When it comes to riding bikes, we all want to be able to go faster and further. One of the best upgrades to step you up to the next level is carbon fiber wheels. They are lighter, stronger, stiffer, and faster. We are often asked about carbon fiber wheels when it comes to gravel cycling.
Obviously, when it comes to road bikes, we see carbon wheels all the time, but in mountain biking, not so much. What about gravel cycling? In this article, we’re going to be telling you everything you need to know by speaking about:
- What are gravel bike carbon wheels?
- Can you use carbon road wheels on gravel?
- Do carbon wheels make a difference on a gravel bike?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of gravel carbon wheels?
- The 6 best gravel bike carbon wheels
What are gravel bike carbon wheels?
Carbon Fiber is a unique material that many people tend not to understand. Carbon fiber is made up in a very special way. They take a carbon atom compound that is weaved together and combined with a resin.
Once set, then creates an incredibly strong and stiff material that is chemical resistant with a high tolerance to heat and low thermal expansion. The best thing about carbon fiber is that it is very lightweight and can be made into any shape with the right mold.
Gravel bike carbon wheels are made with gravel cycling in mind. These wheels generally come in two different sizes 700c (29”) and 650b (27.5”). They are designed to accommodate wider tires and are made stronger for rougher roads and bumpy trails.
Related Reading: What is a Gravel Bike?
Can you use carbon road wheels on gravel?
We are often asked if it is possible to use carbon road bike wheels on a gravel bike. Yes, in theory, but you might not get the best experience because gravel and road bike wheels are very different. Here’s what you need to know.
Compatibility could be the first issue. Road bike wheels typically only come in 700c, which means if you can only use 650b wheels, they will be too big. The next consideration is that gravel bikes require disc brake wheels (Center lock or six bolt) which only really modern road bikes have.
Just say your carbon road bike wheels tick all the boxes to fit. The next issue you will find is the design is different. A gravel wheelset is much wider internally than road bike wheels to accommodate wider tires. You may be able to fit those 40c tires on them, but they will be misshapen, and the handling will be awful. Wheel manufacturers don’t recommend using gravel tires on road wheels.
Do carbon wheels make a difference on a gravel bike?
Carbon fiber wheels make a big difference to a bike. It will handle better, accelerate much faster, and be much more efficient at higher speeds. With the right set of wheels, you could notice your average speed go up about 1-2 mph.
They say wheels are one of the best upgrades because you reduce weight on a moving part of the bike. It’s much better to lighten wheel weight than it is to lighten a frame or groupset, in our opinion.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of gravel bike carbon wheels?
The best way to understand gravel bike carbon wheels is to look at their advantages and disadvantages. Here’s what you can expect when using gravel bike wheels.
What are the advantages of carbon wheels?
- Very lightweight – Up to half the weight of budget aluminum wheels
- Aerodynamics – Carbon can be made into deeper wheels without weighing too much more
- Stiffness – Stiffer wheels can improve handling and transfer power more efficiently
- Looks – Carbon wheels generally look much better than aluminum wheels
- Durability – Providing you look after them properly, carbon wheels have an incredible lifespan
What are the disadvantages of carbon wheels?
- Cost – Carbon wheels are not cheap to buy
- Harsh Ride – If you’re using very small tires and stiff carbon wheels, it can shake the ride a bit
- Repairs – Carbon wheels are not easily repaired if cracked or damaged
Related Reading: 5 Best Electric Gravel Bikes
6 Best Gravel Bike Wheels
There are a lot of different carbon gravel wheelsets on the market to choose from. Here are our top recommendations for gravel riding:
Hunt 30 Carbon Gravel
- Cost: $900 (CAD)
- Weight: 1479g
- Width: 27.5mm (21mm Int)
- Depth: 30mm
- Size: 700c
- Tubeless: Yes
- Best Suited To Climbing
Hunt has become a big name in the bike wheel world in the past five years. They make some great wheels with simple but very effective technology inside. The Hunt 30 carbon gravel wheels are designed to be an all-around wheelset, but they are definitely one for the climbers.
Coming in at 30mm in depth and weighing only 1479g, they are lightweight and fast. The internal rim width is 21mm wide, and they are made to suit a wide variety of tires. They are tubeless-ready and very easy to get set up on your bike.
Coming in at roughly $900 CAD, they are incredibly cheap and well worth every cent. We also liked that they even sent a spare package with spokes and tape if you plan to use them tubeless or have any issues.
Shimano GRX Carbon Gravel Wheels
- Cost: $1,800 (CAD)
- Weight: 1461g
- Width: 30mm (25mm Int)
- Depth: 32mm
- Size: 700c
- Tubeless: Yes
- Best Suited To: Off-road
Shimano is one of the biggest cycling component manufacturers in the world and has a huge range of different products for gravel cycling within the GRX range. They quickly started releasing gravel components and the wheels they definitely got right.
