Had to return these wheels - early builds didn’t have holes to let the water out plus the bearings are susceptible to corrosion if the wheels get wet (1-2 rain rides and a few washes). You can send them back for drilling to the factory but a bit of a hassle. Besides the quality questions on the hubs, they ride really well for average roads performance wise, but don’t ride near water
Your advocacy of wide, tubeless tires on road bikes in the real world is spot on. On imperfect roads, you can smash through corners and bomb down hills without worry. I have ENVE AR 4.5 Disc rims (also hookless, a bit wider, a bit deeper, and $$$) with Schwalbe Pro One 28mm tires, and the setup is so, so good. The Zipps look great for less cash. (ENVE has released some more affordable wheels as well - after I bought my ARs.) I had a rim brake bike with 23mm and tubes. At 110+ psi, I kept getting pinch flats. Upgraded to tubeless wheels and went with 25mm. I no longer flat, but the bike still skitters on rough roads. By comparison, 28mm tubeless is perfect for me at 185 lbs. (84 kg) with 60 psi in the front and 65 psi in the rear. It’s not just for comfort. It’s faster, due to my increased confidence. It’s more fun and comfortable too! On glass smooth roads, my rim brake bike with narrow tires would rock. I hope to ride on such a road someday.
@@HaswellCore - It depends. I find that 28 is great for my summer bike with deep wheels. They’re fast, light, and aero. I like 32s on my winter bike for comfort. If your roads are smooth, 28s are probably fine. If your roads are rough or if you are a heavy rider, or just want more comfort, 32s might be ideal.
@@JonFairhurst I got a flat 28 on the front and a snakebited 28 with a working tube on the back.. Is getting one 32mm for the back a good idea, dont want to throw away the working 28mm tire.
@@HaswellCore Bummer! Yeah, you can mix and match. If you bomb down switchbacks, you might not want mixed sizes, but for normal riding, it would be fine. Probably 5-10 fewer PSI in the 32s than the 28s.
I got my Zipp 303s wheelset last week and we put the Specialized S-Works RapidAir Tubeless tires on them and so far so good. You cannot beat the price point!
Exactly what wanted to know, great job! I’ve just ordered these along with some new rotors and a set of the Pro One’s for my Revolt. Can’t wait to get them on!!!
Nice review as always, David. I was on the fence with these and the Enve 45 wheels. I ended up going with the Enve set due to the fact I couldn’t find any Zipp wheels in stock for Shimano. They’re pretty equal I’d imagine and both solid offerings.
I currently run these wheels on my roadbike and while I don't have 1000 miles I have a few hundred on mine, I haven't had any problems with them at all. I run zipps tires on my wheels and I am 5'8" / 172cm and am 225lb / 102kg. I've got a few 1000M of climbing and hill descents on them, a few 45mph / 72.5 kmph runs and my confidence grows the further I push the bike. I would highly recommend these wheels, just the fact I don't have to fill them with 30-40psi worth of air every time I go ride, like I had to with my previous tubeless setup is a huge plus.
You made me buy a set today for my 2020 domane sl5. I’m a heavier rider (95kg) but I love lower pressures. In fact today after my ride I checked my pressures and the rear was 35psi and the front 40. They didn’t even feel soft until I pumped them back up to 70
@@kellrockets101 Not had any issues bar needing to replace the bearings in the rear as they got crap inside causing excessive wear. Since then I've had no problems at all. They're completely true. Now saying that the issue I had with the dropped tyre pressure was cause by crappy tyres, now I run pirelli Pzero's and don't get the same pressure loss. Would I buy them again? Not for road riding, I much prefer hooked rims for that as it has higher pressures which I now prefer. I have done bike packing on them and never an issue, I've found carbon rims (I have hooked rims on my other bike) to be bomb proof and stronger than the alu rims that the bike(s) came with.
