# Zipp 303 XPLR Wheelset **URL:** \ **Category:** Equipment\ **Created:** [August 1, 2024, 5:24pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127 "2024-08-01T17:24:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rkoswald](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/rkoswald/32/28273_2.png) [@rkoswald](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/rkoswald)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 5:24pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/1 "2024-08-01T17:24:05Z")
So apparently I need to win the lottery … The SW version is similar to the Firecrest range with dimples and a lighter / higher-end hub (MSRP $2100USD). The S model has smooth walls and a 150g heavier hub (MSRP $1400USD). > **[303 XPLR - Zipp](https://www.sram.com/en/zipp/road/series/303-xplr)** > > The Zipp 303 XPLR SW and S are the fastest gravel wheels for everyone. Thanks to its mega-wide and deep rim, the wheelset forges a new path for gravel-specific cycling innovation and is purpose-built to match approved gravel tires. Initial BikeRumor reviewer had a lot of flats, but may have been a result of having tire pressure too low and/or tire selection. > **[Zipp Rolls Out Crazy Wide 303 XPLR Gravel Wheels and Zipp XPLR bars ](https://bikerumor.com/zipp-303-xplr-sw-gravel-wheels/)** > > Zipp said, "Wider is faster," for a while. Now, they are blowing the doors off with a mega-wide 32mm internal aero-gravel wheelset. > **[Zipp 303 XPLR gravel wheelset review: Aero at 32 mm internal width  -...](https://escapecollective.com/zipp-303-xplr-gravel-wheelset-review-aero-at-32-mm-internal-width/)** > > Going so wide is a little odd. Plus, thoughts on the new Zipp handlebar and collab tyres  Plus the new 13-speed SRAM Red … > [@New 13 Speed Red XPLR spotted](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/new-13-speed-red-xplr-spotted/93740/145): > > @dcrainmaker has uploaded his review 6 minutes ago: [[SRAM RED XPLR Gravel Groupset In-Depth Review] ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_OWsyRhFcg) ---
**Author:** ![joshross](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/joshross/32/7721_2.png) [@joshross](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/joshross)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 6:19pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/2 "2024-08-01T18:19:24Z")
Believe it or not, $2100 for top shelf gravel wheels is actually a bargain. ---
**Author:** ![mhandwerk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/mhandwerk/32/156397_2.png) [@mhandwerk](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/mhandwerk)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 7:39pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/3 "2024-08-01T19:39:40Z")
If you are a tire manufacturer what internal width are you going to develop your tire for? It seems like the profile is gonna be different if it is run on a 21mm, 25mm, or 32mm rim. ---
**Author:** ![rkoswald](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/rkoswald/32/28273_2.png) [@rkoswald](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/rkoswald)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 7:56pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/4 "2024-08-01T19:56:02Z")
> [@joshross](#): > > Believe it or not, $2100 for top shelf gravel wheels is actually a bargain. If I were made of money, or won the lottery, I think I’d settle up on Zipp wheels across the board - 404FC and 303S for road, and 303 XPLR SW for gravel. I wish their 101 XPLR wheels were lighter, though, for a good set of climbing wheels. So I guess G25 or WeAreOne Revives work there. Would also get the new 13-speed Red XPLR, plus a second cassette. I like my Lauf Smoothie gravel bars, so would keep those, but might try the Zipp SL80 Race bars for the road bike. Gotta win the lottery, though. 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![rkoswald](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/rkoswald/32/28273_2.png) [@rkoswald](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/rkoswald)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 8:42pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/5 "2024-08-01T20:42:24Z")
Back to regularly scheduled programming … thoughts on 32mm internal width? I’m not an MTBer but have seen many posts about this being wider than most MTB wheels. ---
**Author:** ![Andrewbn42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b782af/32.png) [@Andrewbn42](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Andrewbn42)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 9:21pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/6 "2024-08-01T21:21:21Z")
I think for tires less than 2.2 it will be less than ideal. I think I’d put a lower limit at around 50mm tire for off road. ---
