After over 400km of off-road miles and a few 100km on road, I can confirm that the Indianapolis company have delivered an outstanding set of wheels, whatever riding you’re into. Names can be maddening but the ENVE Foundation 45 is US$1600 and the Zipp 303 S is US$1300 so a US$300 price difference. The 302 sold for US$1500. This makes them comparable with the featherweight specialists, which is impressive when considered alongside the lack of max rider weight and lifetime warranty. Oh, and yes, when we’re talking about better collaboration, let’s not ignore the bikes you want to ride these wider wheels and tires on. In the past, Zipp has considered keeping the weight low a secondary consideration in its design strategy. One answer some are offering to deal with this seems wrong to me. 5.0 out of 5 star rating 5.0 Want to save yourself money and time and support this site’s ability to get you more unbiased reviews? It's … The Firecrests transformed the ride of the Santa Cruz Stigmata from ‘rally tuned’ to ‘trophy truck’ smoothness. + 7 S 0 P O N S O A R P A 7 E E D-1-1 U J-1 0 F J-1-1. We went through a period when wheel rims were mostly made of aluminum alloy to one where they were either alloy or carbon. Join me on this ride. None but the Hed Eroica Carbon are also hookless. Does that help? I’ve rated the SES 4.5 and SES 4.5 AR Disc as Best Performers. – Road Bike Shoes Our most popular family of wheels was born of Zipp’s drive to conquer the Spring Classics. Cold feet. Hi Steve, new to ITK cycling, great site and really been enjoying reading. I’ve written a lot about that before (such as here and here) and don’t want to revisit it now. When you buy at many of these stores or anything through these links at eBay and Amazon, a small amount comes back to cover the review and site costs that go into creating the in-depth and independent, category-wide and ad-free, comparative and conflict-of-interest-free reviews you read here on In The Know Cycling. In this post, I hope to answer some of these questions and put the new Zipp wheelsets into the context of the party that’s going on now with a broad group of new, even wider road and gravel wheelsets. However, these hoops sit on the scales at 1355g in the 650b version, with our own 700c sample weighing 1410g (with tubeless valves installed). I am now a bit concerned now that some of these reviews are potentially paid for promotions. They are still in the box because I don’t has a suitable set of tires for them. I listed a bunch above. Other sites that are ad-supported are often very friendly to products introduced by their advertisers. They will replace my HED Ardennes plus GP which were stock on my bike. How many of you have frames with 38 to 40mm chainstay, seatstay, and fork openings that will fit a 30mm or 32mm wide rim or its 28C inflated tire plus the added 3-4mm either side of the tire to allow for deflection? – Spring and Fall Kit ENVE also introduced two hookless 21C models this year (Foundation 45 and 65) that are priced halfway between the 303 Firecrest and 303 S. So Zipp is joining the party fashionably late but has entered with quite a big media entourage in tow. I covered 400km of technical, flinty, rooty, rocky, sandy and frankly borderline MTB trails along the King Alfred’s Way on these wheels. Performance-focused wheelset buyers are willing to pay $2500 and up for top-rated aero performance, premium lateral stiffness, the smoothest rolling bearings, exceptional handling, minimal crosswind performance, and the lightest weight possible. From what you’ve described about your goals and yourself, the 303 S won’t provide you the combination of things you are looking for. Steve, Your email address will not be published. It also sells for around $2000. Not world beaters but worthy values. Connection in turns is improved and the lower, broader rim profile handles impeccably in all wind conditions so they stayed consistently balanced and snatch or flutter free on descents. I haven’t looked for a few days but hadn’t seen a review yet from someone that had ridden the 303 S more than once or twice. – Upgrade Road Disc Wheels, COMPONENTS The new Zipp 303 S Tubeless Disc-brake wheelset is designed to provide today’s demanding cyclists the versatility and performance they crave without breaking the bank. Appreciate you may not be in a position to answer this yet if still testing the wheels, no harm in asking though! The bike frame supplier dudes need to keep up with the even wider rim and tire trendsetters or this party is going to fizzle out pretty quickly. Zipp's 303 S Tubeless Disc-brake wheelset provides today's cyclists the versatility they demand with the speed they crave. So please make it easy to include all of our preferences in what you are doing. You can usually tell by seeing if there is any criticism about products being described or if they repeat a lot of supplier claims and talking points that read like they came out of a press release. Premier bikes, bicycle wheels, components, cycling clothing, gear & accessories. Nolan, It doesn’t. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Martin, GCN, Peloton, and others do paid promotions. Differences – At the same time some of us look for our wheelsets to do more, others of us appear to have needs that are even more different from one to the next. Zipp's 303 Firecrest Tubeless Disc-brake wheelset is designed for the real world... a world of imperfect conditions, road surfaces, and elements where the bottom line is simple. Zipp’s 303 S Tubeless Disc-brake wheelset provides today’s cyclists the versatility they demand with the speed they crave. Comfort – Regardless of price and performance criteria, ample comfort must be built-in or enabled in every wheelset. Zipp seems to introduce a new hub with a new design every year or so and now has three very different ones in use across their 303 and other wheelsets lines. The whole process of changing a tube on the road takes more like 5 minutes but good mates will wait for you whether it’s 2 mins or 5 mins either way. In The Know Cycling supports you by doing hours of independent and comparative evaluations to find and recommend the best road cycling gear and kit to improve your riding experience. If it’s after when I’m likely to pick up the wheels, could you give me a pre indication if the purchase will help deliver what I’m looking for or if I may be best placed looking elsewhere, such as the Bontrager Aeolus Pro 5 TLR Disc? Simply click on and buy your gear through the links you see in the posts or at Know’s Shop to stores I’ve found offer the best prices and highest customer satisfaction levels on road cycling gear. Then you tease me, with some recommendations coming soon???? Compared to the 302, the 303 S is indeed lighter (measured 1556g) and wider (measured 22.5mm inside, 27.5mm outside). Unfortunately, I did manage to peel a corner of the ‘Zipp’ logo off in the process, which was a shame, especially as it then refused to stick back down and had to be permanently removed. Their full price was US$2300. Some of us like stealthy, blacked-out wheels with barely visible logos whereas others are attracted to the ability to personalize rims and hubs with colors and patterns that declare our identities. Not sure about your ENVE 45 price reference. GPPassion, I’d just follow the ENVE compatibility list for wheels with hookless rims. Whether you’ve checked it out or not, gravel cycling is fast-growing. The new 303 still delivers the same industry leading crosswind stability and low aerodynamic drag that Zipp … The only blemish on an otherwise impeccable performance is a very obvious clang when the freehub connects from the furthest reach of it’s 66 point engagement span. You can support the site and save yourself time and money when you buy through the links in the posts and at Know’s Shop to stores I rank among the best for their low prices and high customer satisfaction, some which pay a commission that helps cover our review and site costs. Following the recent announcement of Zipp’s ‘budget’ 303 S wheelset, Zipp has released details of its updated top-flight 303 Firecrest tubeless disc-brake carbon wheelset. – Online Bike Store Rankings – Value-Priced Wheels Other than updating the logo across the board and putting the new ZR1 DB hubs on their 202 and 404 Firecrest wheels, Zipp is not making any changes to their other wheelset lines, at least not for now. How many of you even know what your opening widths are? I would add three comments, ZIPP 303 S – BEST VALUE FOR TUBELESS ROAD DISC RIDERS, THE BEST CARBON WHEELSET FOR THE MONEY – PART 2. This year’s list contains 78 items which scored a 9 or 10/10 with our tech team – this gear is the best of the best, and has received the Cycling Weekly stamp of approval. Or even the Zipp 302 disc that the 303s replace? I began the three-day adventure at 30psi and at the end the tyres were at 28.5 and 28.3 respectively. – 5 Beliefs About Gear I’ve Dropped Hopefully, they will keep things popping. The biggest difference within which all the others seem to fit right now is what I’ll call the performance-focused and value-conscious riders. Help keep reviews free of ads and bias by buying your gear through links on the site. More than average comfort and competitive pricing are at the bottom of the list for these buyers. Your email address will not be published. Stripping the bags off the Stigmata, the Firecrests let me push it a lot further into MTB territory and put red route style terrain onto the menu but with blisteringly quick acceleration and crazy ride feel quietness. – How to Buy a Bike Online … It is pretty flat where I live, a few short climbs at most. It does take more time to set up your tubeless tire with sealant initially than a tire with tubes. – Tubeless Tires We are intrigued by those new wheels you are publicizing and are thinking about trying some mixed surface riding with all the hype you’ve created around it. For now, I’m following the ENVE list when I ride hookless rims from any wheelset company. The new Zipp 303 S and Zipp 303 Firecrest road disc wheelsets have raised a lot of questions and a fair amount of concern among fellow road cycling enthusiasts. Whilst the Firecrest’s performed excellently on the road, it was out on the gravel bike that they really came into their own. Zipp 303 is our go-to wheelset for all-roads ahead. Lightweight. Hookless rims are the essence of what’s new about the new Zipp 303 S and 303 Firecrest road disc wheelsets. This could prove dangerous for some as the scope for misuse is made easier. Removing the hooks as ENVE, Zipp, and HED have done improves the handling and aero performance even more. That is changing as the established, integrated wheel brands introduce new wheelsets with better performance and warranties. But, spoiler alert for my Zipp 303 S review, if it’s the SES 4.5 AR you are comparing, the two wheelsets are far from identical either in terms of specs or performance. The 302 had a stock wheel-like actual weight over 1750 grams and used first-generation (circa the early 2010s), non-tubeless 303 Firecrest rims (without dimples) that had a 16.2mm inside and 26.0mm outside width. I put these wheels through some serious abuse over the course of the ride – I rimmed them out several times, and let them roll brake free down flint strewn and root riddled trails. Inflating the tyre with a tubeless set-up was hassle free, with the tyre sealing securely against the hookless walls