I’m low weight rider, under 65kg and have just got mine. Thanks for this and all the great reviews that you produce. The only difficulty at the moment has been tracking down tyres. I’ve just found some 28 Eagle F1s so looking forward to putting them on my Orbea
@@jonk967 I love them. Grippy and comfortable. Puncture free for all my summer use ( to date ) the low pressure running makes for a comfortable ride. Would happily by the same again, when the time comes. Aldo they fitted easily using a standard track pump, without a flash chamber n
How much pressure are you using with this Zipp wheels? I’m looking for those wheels in my new Emonda SLR, but I’m afraid to can’t ride with a lower pressure of 80 psi. I’ve been riding with 23 mm tyres yet and it I’ll be a big change in my riding style… 🙈
I think these are a bit of a game changer and are at the top of my list I can't see why you'd pay £800+ for a rebranded Chinese rim when you can get these with a cracking warranty . I think the market needs a bit of an adjustment I looked at the importing well known Chinese brands and ended up at £600 before taxes. I've just Won a Cervelo S3 and it's great but it's pretty busy even compared to my Evo. I want to do a few more rides and change a few things first but I'm hopeing these will tame it a little with the low pressures I already run 80psi on clinchers.
These were looking very tempting. I ended up going with Enve's Foundation 45 instead for their crash replacement and (IMO) far better looks. I'd be curious to see someone compare the two!
Thanks Phil! It’s a new feature introduced by YT and think it’s good for the viewer as you can skip ahead if you just want to watch the ride section for example
Hi David, I really enjoy your channel! Since you recently tested the 2021 Giant TCR with Giant branded SLR1 42mm Hookless tubeless wheels, how do the Giant wheels compare to the Zipps? I'm getting a 2021 Defy advanced Pro and they come with the same wheels (the SLR2 actually) and I'm curious how they would stack up to the Zipp? Having a good pair of carbon aero wheels right out of the box is what made decide on the Defy instead of getting a Domane or a Roubaix. I would loved to know your opinion, perhaps a new video idea for you!!! Thanks and again your content is great!
@@HowayTheMags if you can read korean, it's here www.giant-bicycles.com/kr/bikes-propel-advanced-sl-disc-2021 hopefully someone can translate for us though
@@HowayTheMags My local lbs showed me the pictures and specs. They're already ordering 2021 bikes. I suppose that Giant has started production on their 2021 range sooner this year. I think it's a smart move from Giant to spec the pro models with their 42mm aero wheels instead of last year's 30mm. Really saves me from buying another wheelset.
I am curious aswell, and i hope he will answer you question. Iirc he also going to release a video about improving the bike with different tires then the default.
The key difference between the SLR1 wheels and the Zipp 303 S wheels is the internal rim width, 19mm versus 23mm. The latter suits 28mm and wider tyres much better (smoother profile) so that is something to consider
BUYER BEWARE: These Zipp 303 S hoops don't have a drain hole for water that goes inside the spoke nipples. When riding in heavy rain, the water gets trapped inside the wheels and doesn't drain out unless you remove the entire tire. The sloshing sound of the trapped water when you spin the wheels is terribly annoying, if you decide not to remove the tires to drain the water.
@@FrankDavoudi I posted my comment in 2021. The version before 2021 did not have a drain hole. The newer version that came out in 2021 corrected the non-drain hole by adding a drain hole.
NIce consitent content. I run Conti GP 4 Season 28mm clinchers on HED Ardennes alloy wheels. Let me tell you that mounting those tires is substantially more dramatic than your demonstration. I've been nearly brought to tears replacing one on the road. Therefore, hookless sounds great to me. I weigh roughly 83kgs but I run 80psi fronts/90psi rears on said Conti's.
I like the older frames with all new parts. They just ride better. Maybe not ultra fast on rails but great for cadence training and daily rides. Im a bit over 200 and carbon makes me very nervous.
Great review, thank you. But as with cycling gear it always provides a question. So I’m a rider of between 75/80kg, would you choose these or the Roval C38’s ?
BananaChipzzz is it a pain to take a tubeless tire out because of the sticky sealant or whatever? Im thinking about maybe running tubeless are some point
early production runs don't have drain holes. If you ride in a dry area, the first time your ride is in rain or you wash the bike, you'll get an unpleasant surprise ---Uber home....the wheels sponge up water and don't drain [if you spin the wheels and bump for an hour you can get 80% out]. Zipp will warranty drilling holes at their factory in Indiana - bit of a hassle and concerns about shipping back and forth damage and being bike-less for a long time. Not a good customer experience. Beyond that, the wheels do ride nice, and now that the Continental 5000 will support hookless tubeless the tire choices increase. Wish I kept my old wheels as spare :0(
Great video. Love to k ow where you are. If I had to have one wheel set it would be Reynolds. I own Reynolds, Fulcrum, Zipp, and Roval. My favorite are the Reynolds and Fulcrum. Zips don’t have the same durability and the Rovals are not nearly as still (60kilos here)
I'm currently looking for a new bike & the Tarmac SL7 is one of the contenders which comes with Roval wheels, so i guess you are saying that the Rovals isn't as stable in gusty winds? Do you think it's a non issue for me that weights 80kg?
