Easton EA90 SLX Wheels

These Easton EA90 SLX tubeless-ready aluminium wheels are lightweight and quick while at the same time being strong and durable. Although designed as race wheels, they're robust enough for daily use year round.

I've been using these wheels regularly for months (sorry, Easton, I know this review was due ages ago) and they've proven to be pretty much bombproof. They're the sort of wheels you can fit and forget. Hit a huge pothole? No worries. Take on some gravel? Pah! They've handled everything I've thrown at them and they've not needed so much as a tweak.

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Despite being sturdy, the EA90 SLX wheelset is also lightweight. Ours hit the road.cc Scales of Truth at 1,430g without the quick releases. They feel lightweight in use too.

I've been running them with inner tubes and Continental Grand Prix 4000 S tyres and with Schwalbe Pro One tubeless tyres, both types in a 25mm width. They've performed impressively both ways.

The alloy rims are 25mm deep with a 22mm external, 17.5mm internal rim width. That's not as wide as many rims these days but it's similar to a Mavic Ksyrium Elite (£525) and Ksyrium Pro (£775), for example.

There's no need to add rim tape because the rim bed isn't drilled. As well as meaning that there's no danger of air escaping from a tubeless system, this adds to the rim's rigidity.

I didn't find setting these up tubeless any more or less difficult than any other wheels I've used. It's worth noting, though, that the valves supplied don't have a removable core so you need to pour tyre sealant directly into the tyre rather than via the valve. I prefer to do it like that anyway. I had no trouble with air escaping even when riding tyres at low pressure over bumpy gravel surfaces. The rims handled all that without any drama.

> Read the road.cc guide to tubeless wheels

Although they've been around for a while now, the Echo hubs are a highlight. They use sealed cartridge bearings so you don't have to adjust them at any time. Those bearings are reasonably well protected and no water or gunk has got in during testing.

The Echo rear hub is the interesting one in that Easton has moved the axle bearings super-wide (they're 95mm from one another) to improve durability.

Easton has also reversed the design of the hub's drive mechanism. Unusually, the individually sprung steel pawls are attached to the rear hub shell and the drive ring is on the cassette body.

Engagement (producing drive when you start to pedal) is quick because there are 51 teeth on the drive ring, so you're looking at just 7° before your power starts to kick in.

The front wheel has 16 radially laced spokes while the rear has 20. They're laced one-cross on the non-driveside and two-cross on the driveside. The spokes are straight-pull double-butted spokes from Sapim. Easton's own UST alloy nipples – threaded on both the inside and the outside – are externally adjustable although replacements might not be available from your local bike shop.

The EA90 SLX wheels might not have the ability to slice through the air like something with a deep-section rim but, on the other hand, the 25mm depth means crosswinds have very little effect.

> Buyer's Guide: The best road bike wheels

To me, the key aspects of the performance are that these wheels are light enough to be lively and responsive yet they're strong and durable enough that you can use them day in, day out without giving them a thought. Some people won't want to spend this amount on an all-round wheelset, but if you do you'll be rewarded with a top-end aluminium performance.

Verdict

Light and lively tubeless-ready wheels that are durable enough for fuss-free everyday use