The GRX Carbon Gravel Wheels are an excellent choice for any gravel rider who wants to be tackling tough trails. With an internal rim width of 25mm, they are made for wide tires and are going to take anything you might throw at them.
They are tubeless as standard and come in at only 1461g, which is very lightweight for such a wide wheel. However, they still use cup and cone technology, so these can be serviced yourself, but only a few companies opt for this system now. They are not cheap at $1,899 (CAD) but will perform and last.
Zipp 303 Firecrest Tubeless Disc
- Cost: $1,600 (CAD)
- Weight: 1352g
- Width: (25mm Int)
- Depth: 40mm
- Size: 700c/650b
- Tubeless: Yes (Hookless)
- Best Suited To All Round Riding
There are not many best wheel lists available to read without a set of Zipp wheels on. Throughout the years, they have provided great wheelsets for cycling and continue to do so. The Zipp 303 Firecrest is one of their latest offerings, and they have outdone themselves.
With a depth of 40mm on a gravel wheel, you would assume they would be heavier, but you would be wrong there. They are only 1352g, and with an internal rim width of 25mm, this is an even more impressive statistic. We believe they are best suited to all-round riding and will perform great anywhere you put them.
Unlike others we have spoken about on this list, these Firecrest front and rear wheels are hookless. This means they use hookless tires and can only be set up tubeless. This limits your tire choices, and it’s still pretty new technology. Coming in at around $1,600 (CAD), you get a lot of wheel for your money.
Enve G23 Carbon Gravel Wheel
- Cost: $3,100 (CAD)
- Weight: 1305g
- Width: 31.5mm (23mm Int)
- Depth: 25mm
- Size: 700c
- Tubeless: Yes
- Best Suited To: Climbing and Off Road
If money were no object, there would be many people riding Enve wheelsets. They make incredible wheels and are the choice of many professionals. We must mention the G23 as it is the wheelset everyone seems to be speaking about in the performance gravel world.
With a depth of 25mm and an internal rim width of 23mm, it will be excellent at climbing and extremely durable when riding off-road. The wheels weigh a total of 1305g using Enve’s hubs, but you can upgrade them to pull it down to 1287g.
They are not cheap wheels by all means, but they are amazing. If you are making a dream gravel build that you’re planning to ride for the next ten years, then you will want to consider these incredible wheels. If you have a tight budget, consider another set.
Roval Terra CLX EVO
- Cost: $3,570 (CAD)
- Weight: 1297g
- Width: (30mm Int)
- Depth: 25mm
- Size: 700c/650b
- Tubeless: Yes
- Best Suited To Climbing and Off Road
The Roval Terra CLX wheels are the most expensive on this list. They have some incredible statistics, and we believe they are some of the best gravel wheels the industry has to offer right now. Not only do they look great, but they also have the performance to match.
With an internal rim width of 30mm, these wheels are incredibly wide. You could put a huge tire on this and hit a trail hard, and it won’t let you roll. It will just give you extra grip. They are 25mm in depth, making them a low profile rim which again adds to that off-road style and performance.
They weigh 1297g out of the box, and with the tape and tubeless valves, you’re looking at around 1350g, so yes, they are very light. Coming in both 650b and 700c, you have wheel size choices. If you have the budget, the Terra CLX will give you an amazing experience, especially knowing it has a lifetime warranty.
Scribe Gravel Wide++CD
- Cost: $1,500 (CAD)
- Weight: 1316g
- Width: (30mm Int)
- Depth: 23mm
- Size: 700c
- Tubeless: Yes (Hookless)
- Best Suited To: Off-Road
Finally, we have the Scribe Gravel Wide++ CD wheelset. Scribe has really impressed us with some amazing wheelsets, and when we got to look at the price, we couldn’t believe what they were offering at such a low cost.
The wheelset weighs only 1316 g and has a depth of 23mm, which makes these extremely shallow wheels. They are ideal for off-road riding and with a 30mm internal rim width, will take a large tire very well.
Like the Firecrest wheels, these are hookless, so you are limited on tire choices. Coming in at only $1,500 CAD, they are incredible value for money. Scribe may not be the biggest company as far as gravel wheels are concerned, but they are getting a great name for itself.
Related Reading: Gravel Bike vs Road Bike
Gravel Biking with Carbon Wheels
Carbon has come a long way in the past decade, people used to treat it like it was fragile, but it’s stronger than you might think. Gravel biking with carbon wheels is a lot of fun. Carbon wheels are very fast, make the work easier, and sound amazing in those sprints. We recommend the wheels as the best place to start if you want to upgrade your bike.
Read More: What is a Gravel Bike Frame?