Jesper Andersson Hi Jasper, the SL7 is a sweet bike! You should totally get one. A friend of mine just bought one. As far as wheels go, anything over 50mm will be subject to wind BUT! some are more than others. At your weight it is just about practicing handling skills. Like anything else. That being said my Fulcrum 55 get pushed around less than some other brands. I like Reynolds too. The Rovals are not as stiff in comparison and do not have the same tolerances as Reynolds and Fulcrum I can put any tire I want on Reynolds or Fulcrum and never have to worry. Rovals are only good for about 110 psi. Not only that but if you pump your tire above their recommended psi for rider weight (see their website) the tire feels squishy and almost like it’s moving around on the rim. I’ve never experienced that with any rim. So for example a rider my weight Roval says I should use roughly 60psi on size tires 28 - if I pump them to 80psi they feel squishy, flexy, and like the tire is moving Get the bike and experiment on your own. Developing skills with deep dish wheels just takes experience
Hi David, great review. Are you able to comment on how long it took to break in these wheels? I’ve purchased a pair and the rear wheel seems to have quite a bit of drag when spinning freely. Thanks and keep the content coming!
Thanks Dave for the review 👍 I know i asked you before but did you manage to get your hands on the new 303 firecrest for comparison? I'm after a new set of wheels but can't make my mind up. Also you forgot to mention Zipp lifetime is only for the purchaser's not if you sell them on... Great video man 👍👍👍👍
Hi David, love the channel, keep up the great work. I'm just looking for a new carbon disc wheel set. I know you've ridden the new Giant SLR1 wheel set. How do they compare to these Zipp's?
Thanks for sharing your experiences! I also got them. I hope I will be as happy with them as you are. I am also a light rider and like wide tires at low pressure :D
Hi David, Thank You for the awesome review. I saw you have the Schwalbe Pro One (TLE?) tubeless tyres & you were able to just install it over the hookless rim & pump it up with what looked to be an ordinary bike pump. Do you know if let's say this tyre has a huge cut, will I be able to put in an inner tube (after removing the sealant & removable valve), & pump it up & ride on it safely, especially on a hookless rim?
Hi David, great video as always! I have a Domane SL5 and I have been eyeing up these wheels. Im just worried I might be too heavy 14 and half stone 6.1” I used to play rugby so I’m a bit heavier than normal cyclists. Also new to the tubeless, you reckon I can get used to swapping wheels and tyres?
Thanks for your video and awesome content always. Would you recommend this wheels or the Fulcrum Wind 40db? Or other option at this price range? I’m looking for a versatile, carbon wheel set that has aero benefits but light enough for lots of climbing. And also a good price. Thanks David, have a great week.
Hi David, Thanks for this review! I was just wondering, how are you finding the wheelset (if you still use them) 3 years later? Would you still recommend them in 2024?
Yes I'm still using them and they are still going just fine - I had the bearings replaced in the rear hub though they weren't actually that bad upon inspection, so would recommend them based on their performance and reliability
@@davidarthur Thanks (and thanks for responding on a 3-year old video)! Looks like I'll buy them when my CycleScheme voucher comes through. It's good to see the Cotswolds getting so much love in your videos as well.
Hey Paul, I did a 500 mile review here ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QgevIZyR9Tw.html I'm hoping to get a stock Domane to do a full review on
Climbing performance is very good, lots of stiffness so no flex when putting down the power, and lots of traction on very steep gradients. The Domane climbs well especially with the low gears but it's going to be heavier than the Emonda which you can feel on steep climbs
david arthur Hi David, thanks for the reply. I already have an Emonda. I also live in Kyoto so I’m surrounded by mountains. I’m getting a Domane because anything over 40km and my back starts aching. I’ll use the Domane for long distance rides because Kyoto is flat if you follow the river bike paths. I’ll use my Emonda for the local hills where I didn’t have to travel to far to use them. My main concern is that occasionally long distance rides will face the inevitable hills so I hence my question. Sounds like the Domane will do the job admirably. Cheers, mate!
