – intelligent.

With much less materials, it is also lighter and we weighed the wheelset at 1,307g with tape and valves. We rated the crosswind stability, which we discovered to be a notch above the competitors. We additionally loved the brand new, easier hub design, with an elastomer spring that makes the 54-point of engagement freehub very quiet. 

There are some compromises: the hookless beads and 25mm inside width imply that there’s solely a restricted variety of tubeless tyres which can be appropriate and there is additionally the excessive price ticket. We’ve not wind tunnel examined these Zipp wheels both, so we will not quantify the aero advantages.

Read our full Zipp 353 NSW evaluate for extra particulars.

Best for aerodynamics

The Scope Artech wheelset was the lightest wheelset and likewise saved essentially the most watts in our wind tunnel check: over 10 watts at 40km/h. They sail nicely at excessive yaw angles, in addition to performing among the many finest throughout a spread of speeds at decrease angles and in a straight headwind.

Although we examined with 28mm tyres, the .A signifies Scope’s all-road format, which Scope says is aero optimised for 30mm width. In any case, our tyres measured up at 30.6mm on the 25mm inside width rims.

Weight discount comes from low spoke depend carbon spokes, in addition to 3D printed alloy hubshells and a titanium ratchet freehub, though bearings are top quality metal slightly than ceramic. 

All this tech does include a hefty price ticket although.

Best wheel-tyre system

The 1,413g weight of the Cadex 50 Ultra Disc wheels places them within the realm of the perfect light-weight wheels, however with out extreme depth. They include an aero hub with 40 factors of engagement that is linked to the hookless rim utilizing 5.2mm large carbon spokes with an aero blade profile. The wheels are stiff, so that you get good reactivity, however they’re additionally snug and steady.

The 50 Ultra Disc wheels are designed to work as a system with Cadex’s matching tyres, which have a profile tuned to up the mix’s aerodynamics, though they’re optimised for 25mm large tyres, which is now somewhat slim. 

In our wind tunnel assessments with 28mm Schwalbe tyres, they carried out mid-pack, saving round 8 watts at 40km/h versus our Fulcrum Racing 5 baseline, though the extra complete testing by Giant, Cadex’s guardian firm, suggests higher efficiency with a spread of 25mm tyres. 

Cadex has a battery of assessments to again up its aero claims for the 50 Ultra wheels, which you’ll examine in our evaluate. We additionally put them in a three-way check with Enve and Roval wheels, the place their weight and stiffness shone forth. 

Our Cadex 50 Ultra Disc wheelset evaluate ought to clear up any questions you might have about these hoops.

Best for consolation

The authentic Roval Rapide wheels wanted to be run with tubes, however model two has added tubeless compatibility. The wheels are large, with an exterior width of 35mm entrance and 30mm rear, with differential 51mm and 60mm rim depths and completely different rim profiles. The entrance is designed for stability and the rear for aerodynamics and energy supply. In the aero hubs are ceramic bearings and a DT Swiss Ratchet EXP freehub.

We rated the Roval Rapide CLX II wheels each quick and cozy after we examined them as a part of a three-way check with Cadex 50 Ultra and Enve SES 4.5 wheels. The hooked bead ensures large tyre compatibility for tubeless operating too. In truth, when Josh Ross examined these wheels he discovered them to be among the most snug street wheels he is ever ridden. 

Our newest wind tunnel check was of the Roval Rapide CL II, which shares the identical rim, however with lower-priced hubs and spokes and a slight weight enhance to 1585g. Our outcomes confirmed a saving of over 7 watts at 40km/h versus our reference wheelset, though Specialized says that this does not align with its personal outcomes.

Read our full evaluate of the Roval Rapide CLX II wheelset for extra particulars and journey impression.

Best race wheels

Hunt went all-out to decrease the burden of its mid-depth wheelset with the Sub50, providing carbon spokes as an possibility and a redesigned, lighter ratchet freehub. It’s retained the large profile and aero optimisation for 28mm to 30mm tyres although and you’ll decide CeramicSpeed bearings in the event you worth the bottom friction.

In our wind tunnel check, the Hunt Sub50 wheels saved over 8 watts at 40km/h and have been additionally environment friendly at larger and decrease speeds, in contrast to another wheels examined.

The Sub50s additionally fared nicely in our detailed evaluate, with the swap to hookless rims including additional tyre quantity and journey consolation. There’s not fairly the steadiness when descending that the 60mm depth affords although, however Hunt’s value may be very aggressive for all of the tech on supply.

Read our full evaluate of the Hunt Sub50 Limitless Aero Disc wheelset for extra particulars.

Best for versatility

Enve pitches the SES 4.5 as essentially the most versatile wheelset in its lineup, mild however aero and with a 25mm inside rim width that provides a few millimetres to the tyre width, in order that the 28mm Schwalbe tyres in our wind tunnel check truly measured 30.1mm. 

Enve’s aero rims are optimised at 32km/h slightly than the extra regular 45km/h, so their aero qualities are extra geared to on a regular basis riders than the professional peloton, regardless of their use by UAE Team Emirates.

