Carbon wheel terms explained
Rim
Rim depth
How tall the rim profile is: from the edge where the tyre sits to the inner edge that holds the spokes. Deep rims save effort in the headwind, shallow ones weigh less and stay calmer in crosswinds. On a rim with a wave profile, the depth changes around the wheel.
The middle half of the wheelsets in the comparison is 38 to 52 mm deep.
Internal width
The distance between the two rim walls on the inside, where the tyre sits; also called inner rim width. It decides how wide your tyre really ends up: each millimetre of extra internal width makes it about 0.4 mm wider, by a rule of thumb from Continental.
The middle half of the wheelsets in the comparison has an internal width of 21 to 25 mm.
Wheelsets by internal width Calculate the tyre width on your rim
External width
The width of the rim on the outside, measured at the edge where the tyre sits. It is larger than the internal width by the thickness of both walls; on some rims the body below is wider still.
Hookless
A rim without a hook at its edge. On a classic hooked rim, a small lip at the top of the wall holds the tyre bead; on a hookless rim the wall is straight and the bead holds only by its tight seat in the rim bed. That is why it takes only tubeless tyres that their maker approves for hookless, at no more than 5 bar under ETRTO. Whether a rim is hookless is in the manufacturer’s data sheet.
Tubeless ready
The rim is built for tyres without an inner tube. Rim tape seals the spoke holes, a tubeless valve sits airtight in the rim, and a little sealant in the tyre closes small holes on the road by itself. On a hooked rim you can still ride with a tube.
Weight and load capacity
Set weight
What the front and rear wheel weigh together, without tyres, cassette and brake rotors. Whether rim tape, valves or axles are weighed with them differs by brand, so small differences say little. “approx.” in front means the weight is estimated from the weights of the single parts.
The median of the manufacturers’ claims in the comparison is 1,330 g: one half of the wheelsets is lighter, the other heavier.
Rider and system weight
How heavy it may get at most, according to the maker of the wheelset. The rider weight counts only you, the system weight everything together: 80 kg of you, a 9 kg bike and 6 kg of luggage make 95 kg.
1,350 of 1,702 wheelsets in the comparison state a limit.
Spokes and hub
Carbon spokes
Spokes connect the hub and the rim and keep the rim true. Most are made of stainless steel; carbon spokes weigh less.
383 of 1,702 wheelsets in the comparison have carbon spokes as claimed by the manufacturer.
Freehub: ratchet and pawls
The freehub in the rear hub lets the wheel keep rolling when you stop pedalling; it makes the clicking sound while you coast. With a ratchet, a spring presses two discs with angled teeth together, and they engage when you pedal. With pawls, small catches engage a toothed ring.
Of 1,702 wheelsets in the comparison, 1,422 have a ratchet and 31 pawls; for 249 it is not stated.
Approval
UCI approval and the 65 mm limit
The UCI is the world cycling federation and sets which equipment may be used in its races. Wheel models it has checked are on a list of approved models; since 1 January 2026, rims in mass-start races may also be at most 65 mm deep. The comparison shows the approval as the manufacturer states it.
145 of 1,702 wheelsets in the comparison are approved as claimed by the manufacturer, 47 deeper than 65 mm.
Buying
Crash replacement
An offer from the brand for when a wheel breaks in a crash or accident and the warranty does not apply: you get a replacement at a lower price. How much you pay and for how long the offer applies is up to each brand.
Import charges and duties paid delivery (DDP)
If a wheelset comes from outside the EU, for example straight from China, 19% import VAT is due on import to Germany, duties depending on the goods and a fee depending on the carrier. With duties paid delivery (DDP, “Delivered Duty Paid”) the shop has already paid them, otherwise you pay on delivery; from a warehouse in the EU none of this applies. The prices in the comparison do not include these charges yet.
Personal advice
Not sure which wheelset fits your bike and budget? Ask me and I’ll help you choose, free of charge.