with simple, relaxed pumping. It’s a nice change of pace, a bit safer than riding the roads all the time and has a cooler vibe surrounding it than the road racing scene or aging gran fondo one. While the new 303 wheelsets and line changes may seem shocking in light of Zipp’s position in the carbon wheelset movement they helped create, in reality, they are following or joining other well-established road wheelset brands and models on a similar path. You can always use the search bar at the top of the page to see if I’ve reviewed something you are interested in. The rest are differences in understanding or differences so small they aren’t worth losing sleep about. I hold the view that a tube inside a tubeless tire is a “break-glass in an emergency” solution on the road and not a good excuse for learning how to mount and seal a tubeless tire. The 303 S hubs are the same as those used on the 302 wheels while the ones one the new 303 Firecrest are new for the company. Hot on the heels of the midrange Zipp 303-S disc-brake carbon do-everything road wheelset that was introduced a couple of weeks ago comes the redesign of the company’s workhorse … The idea of mounting up different tires on a single wheelset that can be used on the road, gravel, or a combination of both on the same ride is cost-effective and inclusive for sure. Have you seen how many cyclists are willing to take a chance on $1000 carbon wheelsets from brands with little if any track record and useless warranties that way underperform the $2000+ wheelsets you’ve been offering us for years? During this current carbon rim period, we’ve seen a stratification of $2000-$3000 (and up) wheelsets for the performance-focused buyer from known brands with integrated design, manufacturing, and sales & support operations and $1500-$1000 (and down) wheels for value-conscious riders from new brands which principally source and sell or those with little brand presence that largely manufacture wheels. Over $1,480.00 - apply Price filter. The new 303S model wheelset uses some firsts for Zipp, including tubeless compatibility using straight-sided rim walls, also known as hookless. First of all, thanks for the great work you are doing with your site. 1. Let me break it down. If we can’t be comfortable riding your wheelset, it’s not going to sell very well. Hookless adds another dimension of uncertainty or, at best, unknowing. Also of note is the way the rims held their pressure over the course of the 400km King Alfred’s Way ride. Once set up, however, you don’t need to change anything and likely not even have to get off your bike if you get the kind of puncture in the treaded area on a tubeless tire with sealant that would require you to replace the tube in a tubeless or non-tubeless tire. These wheels break new ground in terms of their easy, and well-controlled speed, incredible smoothness and the confidence they inspire. Zipp hasn’t published a list of tires compatible with their new hookless rims but claims any tubeless tire will work with their new 303 S and Firecrest. Rear Wheel, 700c, 24 Sp, 10/11/12 Speed Campy Cassette Body, 177, V2, Blk Decal $989.95 $ 989 . Most in the first group are heavier than the Firecrest or 3.4 AR but some are just as light and most are also less expensive. The ENVE SES 4.5 AR with an alloy hub is US$2550, so yes 2X the price. Zipp’s drive to develop a carbon wheelset tough enough to thrive on the cobbles resulted in innovations that made the 303 … I didn’t recommend one and wouldn’t want to ride any of them as my everyday wheelset. Time will tell whether they also provide good performance on each surface or a compromise that leaves you wanting more. Their price is US$1900 (€1,800/£1,600) or $400 less than the previous Firecrest model. But since you asked, here’s my take on a few things. We want some fresh kit or our tires wear out. How does the campy wto 45 fit in this conversation? Value-conscious enthusiasts care about low prices first and foremost with specs that can make them feel they are getting a good performing wheelset even if they aren’t getting any higher performance level than the price would suggest. – All-Around Rim Brake Wheels Expanding greatly on its heritage of conquering the Spring Classics, this 303 wheelset … I’m picking up a set of 303s next week (thurs or fri), and going tubeless for first time. So I ordered those tires. Guy Kesteven has been getting big distances in on road and off to see if they deliver on their big promises. Unlike with tubeless tires, when you lower the pressure with tubed-tires you increase the likelihood of getting a pinch flat to the point where you just won’t want to ride with tubes anymore. – All-Around Road Disc Wheels Click here to read about who we are, what we do, and why. Negotiating around rocks, ruts, branches, in and out of lines, this wheelset … The other “new” thing about Zipp’s 303 line is that they will stop making the 303 NSW disc brake wheelset at the end of June while continuing to make unchanged versions of the 303 NSW and 303 Firecrest rim brake models, save for a logo facelift. The set up was extremely user friendly, and Zipp offers excellent warranty alongside this much more affordable price. Let me pick your brain on 2 items please. Inclusiveness – Most of us like to try out new things from time to time. Most wider hooked rims ride more comfortably and handle better with appropriately pressured tubeless tires compared to their tubed-tire counterparts. Give us enough options to serve our different preferences. – Cycling Sunglasses, ONLINE BIKE STORES Zipp’s 303 S Tubeless Disc Brake wheelset provides today’s cyclists the versatility they demand with the speed they crave. 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