ZIPP Upgrades Its Wheels…
303 SW TUBELESS DISC BRAKE
Think of this as the new 303 Firecrest. ZIPP has dubbed this as the new standalone, bullet-proof, work horse. It’s the only wheel in this new release that ZIPP approves to ride anywhere. It now comes with an integrated AXS Wheel Sensor. Before you roll, you do a quick check and, if the light’s green, you’re good to go. If it’s red, get the old pump out, ’cause you’re going to need it.
The design of the new 303 SW pulls cues from the gravel-focused 303 XPLR. The new 303 SW features a 40 mm-deep rim, with an inner rim width of 25 mm and outside width of 34 mm. The wider rim profile smooths out airflow and reduces drag, making it more aero with bigger tires. Which is good considering the recommended tire width is 30-35 mm, although I can’t wait to put some 45’s on this wheel. The width also cuts down tire squirm, which means less rolling resistance and a more efficient ride.
Zipp’s updated carbon layup adds about 10% more impact strength, while also adding an extra 5 grams on the opposite side of the internal AXS wheel sensor for load balancing.
Finishing off the 303 SW is the ZR1 hubset with stainless steel bearings. The maximum tire pressure rating is 73PSI / 5.0 BAR.
| SPECIFICATIONS: 303 SW |
| Wheel size 700c |
| Rim Construction Tubeless Straight Side (TSS) hookless |
| Tire Compatibility Tubeless Tire Only, option to run inner tubes with threaded valve |
| Rim Inside Width 25mm |
| Weight (g) 1440 |
| Price |
353 NSW TUBELESS DISC BRAKE
If the 303 SW has a road-only daddy. It’s lighter and faster than the 303 SW, which means only one thing – this is 100% designed to be on the road only. (Although some nice champagne gravel probably will be OK from time to time.)
New to the 353 line up, of course, is the internal integrated AXS Wheel Sensor, along with the upgraded ZR1 SL hub that includes ceramic bearings instead of stainless steel. The undulating 35/40mm deep rim shape not only helps cut weight, but also decreases all-around rolling resistance, while improving crosswind stability and aerodynamics. The weight cuts also come from the hub as the ZR1 SL is 30 grams lighter than the Cognition V2 hub this version is replacing. And, I’m not joking when I say that according to ZIPP the 353 NSW is not approved for gravel riding.
| SPECIFICATIONS 353 NSW |
| Wheel size 700c |
| Rim Construction Tubeless Straight Side (TSS) hookless |
| Tire Compatibility Tubeless Tire Only, option to run inner tubes with threaded valve |
| Rim Inside Width 25mm |
| Weight (g) 1,310 |
DEEP AND FAST WHEELS
Pretty much the only change with the 454 NSW and 858 NSW wheels is the ZR1 SL hub.
The ZR1 SL hub makes up the entire weight reduction of the new wheel sets. It weighs only 304 g while providing 66 points of engagement for responsive power transfer, along with six pawls arranged in two offset groups of three. This is the only new “magic sauce” when it comes to the newest line up of deeper wheels.
So, yes, for the most part, the all new 454 NSW and 858 NSW are more or less the same as the old.
| SPECIFICATIONS: 454 NSW |
| Wheel size 700c |
| Rim Construction Tubeless Straight Side (TSS) hookless |
| Tire Compatibility Tubeless Tire Only, option to run inner tubes with threaded valve |
| Rim Inside Width 23mm |
| Weight (g) 1,440 |
| SPECIFICATIONS: 858 NSW |
| Wheel size 700c |
| Rim Construction Tubeless Straight Side (TSS) hookless |
| Tire Compatibility Tubeless Tire Only, option to run inner tubes with threaded valve |
| Rim Inside Width 23mm |
| Weight (g) 1,500 |
There are some small and important differences and improvements. They are lighter and sport the updated ZR1 SL hub (which, in all reality, is the biggest improvement to these two new wheels). And, depending on the free wheel hub you need, the price has come down a little.
Things that I think everyone was hoping for was maybe a 25 mm inner rim, and I would have thought that at least the 454 NSW would have come with the integrated AXS Wheel Sensor. Those are only things I can see these wheels are missing.
My Take Aways
I mean, a newer, lighter and faster hub is nice. But, in the end, nothing really changed with the deeper wheels. Within the 300 series the coolest thing is the integrated AXS Wheel Sensor.