The entrance wheel is decrease profile than the rear, for better crosswind stability and Enve makes use of hookless beads. The large rims make for very steady descending they usually’re snug for the lengthy journey; they’ll simply be arrange with large tyres for gravel using too.

We examined the Enve SES 4.5 wheels as a part of a three-way group check with wheels from Cadex and Roval and rated their versatility and journey high quality.

Read extra in our full evaluate of the Enve SES 4.5 wheelset.

Best finances street wheels

They could not have the cachet of another manufacturers’ choices, however the sub-£1,000 Scribe wheels bettered most in our wind tunnel assessments and at 1442g many on weight as nicely.

The 21mm inside rim width is kind of conservative too, though our 28mm check tyres did measure up at nearer to 29mm. There was a saving of over 9 watts at 40km/h versus our Fulcrum 5 reference wheelset, putting the Scribes on the aero podium.

Scribe backs its wheels up with a lifetime crash alternative scheme, a 3 yr guarantee and a trade-in scheme. It’s additionally one of many few manufacturers to supply a rim brake in addition to a disc brake possibility.

Beyond our wind tunnel work, we have not but reviewed the Scribe Core Superlight wheels, however we have street examined the model’s predecessor wheels of the identical depth.

Head into our Scribe Aero Wide+ 60D wheels evaluate to get the total image.

Best money-no-object wheelset

The runner up in our wind tunnel testing, we discovered a ten watt-plus saving at 40km/h for the Syncros Capital SL versus the Fulcrum 5 baseline. 

The wheels are absolutely monocoque, with the rim, spokes and hub flanges constructed as one piece. This ends in a really inflexible construction and permits Syncros to scale back the spoke depend to only 16 entrance and rear. This does imply that they can not be trued and broken spokes cannot be changed although.

On the 23mm rim mattress, our 28mm tyres measured 30mm and the 1311g weight is low for his or her 60mm depth. There’s no want for rim tape both.

 The corollary of the bleeding-edge tech and wonderful appears is an eye-watering price ticket, the very best of the 18 wheelsets we took to the wind tunnel.

The tech is defined in additional element in our Syncros Capital SL wheelset launch story.

The better of the remaining

Claimed to be an all-rounder wheelset, the Campagnolo Hyperon Ultras purpose to stability aerodynamics, weight and dealing with. They look nice too, with a gloss end and standard spoke sample. 

We lamented the shortage of any aero claims or exhausting numbers, though in equity these are simply manipulated and each model claims that its wheels are the quickest. At 1,240g a pair, the wheels are impressively light-weight although.

Handling looks like a a lot shallower wheelset and the Hyperon Ultras are taut and stiff with low inertia. That tautness does detract from journey consolation somewhat, with a skittish journey on poor surfaces. They do maintain up nicely to poor surfaces although.

Read our full evaluate of the Campagnolo Hyperon Ultra wheelset for our full journey impressions.

Pushing the boundary of street wheels, Zipp’s 303 Firecrest affords phenomenal efficiency each on and off-road. 

They supply razor-sharp dealing with and excellent smoothness on-road, complemented by the low weight – simply 1,410 grams with tubeless valves – when the street picks up. That weight turns into astonishing when you think about the spectacular impression power on supply, making the 303 Firecrests an excellent wheel for fast-going all-road use. 

The solely potential draw back is that you just’re restricted – in keeping with Zipp’s suggestions – to 28mm tyres and up, though, in actuality, that is the way in which the pattern goes, so our recommendation is to embrace it. Being hookless, you are additionally restricted to tyres which can be hookless appropriate, and that guidelines out all the pieces from Continental moreover the GP5000 S TR, AS TR and TT TR. 

To discover out extra about why we expect they’re so good, learn our Zipp 303 Firecrest Carbon Tubeless Disc wheel evaluate.

Hunt threw away constraints on wheel width and profile when it designed the Hunt 60 Limitless Aerodynamicist wheels and the result’s a wheelset that has a 21mm inside width, however an exterior width that bulges out to 34mm. Hunt has a patented hybrid construction to maintain weight in test at 1,670g. 

Although Hunt says that the wheels are optimised for 28mm tyres, our wind tunnel assessments discovered that they have been extra aero when fitted with 25mm rubber. They additionally got here out as second-fastest general, which is spectacular given they price lower than half the worth of others. 

On the street, our evaluate discovered that they have been steady too, which we felt significantly on quick descents. With hooked rims, there’s large tyre compatibility and you are not paying the earth for top-notch aero efficiency.

Read our full evaluate of the Hunt 60 Limitless Aero Disc wheelset for more information on design and journey expertise.

If you are on the lookout for a wheelset that may supply versatility, then you could possibly do a lot worse than the 303S wheels, that are appropriate with tyres from 25-50mm large. Tubeless tyre set up is a breeze due to the hookless rim design, though not all tyre manufacturers are appropriate, most notably Continental (besides the GP5000 S TR).

