Best triathlon wheels reviewed

Want to go faster on the bike? Then some carbon wheels with deeper rims to slice through wind are one of the most proven investments you can make.

While your legs are the most important piece of the puzzle in the quest for speed, when we’re talking about time you can save using deep rim wheelsets compared to standard training wheels over an hour, we’re often dealing in minutes rather than seconds. And, if you’re competing in Ironman, you can multiply that a few times over.

Modern carbon race wheels are relatively more affordable and better quality than ever, with numerous brands now offering imports designed to their own specifications.

With the shift towards disc brakes and wider tyres, many brands now offer rims that are wider internally with options to run standard clinchers with inner tubes, or tubeless tyres with sealant to bolster puncture protection.

It’s a case of purchasing based on your preferred race distances and locations, and if you have even more budget then that could mean investing in different depth triathlon wheels for varying conditions.

Best triathlon wheels for racing

Zipp 454 NSW

• £3,376 / $4,642

The Zipp 454 NSW wheels have a wavy rim profile that varies between 53-58mm to reduce aerodynamic drag and combat dreaded side winds more efficiently

This tubeless-ready carbon disc wheelset is also hookless, which limits tyre choice to tubeless-ready tyres only. But Zipp claims this design means greater strength, a better seal between the rim and tyre and improved aerodynamics.  

The weight is just 1,428g for the pair, impressive for aero wheels without being the absolute lightest on the market. 

Since they’re hookless, it’s extra important to consult Zipp’s tyre compatibility chart before fitting your tyres. 

The 454 NSW, with a 23mm internal width, allows for slightly narrower tyres than Zipp’s 353 and 303 ranges, so I was good to go with my 28mm Panaracer Agilest TLR tyres.  

Fitting was very easy, and after filling with sealant and inflating to 73psi (the maximum recommended) I set out. 

I can confirm that for wheels with a max depth of 58mm at the tip of the rim ‘waves’, the 454  NSW didn’t behave like wheels of  this depth at all, batting away the wind with relative ease. 

Zipp’s Axial Clutch technology in its Cognition V2 hub disengages the ratchet mechanism when coasting for minimal friction. 

This gives 54 points of engagement for rapid pick-up when you stamp back down for an exhilarating experience when sprinting. 

They look stunning and the performance is up there with the best, but you can get similar performance for less.

FFWD RYOT 55

• £1349.99

FFWD claims to have modernised the RYOT 55 for wider tyres by broadening the internal rim width to 21mm while maintaining aerodynamic prowess.

In their element on level ground, the RYOT 55 feel as about as fast as race wheels come. Crosswinds didn’t cause any issues in our testing either.

Being deeper than most of the competition, the RYOT 55 are also heavier at 1,690g. This means climbing isn’t as effortless.

The spec is a mixed bag. At this price, you’d hope for more premium DT Swiss hubs. But the RYOT 55 seems solidly put together and the parts should be easy to replace. 

• Read our full FFWD RYOT 55 review

Parcours Strade

Buy now from Parcours

• £1,099 / $1,298

The Parcours Strade are by no means new wheels but look no further if you want exceptional value from your triathlon race wheels.

The combination of low weight, stiffness and aerodynamics makes them a delight to ride at speed. 

Meanwhile, a wide internal rim, optimised for 28mm tyres, and excellent ride quality mean the Strade can also handle poorly surfaced roads. 

Parcours gives you lots of options to customise the wheels as well.

• Read our full Parcours Strade review 

Hunt 54 Aerodynamicist Carbon Disc

• £999 / $1,399

The Hunt 54 Aerodynamicist Carbon Disc offer staggeringly good value for money, rivalling triathlon race wheels costing double their £999 asking price. 

For most triathletes, I think the 54 Aerodynamicist Carbon Disc strikes the ideal balance between handling, speed and climbing performance. 

While rolling along at pace on the flat, the difference between the Hunts and ultra-expensive wheelsets is barely discernible. 

