One other option (that I’m currently debating) are the Nextie AGX series: https://www.nextie.com/gravel-AGX-700C. They look similar in specs to the 3T and LB. Nextie builds them into a full wheel set with DT 350 hubs for just over $1k, though their warranty isn’t quite as good as LB or 3T.
These look like nice options. I would be curious to know how a 32c tire mounts on a 30mm wide rim. I had a lot of trouble mounting my Gravelking SK 35’s on my 24mm internal Eastons. I think GK’s are notoriously difficult to mount…at least that’s been my experience after having 4 pairs of them.
I don’t ride just gravel. It’s probably 70/30 (tarmac/gravel), but I just enjoy the ride quality of a larger volume tire.
I swapped my alu rims for 50mm carbon from elitewheels. The weight loss is great, but I do get blown around on a windy day. Not something I thought a lot about beforehand, but as a smaller rider, I probably would recommend my past self go with 40mm.
Stability is often not always related to depth. there are some deep wheels which act very well in cross wind. Roval Rapide are one of those wheels.
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Personally, for 32c I’d be looking at the Wide Road (WR) range and 38-45c, the WG.
These things blow my mind, what would a 35-36c blow up to with a 29mm internal?
I would guess about 40mm (though it would depend on the tire a little bit). On my 25mm internal wide rims I see some of my 38mm rubber going to 40-42mm
One of the things I wonder about going really wide is the effect on the contact patch of the tire. If a tire manufacturer is basing their tires around a 21mm internal, does putting it on something much wider effect how the tire is suppose to perform in terms of grip and flat protection?
This plus overall tire shape and how that could impact cornering. If a tire gets too wide I would think that it could develop a more oval shape.
Welp. This answers some questions. Perhaps I should be considering a LIGHTER wheelset versus trying to find something that increases aerodynamics with a 35-38c tire.
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Yeah, that’s what I did based on articles like this. I got a 1150g wheelset with 30mm internal, 37mm external width.
There’s been a bit of a discussion around rim width affecting tire width here: Ideal Wheel Rim Width for 45-50MM Gravel Tires - #19 by teddygram
That has been my experience as well.
Modern 40–50 mm all seem very good at being well-behaved in cross winds. My first ride on deep wheels was 2016ish on a Domane SL6 Disc, and the “deep” wheels it came with were scary in the cross wind. It did not help that this was a loaner.
In contrast, my 3T Discus wheels never felt uncomfortable. I can sometimes feel the wind, but not as a tug, more like feedback (hard to explain). In normal winds it no longer is a factor. Friends with wheels from other manufacturers (e. g. Zipp) tell me their experience jives with mine.
My next wheels will likely be deeper than 45 mm.
There is a lot to be said for a shallower (40mm)ish wheels with a wider tyre, can be a good few hundred grams lighter and almost as fast.
See the reserve wheels for example. Those would be my next wheels if I needed them.
Like what?
The weight difference between deeper and shallower wheels (e. g. going from 35 mm to 45ish mm) is quite small these days. E. g. Enve’s well-regarded 4.5s weigh 56 g more than their 3.4s. The difference to 2.3s is a more significant 237 g, but then you are losing most of the aero benefits. Consensus is that shallower wheels give you a very small-to-negligible advantage on the climb and disadvantages you in all other situations. Also, very light wheels often come with compromises (more maintenance, less robust, etc., just watch some of Rides of Japan’s videos on his super light 1is kg wheelset).
If I had to say something in favor of shallower wheels is that they can be more compliant as the deep sections tend to make the wheel very stiff. The best riding road bike wheels I have ever had underneath my rear end were 3T Discus 35, they were lovely to ride, e. g. I could rail corners better as they felt/were more secure.
I have no idea whether they are significantly lighter than my 3T Discus 45s, though.
I’m having a hard time believing that attaching a small piece of carryon luggage to the front of my bike is more aerodynamic.
It might be on that particular bike due to antiquated frame design, I suppose, but like many of their claims, I’m not necessarily buying it.
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For example the Reserve 40/44 are 1300, the 52/63 is over 1500g.
Weight makes a big difference on how the bike feels. and the 40mm setup with the wider tyre tests very close aerodynamically to the 52/63, yet is much more enjoyable to ride, much lighter, hence quicker with acceleration, important for things like alpine climbs.
While I can’t give you a wattage number, I have a very trusted source within the WT who has tested both of the setups, and chooses the shallower ones, even though they are a breakaway specialist. Weight, Rider feel, comfort, wind stability will all be a factor.
That is the problem with making decisions primarily based on “feel”….we kinda suck at being able to accurately gauge how it affects performance.
120+ psi on 19mm tires was once the standard because it “felt” faster……but was actually slower.
This isn’t based on feel. I am well aware of the paradox of what feels fast vs what is fast.
When I said rider feel, I meant comfort, compliance and agility.
When I say it tests fast, i mean it was tested and proved to be very quick.
The shop I do side work for is a dealer for Nextie (mainly me) and I really wouldn’t worry about the warranty. They are phenomenal with replacing or helping you out etc. Please feel free to PM if you have questions etc, we have TONS of Nextie product floating around our general area.
I’m ignoring that part of the article, although, I have no reason to not believe Jan. That said, what I’m cluing in on is the consensus and info around the tire needing to be close to or smaller in width than the rim. That makes it nearly impossible finding rims that are wider than what I typically run for tires.
Suppose I could give up on trying to make 35-38c tires aero and just run my Easton aluminum wheels for rowdier gravel and pick up some deep-section carbon wheels with a wide internal width and run a 30mm tire and get the aero advantage for road and light gravel riding.
Ride quality/ride feel is usually the most difficult section to write as it depends on a myriad of factors (tire choice, tubeless or not, etc.). I say this as someone who rides a light hardtail, and I very much prefer the feel compared to the fully it replaced. I know that in most situations a fully will be quicker, though. Ride feel is a thing.
Generally speaking, tires and tire pressures will have a much bigger influence on compliance and comfort.
A discussion of aero benefits is a ginormous can of worms that I prefer not to open. I think there is a reason why most brands found that 40–50 mm is the goldilocks depth, benign in cross winds, decent aero benefits and decent weight (if you want to pay for it).
You are right that with other brands differences in wheel weight may be larger than the example I have given. However, I think if wheel weight is within reason, it is generally fine. Plus, the wheelset will see offroad use, and I’d definitely have some extra meat on the rims in exchange for some weight to make sure they can handle the abuse.
Why? 