David might be a silly question but can you run these with tubes, I’m currently off tubeless after a rather scary blowout when everything was correctly done. Been running s tubo tubolitontubes which are at least as good as my other bike with latex tubes but less than half the weight (lighter than sealant too) and just wonder if a hookless rim can run tubes, my worry is with the low pressure?
Great video - I really enjoyed. My first one of yours - I will be back. Quick question....looking at these on a new Ribble Endurace Ti. I mainly do 85 - 120km rides and think the Titanium will make a lovely mile cruncher. With Ribble's bike builder it is these over their own brand Level or a big jump to Enve Foundation 45s (another 400 quid). I was totally sold on the 303 until you said about heavier riders and low pressures...I am 82kg and used to higher pressures (not that I have any strong opinion just what I am used to.) I have a lovely KTM race bike with gorgeous Ursus Miura 45s....wonder how these will compare and also your thoughts on my weight with 6s psi and tubeless. (I run the Ursus wheels with tubes currently) Thanks and great video!
The titanium will be ideal for that sort of riding. Wheel choice is tricky, I've been really impressed with the Enve Foundation 45s and they might just be worth the upgrade. Regarding pressure at your weight, provided you're running wide tyres, say 30 or 32, you won't want very high pressures at all even for your weight. I know someone heavier than you who rides 32mm tyres at 65psi
Hi David, love your Channel! I’m new to the cycling world and all you’re videos have been so useful for steering me towards my purchases. With that being said, I noticed you’re wearing a Specialized Evade 2 helmet. I don’t think you have a review on for this model. I know it’s a great helmet but I’m concerned about the size. Can I ask what size do you wear and what is your head size? I can’t find the helmet anywhere to try it on. I’m a 56cm and it fall between a small and medium according to Specialized size chart. Thank you again for all your reviews.
Hi Adam thanks for the kind words. I really like the Evade 2 and you're right, I haven't done a review yet - I'll add it to my list - the size is a medium which fits me perfectly on my size 58cm head. Hope that helps?
Howdy David,great video review on Zipp 303s wheelset together with your fantastic looking Trek road bike.What size chainring or chainset are you useing up front?It looks small almost like a 42t chainring.Cheers.
Rear hub failure in under a year ... sram 'lifetime guarantee' does not apply to failed seals (or anything else I wouldn't be surprised). I'd look elsewhere, mine were well maintained and bike had pride of place in the lounge.
I think these rims are 27mm so a 28mm should be pretty flush to the side. I would imagine if you go to a 30mm you would get less aero benefit but more comfort which might actually make you faster.
@@paulappleyard5832 Well my schwalbe pro tyres ,28mm come up to 31 mm on my hunt mason gravel wheels? So may look at the Scribe wheels which are even wider but not hookless!?
Thanks very useful video. I’m just about to buy some for my Cervelo S5 and have 25mm Corsa Graphene 2.0 tubeless ready tyres. The clearance on the S5 won’t allow 28mm. Would 25mm mean a higher pressure, and are these tyres ok with hookless? I can’t seem to find that info. Cheers 🤘🏻
I've used those tyres on the Zipp's and they were fine, maybe double check with Vittoria to be safe. You will want to run higher pressures but I regularly go down to 80psi on 25mm tyres
Great video David. Can I just ask why does the inflation demo use Goodyear Eagle f1 tyres but the rest of the video shoes the bike being ridden with Schwable Pro 1's? I only ask as having just purchased these I cannot get the schwable pro 1's to mount despite using a flash charger pump. Any advice? I checked all the obvious tried with sealent, checked the tape etc etc. The wheels are brand new 🤷🏼♂️
try that: mount the tire with a tube deflate, brake only one side tire bead (important!) and remove the tube install tubeless valve put tire back on rim get a sponge with soapy water and rub some between tire and rim bead inflate tire again if still doesnt work and the tire seems too lose, you can try to add one or two layers of rim tape and repeat the process above.
Another good video. Question. Being a hookless rim, do you need a certain type of tubleless tyre or is any tubelss tyre OK to use with these Zipp rims?
Another downside might be in case of a puncture which cannot be sealed, common and perhaps fasted method for fixing it to get back home is to install a tube. With this hookless wheel I’m guessing it’s not possible?
David. You’re awesome and thank you for yet another great informative, relaxed video 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Love your work! Question. Would you buy these Zipp 303 S wheels?
