For many, a fresh set of gravel wheels can revolutionise your gravel bike’s handling. With gravel going bigger and wider, while throwing aero features into the mix, there’s an awful lot to consider before dropping the cash on fresh hoops. Here are the very best we’ve tested to make buying your next set simple.
Why upgrade your gravel wheels?
On any type of bike, a wheel upgrade can bring some real performance gains. If you’ve bought a more affordable bike, posher wheels will, at the very least, shed some weight compared to your existing hoops, which will help make your bike more efficient to pedal, while bringing livelier handling into the mix.
However, as gravel is still growing at an incredible pace, the technology is advancing just as quickly. Now, aero dynamic features are becoming mighty common with flat-bladed spokes and deep rim sections claiming to slice through the air like a hot knife through butter. If you’re looking to reduce your watts while pedalling at speed, picking a pair of aero rims will do exactly that.
On top of that, gravel tyres are benefiting from a bit of mountain bike inspiration by getting fatter. While you can throw on a set of 50mm tyres onto a narrow rim, you won’t be making the most of the performance on offer, so upgrading to rims with a wider internal width will deliver better support for those wider tyres, as well as better pinch flat resistance.
Aero or regular?
With the UCI recognising gravel and encouraging some pretty strong racing, there are loads of wheels popping up on the market filled with claims of improved aerodynamic efficiency. As mentioned before, these types of deep-section wheels help reduce the physical power needed to hold higher speeds by slipping through the air, rather than pushing against it as you pedal, creating drag.
If that sounds like a benefit to you, it’s well worth investigating. However, as aerodynamic rims are deeper, they’re often stiffer, so if you’re up for adventuring over all kinds of terrain, they may not offer the heights of comfort that’ll definitely be useful during several days out in the wilderness.
Wheels shaped with a more regular design can offer more in the compliance department. This will boost a rim’s ability to deflect and conform while rattling over choppy terrain, and reduce the amount of feedback and vibration that’ll be transmitted to your body. With that in mind, you’ll be able to ride for longer without becoming uncomfortable.
What you need to know before buying new gravel wheels
Although wheel standards are becoming pretty… standard, there are a few things to consider before spending loads of money on a new wheelset. First off, you’ll need to make sure that your wheels fit your gravel bike. First up, check the types of axles you’re using and their dimensions and make sure that those measurements match those of your potential wheelset. Of course, there’s also the wheel’s size. Although 700c wheels are common, some gravel bikes roll on 650b wheels, and of course, there’s the burgeoning crop of 32″ bikes around, but let’s not open that can of worms.
The second most important factor to check when buying new wheels is the freehub body you’re currently using. If you’re using a v SRAM drivetrain, you’ll likely be sorted with an XD, HD or XDR freehub body, whereas Shimano drivetrains usually run HD and Microspline bodies, depending on the level of drivetrain you’re equipped with. Campagnolo drivetrains then use ED or N3W freehub bodies, the latter of which is found on its 13-speed offerings.
If you’re looking to widen your tyre size, you’ll be best served by a pair of wheels that are designed to support such tyres. Going too narrow will result in a very round tyre profile that won’t provide predictable support as you corner. Going too wide for your tyre choice can then boost the risk of pinch flats.
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