The hooked rim bead enables you to run the 54 Aerodynamicist Carbon Disc tubeless or use tube-type tyres with inner tubes. 23mm to 40mm wide tyres are compatible with the rim which has a 20mm internal and 29mm external width.

• Read our full Hunt 54 Aerodynamicist Carbon Disc wheelset review

Black Inc 48|52 

• £2,899 / $2,899

The Black Inc 48|52 are the lightest and most expensive triathlon race wheels I’ve tested, weighing 1,290g and setting you back £2,899. 

The result from Factor’s in-house brand are hoops which ride like climbing wheels on ascents and aero wheels at higher speeds.

What’s more, handling stability is very good for wheels this deep (48mm front and 52mm rear). 

CeramicSpeed bearings, carbon spokes and high-flange hubs make up a no-expense-spared spec. 

The hooked rim will accept tubeless and clincher tyres, while its 23mm internal and 29mm external width is ideal for 28mm-wide tyres, according to the brand. 

• Read our full Black Inc 48/52 wheelset review

Miche Kleos RD 50mm Tubeless

• £1,699

The Miche Kleos RD 50mm Tubeless struck me as a great choice of wheels for longer triathlons. 

These Italian wheels don’t equal the sparkle and acceleration of the Black Inc and Cadex competitors. But they are cheaper and handle well in gusts. 

Add in a progressively wide internal rim, aero-looking bladed spokes and respectable weight and the Kleos RD 50mm Tubeless amount to an attractive option for triathlon racing. 

• Read my full Miche Kleos RD 50mm Tubeless review 

Cadex Ultra 50 Disc Tubeless

• £2,648.99 / $3,500

The Cadex Ultra 50 Disc Tubeless are a close match for the Black Inc 48|52 in terms of aerodynamics, weight and price.

The Ultra 50 Disc Tubeless’ acceleration, straight-line speed and handling are breathtakingly good.

Stealthy logos, an unvarnished carbon finish and aero spokes help produce a fantastic looking aero wheel too. While spending £2,600 on wheels, I think it’s fair to take aesthetics into account.  

If I’m being fussy, the freehub is noisy and the hookless rim will narrow your choice of compatible tyres. 

• Read my full Cadex Ultra 50 Disc Tubeless review 

Giant SLR 1 50 Disc WheelSystem

• £1,199.98 / $1,599.98

The SLR 1 Disc WheelSystem comes in much cheaper than options from the Giant’s in-house marque Cadex, and performs admirably.

Because the Giant SLR 1 50 Disc WheelSystem stand out during extended steady efforts, including in crosswinds, I’d recommend them for long-course triathlons. 

Understandably, the SLR 1 50 Disc WheelSystem don’t feel as nippy as the boutique wheels in this category. And bear in mind the hooked rims will limit your tyre choice. 

• Read my full Giant SLR 1 50 WheelSystem review 

Mavic Cosmic SL 45

• £1,420

The Cosmic SL 45 lived up to Mavic’s billing as an all-round wheelset in my testing.

Measuring 45mm deep, their profile isn’t as aerodynamic as some race wheels. Accordingly they didn’t feel outrageously fast. 

For the depth, the Cosmic SL 45 aren’t especially light, which their middling climbing performance reflects. 

On the plus side, they feel stiff and responsive to accelerations. Although on the narrow side with an internal rim width of 19mm, the Mavic Cosmic SL 45 were easy to fit tyres to. 

• Read my full Mavic Cosmic SL 45 review 

Shimano Ultegra R8170 C50 Tubeless CL Disc

• £1,099.98 / $1,314.52

Slotting underneath the premium Dura-Ace model in Shimano’s range, the Ultegra R8170 C50 Tubeless CL Disc present a more economical way to upgrade your race wheels.

For the relatively reasonable price of £1,099.98, the spec is suitably competent (steel spokes and bearings, for example). 