Nice review. Thanks. I currently run Tubeless on PR-2's and looking to upgrade. One of the challenges sometimes is getting the tyre bead to seat in the rim so that when you let out the pressure and remove the core you can add sealant , replace the core and just reinflate .... With hookless rim, where does the tyre actually seat, I heard the pops as per normal tubeless and if you let the pressure out and remove the core, do the tyres still remain seated ? Also if you do suffer puncture that sealent cannot fix at the side of the road and you have to put in a temporary tube, is hookless likely to cause any additional challenges ?
@@davidarthur thank you 🙏 that was my last check will order ! Also new Conti ASTr look 👀 compatible now which is great 👍 great review appreciate the effort
That just seems like such a low pressure to run in the tire. I run tubeless on my hunt wheel and run 80psi. Wouldnt the rolling resistance kinda suck with that low of pressure
@@kirkshammett94 Im a little bit "scary" to make the step and buy this ones to go full tubeless ... how about the feeling? Im using 100psi + clincher, 28mm tires. Did u feel lost of "speed" and "stiffness" in sprints?
@@flaviobatista2096 I ride in a lot of fast group rides, and sprint a lot with these wheels. They always feel very stable and the low tire pressures do not affect my sprint at all. I’m 165lbs with a max sprint if 1400 watts for reference
@@kirkshammett94 wow, thats amazing news m8, im 71/72kg average and my peak watts are around 1200 (ish) ... How many psi do you use on it ? Im thinking to buy the schwalbe pro one TLE addix race , the top end ones, and put about 30mls selant (muc-off, or joe's) Whats your setup if i can ask please? And about punctures, all good?
@@flaviobatista2096 so far I’m at about 700 miles with the pro ones I run 58/61 psi and absolutely no issues yet. Wheels hold tire pressure very well too
Just bought a pair of these, arriving in 2 days. Got a set of eagle F1s too - do I need sealant for the tubeless set up? looks like you didn't use any on yours? Thanks
Good choice. Yes you want to use sealant, I didn't include that part of the video but I added after filming. Sealant ensures they are air tight and reduce risk of punctures
Thanks for the review, I just ordered these wheels. Got a question, there is a mark on your rims, like a line around the edge and it looks like the rim is cracking? Is that a defect or did something happen? Thanks
That’s just the carbon layup, it makes odd shapes and lines when it’s manufactured and where in the old days they’d put a decorative layer over the top to hide this, they don’t anymore. So it’s nothing to worry about
@@davidarthur great, thank you. I ordered 700 x 30c schwalbe one tubeless tires to go with them. I figure 30c tires would be more comfortable than 28c.
Hi David, thank you for your very interesting chanel. I`m from Germany and I`ll do an upgrade on my Specialized Roubaix Sport, equipped with 105. I`m looking for the Roval C38 or the Zipp 303s. I´m riding 95 % on tarmac and 5% on dry fire roads in summer time. On my MTB, an upgraded Felt nine 3 I ride tubeless with ZTR rims and DT 240 hubs, tubeless works perfect, I would never go back to tubes !! Should I switch over to tubeless on my summer road bike, with 28/30 mm Schwalbe or the new Contis ? Thank you and best regards Ernst (67 and 75 Kg)
That's just how carbon fibre looks sometimes when it's been moulded - the days of putting a decorative layer over the top are gone which is why they sometimes look like this
@@davidarthur Yes it helps :). I used the zipp calculator, if I can get to 78kg I can use the 25mm tires, if not the 28 is the best tyre. Have you tested this with 25? you said it's optimized for 28, but can it be faster in 28?
Nobody mentions the dark secret about these tires!!! The MAX tire inflation pressure is only 72 lbs. So forget 25 mm tires, or if your a heavy rider like me, 230 lbs, even with 28 mm tires, I would want to go at least 80 lbs. Spend a few more hundred $, for Enve foundation 45 hookless. Max pressure is 90 lbs!
Hi. Firstly great videos. I really enjoy watching your channel. I was wondering what bike you would prefer as I’m about to buy one. The trek domane sl7 etap or Specialized roubaix expert? Iv been offered both at around $7500 Australian. I currently ride a diverge comp e5, setup as a road bike. It’s a tough choice between the sl7 and expert.. any advice would be awesome! Cheers from perth Australia 👍🏻👍🏻
Peter Callaghan Ex-Perth boy here (now Japan). I can’t address your question perfectly, but I do have an SL 6 Domane. Beautiful bike and even better ride. Finishing 100km feels like you’ve just finished 40km. Smooth as fuck.