**Author:** ![dtom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@dtom](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/dtom)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 9:30pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/7 "2024-08-01T21:30:31Z")
> [@rkoswald](#): > > Initial BikeRumor reviewer had a lot of flats Compare flat experience here: [Zipp Rolls Out Crazy Wide 303 XPLR Gravel Wheels and Zipp XPLR bars - Bikerumor](https://bikerumor.com/zipp-303-xplr-sw-gravel-wheels/#:~:text=weight%2C%20and%20gear.-,First%20Rides,-My%20first%20ride) With flat experience here: [SRAM RED XPLR Gravel Groupset & Power Meter In-Depth Review (2024) (dcrainmaker.com)](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2024/08/sram-red-xplr-2024-gravel-groupset-power-meter-review.html#:~:text=Now%2C%20while%20I%20loved%20almost%20all%20of%20my%20time%20with%20this%20wheelset%20combination%2C%20it%20can%E2%80%99t%20be%20left%20unsaid%20that%20things%20didn%E2%80%99t%20end%20well) Coincidence? Doubtful. ---
**Author:** ![tiptoppenguin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/tiptoppenguin/32/146850_2.png) [@tiptoppenguin](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/tiptoppenguin)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 9:34pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/8 "2024-08-01T21:34:45Z")
lol same! I always though dream kit would be Enve parts but having owned Firecrests and Zipp bars and other components I think Zipp has surpassed Enve for me. Especially since most of their stuff is cheaper but equal quality imo. Also feels good to support a Midwest brand being born a Midwesterner lol ---
**Author:** ![Ahmad](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/ahmad/32/147836_2.png) [@Ahmad](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Ahmad)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 11:38pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/9 "2024-08-01T23:38:34Z")
> [@rkoswald](#): > > If I were made of money, or won the lottery, I think I’d settle up on Zipp wheels across the board - 404FC and 303S for road, and 303 XPLR SW for gravel. Out of curiosity… In this game were money is not an issue why would you pick the 303s over the 303FC? I have the 303s and I’m very happy with them but I would’ve thought the 303fc was worth the upgrade over the 303s. ---
**Author:** ![Ahmad](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/ahmad/32/147836_2.png) [@Ahmad](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Ahmad)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 11:55pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/10 "2024-08-01T23:55:32Z")
Dylan Johnson and Silca have done some testing on wide tires. [https://youtu.be/w3yspNTvVPo?si=RlMWolZwJjYKaFf8](https://youtu.be/w3yspNTvVPo?si=RlMWolZwJjYKaFf8) I’d like to see more tests but it seems there are a lot of benefits and very few downsides (in the right terrain and frame of course). Compatible tires start at 40mm, so it seems they cover a good range for gravel. However, you lose the versatility of 23-25 mm IW that can be used both on road and gravel. Now, I’d like to see wheelset with similar widths and hooks so that it could be tested with 35mm road tires. I just want to see how wide we can go on road. ---
**Author:** ![rkoswald](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/rkoswald/32/28273_2.png) [@rkoswald](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/rkoswald)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 12:31am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/11 "2024-08-02T00:31:19Z")
> [@Ahmad](#): > > Out of curiosity… In this game were money is not an issue why would you pick the 303s over the 303FC? > > I have the 303s and I’m very happy with them but I would’ve thought the 303fc was worth the upgrade over the 303s. I already own a set of 303S and am super pleased with how they perform. If money were truly no issue I would get the 303FC. ---
**Author:** ![rkoswald](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/rkoswald/32/28273_2.png) [@rkoswald](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/rkoswald)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 12:33am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/12 "2024-08-02T00:33:40Z")
> [@dtom](#): > > Compare flat experience here: > [Zipp Rolls Out Crazy Wide 303 XPLR Gravel Wheels and Zipp XPLR bars - Bikerumor](https://bikerumor.com/zipp-303-xplr-sw-gravel-wheels/#:~:text=weight%2C%20and%20gear.-,First%20Rides,-My%20first%20ride) > With flat experience here: > [SRAM RED XPLR Gravel Groupset & Power Meter In-Depth Review (2024) (dcrainmaker.com)](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2024/08/sram-red-xplr-2024-gravel-groupset-power-meter-review.html#:~:text=Now%2C%20while%20I%20loved%20almost%20all%20of%20my%20time%20with%20this%20wheelset%20combination%2C%20it%20can%E2%80%99t%20be%20left%20unsaid%20that%20things%20didn%E2%80%99t%20end%20well) > > Coincidence? Doubtful. Do you think it is the tires, extra wide internal width, or the combination of both? I’m a fan of “wider is better” but 32mm might be pushing it. ---