These functional components translate into stolid performance on the road, where the Ultegra R8170 C50 Tubeless CL Disc feels slower-rolling and less responsive than glitzier options. 

 Although that’s acceptable for the money, alternatives from Hunt and Parcours seem a better place to invest.

The Ultegra R8170 C50 Tubeless CL Disc have a tubeless-ready, hookless rim (ensuring compatibility with inner tubes) that has a 21mm internal width to fit tyres up to 32mm wide. 

• Read my full Shimano Ultegra R8170 C50 Tubeless CL Disc review

How we tested

Former 220 Triathlon staff writer and current Road.cc editor Jack Sexty tested these triathlon race wheels on a Cube Aerium C:68X SLT triathlon bike. 

He rode the wheels on varied terrain – flats, climbs and twisty routes – and in calm and windy conditions to assess their straight-line speed, climbing and handling. 

Besides their sensation of speed and acceleration, he also evaluated their comfort. This is of greater importance on wheels that will double up for training and racing. 

Compatibility allowing, Jack set up the wheels tubeless to assess how simple the process will be should you want to do the same. 

Although the time frame of a review isn’t long enough to test a wheel’s durability, Jack used his testing experience to assess build quality. 

He weighed up value for money by comparing wheels to similarly priced competition.

Buyer’s guide to triathlon race wheels

When shopping for aero triathlon wheels, you can go in two main directions: all-out deep-section triathlon wheels; or aero road wheels.

Triathlon bike wheels

Optimised for triathlon bikes, triathlon wheels are highly aerodynamic with a rim depth often exceeding 60mm and potentially 80mm. It’s common for wheelsets to be deeper at the back than front as well. 

Such deep wheels sacrifice weight and stability to reduce drag, so they’re not the best for undulating, exposed courses with a lot of corners. Their price and limited versatility means they’re best saved for race day. 

Modern triathlon bike wheels are now almost always disc brake and tubeless ready with a hooked or hookless rim.

As is the case with all bike wheels, the internal rim width of triathlon wheels has increased to accommodate wider tyres. For example, the Cadex Aero 4-spoke 1K WheelSystem measures 22.4mm internally. 

You’ll even see the pros racing a solid rear disc wheel in some long-course triathlons. We haven’t included any here because they’re probably overkill for age-groupers and only suit adept bike handlers. 

On high-end triathlon and aero road wheels, manufacturers will often spec ceramic bearings, claiming these reduce rolling resistance. More independent aero experts dispute the real-world benefit. There is more agreement that ceramic bearings are less prone to corrosion than traditional steel bearings, which can lower service costs of your bike. 

Triathlon wheels and aero road bike wheels tend to use a moderate number of teeth in the ratchet hub (between 40 and 50) because lower friction is more important than rapid acceleration. 

Aero road bike wheels

A much more versatile and often cheaper option, you can use aero road bike wheels on your road bike for training and racing shorter triathlon distances. They’re also suitable for your triathlon bike to reduce weight for hilly races or to improve handling for training. 

Like triathlon wheels, aero road bike wheels are increasingly disc brake and tubeless compatible. Brands like Parcours and Hunt do still make rim brake aero road bike wheels.

Internal rim width tends to be broader than on triathlon wheels (in the region of 21mm to 25mm) because some modern aero road bikes can fit up 34mm-wide tyres. 

Rims are usually moderately deep and carbon: starting from 40mm and going up to about 60mm. This provides a great balance of low weight, aerodynamics and assured handling in gusts. 

Some aero road bike wheels cost more than £3,000 a set but some good-value carbon wheels are less than £1,000. These will be more than adequate for age-group racing. Provided they have hard-wearing, weather-resistant hubs, such wheels are perfect for off-season training in the UK. 

You don’t have to go for carbon though. The performance of aluminium road bike wheels has come on leaps and bounds recently. And quality alloy hoops are less likely to crack on poor road surfaces.