They weigh 115g lower than their predecessor, and fall underneath Zipp’s Total System Efficiency ethos for wider and lighter wheels. This ends in a smoother, sooner and extra cultured journey for a terrific value. 

Harnessing the most recent pattern for large tyre, low strain, they’re appropriate for on-road and off, and as a bonus they arrive with a lifetime guarantee.

For a deeper dive, take a look at our Zipp 303S Carbon Tubeless Disc wheelset evaluate

When our reviewer’s solely hang-up in regards to the Aeolus RSL 37 wheels is the worth tag, you already know you are taking a look at an excellent pair of wheels. 

While not fairly as progressive as some choices right here, the 21mm inside width will play properly with street tyres, blowing them up good and large to assist with decrease tyre pressures, enhance grip and dealing with, and keep away from pinch flats. Tubeless setup is a cinch too, blowing up with little greater than an inexpensive observe pump, and journey efficiency is solely faultless, particularly in relation to crosswinds. 

They roll on DT Swiss’ new Ratchet EXP hubs, that are mild, stiff, sturdy, and super-simple to take care of, and in the event you handle to write down off a wheel within the first two years, Bontrager will substitute them and likewise backs them with a lifetime guarantee.

Check out our Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 TLR evaluate for the total rundown.

The FFWD Ryot 55 wheelset is a reasonably strong all-rounder that we might fortunately suggest to racers and aggressive membership riders alike. When we took them to the wind tunnel, our testing protocols put them at a slight drawback (they have been competing in opposition to wheels 5-10mm deeper, and we examined with 25mm tyres, whereas these are designed to be used with 28mm) however regardless of that, they got here out in a decent sixth place. 

Their weight is somewhat heavier than we might count on for a 55mm wheel, at 1750g with valves, however we solely observed that additional weight in the actual world when making an attempt to speed up on a 12% climb. 

During our testing, we had no points with crosswinds, no sturdiness issues, and tubeless setups have been a stroll within the park every time. 

The Enve 65 wheels (Enve has dropped the Foundation moniker) come from Enve’s lower-priced wheel vary. Nevertheless, we have been impressed by the aero efficiency in our comparative wind tunnel testing of 10 aero wheelsets, the place they have been the fourth better of these examined. 

Enve says that the wheelset is aero optimised for 25mm to 28mm tyre width and are examined at wind speeds from 32km/h as much as 48km/h, so there is a large pace vary for which they have been aero examined in growth. They additionally embrace Enve’s patented large hookless bead tech, designed to guard the rim and your tyres from harm from a success on poor street surfaces.

Hunts Race Aero Wide wheelset is unbelievable worth for cash when you think about what you get within the field. At this value level, there doesn’t look like something that may match them. They’re mild, they look like sooner on the straights for a similar effort, they usually’re additionally very stiff with out being uncomfortable.

You get first rate hubs, within the type of Hunt’s Race Straight-Pull with 10-degree RapidEngage four-pawl freehub, high-quality sealed cartridge bearings from Ezo, and the freehub is coated with H_CERAMIK coating, which Hunt says will increase safety from cassette harm.

If you’re on the lookout for a comparatively cheap wheelset that may go well with nearly all of your varieties of using all yr spherical (save for the harshest of winters) and may even be used off-road in addition to on it.

We’ve bought a full Hunt Race Aero Wide wheelset evaluate if you would like some extra information.

As a strong, disc-equipped possibility, the Strade wheelset is flexible in that it may be used for each coaching and racing and might be run utilizing conventional tubes or tubeless tyres, the latter will, in fact, present a much more partaking and granular using expertise.

The wheels use machined Parcours-branded alloy hubs laced in a 24 entrance/rear, two-cross sample with Sapim CX-Ray aero spokes – the freehub physique contains a four-pawl, three-degree engagement system. Both hubs make use of EZO cartridge bearings and centre lock disc threading and have been optimised for 12mm thru-axles entrance/rear (adapter kits can be found for different axle requirements). The hubs might be optioned with ceramic Kogel bearings on request. The wheels come ready-to-ride as a tubeless software out of the field with pre-installed rim tape and valves, and freehub spacers for 8/9/10-speed cassettes. 

Our Parcours Strade disc wheelset evaluate will reply any questions you will have.

How to decide on the perfect street bike wheels

Whether you are after a set of bombproof winter wheels, a race day solely set of deep sections, or one thing in between which you could enterprise off down a gravel observe on then there are going to be a couple of common issues that may inform any selection you make.

Rim width, tyre and tubeless compatibility, and braking choices are going to be issues alongside the standard finances constraints to be sure you get essentially the most in your cash.

In a earlier wind tunnel check in August 2022 the ten wheelsets examined have been:

• Shimano Dura-Ace C60 (R9200 collection)
• Roval CLX II 60mm
• HED Vanquish RC6 Pro
• Hunt 60 Limitless Aero Disc
• Vision Metron 60 SL
• Enve Foundation 65
• Reserve 50/65
• FFWD Ryot 55
• Zipp 404 Firecrest (58mm)
• DT Swiss Arc 1100 DiCut 62 DB