For you to be able to connect to the SRAM AXS app and program your tire limits, then see the “Green” or “Red” lights along with the digital pressure readings on your Hammer, Wahoo and Garmin is pretty legit. I feel like so many people that want to switch to hookless are afraid. This tool really does give riders peace of mind that, while it may feel different at first, things are where they are supposed to be.
What happens if I want to use a tube? That’s fine. ZIPP ships two tubes with each set of wheels now. Why? Cause some of the people just aren’t ready for the slime 🙂
You can see a good shot of the value stem that is purpose built for the integrated AXS Wheel Sensor.
Next up… Tires. Once we get them at least 🙂
Is there any testing about hub and spoke aerodynamics ?
it “looks” way worst than dt swiss
They send you 2 tubes with a proprietary stem on them to make it work??? So one flat and the get more $$$ when you have to buy more tubes from them (Im assuming they sell them separately)
Edit - they do sell the tube $40 each. So significantly more than a normal TPU tube
fair point - but honestly then maybe they should have just said hey if you want tubes then hookless wheels aren’t for you
Most cases are going to be a back up. ( you know a spare incase you cant get your tire plugged) and I think they know that… Also the only make hookless wheels and they make really really great wheels so I think they are assuming why let a “Tube” stop someone from enjoying the tech…
I am a structural engineer and it amazes me that the wheel engineers at SRAM or ZIPP are still using an outdated 2 cross pattern (under - over) which sets up a large stress concentration at the crosover point of the cross (refer to picture and the bend in the spoke). Mavic changed their cross lacing patern in the 1990’s to what is described by wheel assemblers as (over - over or under - under) to eliminate the increased stress which results in a better performance from the spoke in any wheel.
Thanks
Good question from Kaillou38 in relation to wheel aerodynamics. It would be good to get a reply from a ZIPP engineer and not product person. Should check out AERO hubs from Ozzie (xtreme carbon) for improved aerodynamics.
Thanks
Ahhh hookless, a design so great they need a warning light to make sure you are safe to ride…
Good old Mavic… What a sad story. They had it all and then they had nothing.
So disappointing Zipp can’t make any new wheels that are hooked and for rim brakes. But I guess if you’re willing to drop $2-3k for a set of wheels, they expect you’re putting them on a newer bike.
Lots of companies still make rim braked wheels. It’s just all their R&D is going to be disc brake focused as there’s hardly any demand for rim brakes on new bikes. At the mid and high end price point of new bikes you just aren’t going to find rim brake bikes anymore.
Ya, I get that. But like Shimano, some of these wheel manufacturers could incorporate “trickle down” technology for some of the older bikes. I still see quite a few rim brake bikes at the triathlons I’m in. And I’m at the point where I would be more willing to spend good money to upgrade components than buy a whole new bike.
And yes, I know there are still manufacturers out there making rim brake carbon wheels. But most are from China, some are good quality and some are shit. But I avoid Chinese products whenever I can for that and other reasons.
Have you looked at Boyd Wheels?
Unfortunately there just isn’t much trickle down from designs that don’t include any consideration of the rim as a braking surface to those where that is a primary design consideration. It’s not just rim shape - although that is a factor - it’s the fact that current wheel designs simply don’t have to worry about the heat that rim braking introduces to the rim structure, and the construction of the wheel is very much impacted by this. Hub designs for disc brakes are also very different from rim brakes. Ditto, lacing patterns and spoke count.
There are more than enough factors of this sort to make it essentially impossible to make rim brake “versions” of current high-end wheelsets; they would really need to just be almost entirely discreet design projects. And essentially no one (absent a couple of smaller/ish companies - like Boyd, as mentioned up thread) is selling enough wheels of this type to make that economically feasible, especially when the bottom has completely fallen out of the price for high-end rim brake wheels on the secondary market.
Yep, Let’s make what used to be a simple machine more complex so there are more things to maintain, monitor and go wrong as it will.
This is like the Titan Submarine having onboard sensors showing how many cracks there were in the hull.
I still haven’t seen numbers on how much cheaper it is to make hookless but it’s surely a lot. Nothing else explains Zipp’s insistence on a clearly worse road cycling product.
I suspect that a large part of Zipp’s business is B2B providing wheels for new-builds. In that environment the consumer is surely less likely to scrutinize the rim shape of the wheel. Which in reality is even worse, as they’re then likely to just pump up to whatever they did before.