**Author:** ![Pabst](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/pabst/32/157934_2.png) [@Pabst](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Pabst)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 12:43am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/13 "2024-08-02T00:43:34Z")
I thought we predicted this would happen last year in the tire stretching thread. ---
**Author:** ![Ahmad](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/ahmad/32/147836_2.png) [@Ahmad](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Ahmad)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 12:48am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/14 "2024-08-02T00:48:13Z")
Ah, got it. Yeah, I’m very happy with them I wouldn’t pay the MSRP to upgrade them but I’d do the same if I was able to choose. And to be honest, the main reason for me is that the 303fc have better hubs. However, that’s based on what I’ve read around but I don’t have any solid reason to think this. ---
**Author:** ![kervelo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/kervelo/32/143552_2.png) [@kervelo](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/kervelo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 7:53am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/15 "2024-08-02T07:53:37Z")
At least according to the pictures in the Bikerumor article the punctures were on the sidewall. This is quite often a sign that the tyres are too narrow for the rims: the sidewall should not touch the road. ---
**Author:** ![cartsman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/cartsman/32/18565_2.png) [@cartsman](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/cartsman)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 7:55am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/16 "2024-08-02T07:55:34Z")
> [@Ahmad](#): > > Now, I’d like to see wheelset with similar widths and hooks so that it could be tested with 35mm road tires > **[DISCUS 45 | 40 WHEELS Carbon Ti-hubs](https://3t.bike/products/discus-45-40-wheels-carbon-ti-hubs)** > > The world’s widest aero wheels, significantly improving the aerodynamics of big road and gravel tires from 35mm WAM to MTB tires.  The 3T Discus 45|40 is pretty much exactly what you’re looking for ---
**Author:** ![kervelo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/kervelo/32/143552_2.png) [@kervelo](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/kervelo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 10:59am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/17 "2024-08-02T10:59:31Z")
The new 303 XPLR wheels seem to be already available in many EU shops. I don’t plan to buy right now, but I still find it great. ---
**Author:** ![Cory.Rood](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/cory.rood/32/77597_2.png) [@Cory.Rood](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Cory.Rood)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:09am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/18 "2024-08-02T11:09:40Z")
" \* \*303 XPLR SW IS ONLY COMPATIBLE WITH APPROVED TIRES. The Goodyear XPLR Slick and Goodyear XPLR Inter are specifically designed and optimized for the 303 XPLR SW." total killer there. ---
**Author:** ![mcalista](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/mcalista/32/92377_2.png) [@mcalista](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/mcalista)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:28am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/19 "2024-08-02T11:28:47Z")
> [@Ahmad](#): > > Now, I’d like to see wheelset with similar widths and hooks so that it could be tested with 35mm road tires. I just want to see how wide we can go on road. This! ---
**Author:** ![oldandfast](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/oldandfast/32/118550_2.png) [@oldandfast](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/oldandfast)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:44am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127/20 "2024-08-02T11:44:43Z")
These wheels are too heavy and Idk who would choose them over the Reserve 40/44 gravel. [Next page](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/zipp-303-xplr-wheelset/95127.md?page=2)