12 BEST 2022 WHEELS FOR ROAD AND GRAVEL

Take a look at ten of the best road bike wheels for 2022. Campagnolo, Shimano, Hunt and lesser known brands like Edco, Kru and Ursus developed wheels with the latest modern road bikes. Hookless rims, carbon spokes and disc-specific these 10 hoops ooze many of tech trends we’ve been forecasting for years.

SHIMANO DURA-ACE C50

With the launch of their new 12-speed semi-wireless drivetrain, Shimano also launched a line of new Dura-Ace wheels in three depths. The Dura-Ace C50 has a 21mm internal width, along with a hooked bead for tubeless or tube-type tires. While the Dura-Ace hub body is 12-speed-specific, they also hit the market with an Ultegra version that will work on 11-speeds.

Price: $2100

www.bike.shimano.com

BOYD PINNACLE

Boyd Johnson is the mastermind behind Boyd Wheels and has been on the leading edge of wheel evolution. The Pinnacle wheel is targeting all-road and gravel with a 36mm-deep carbon rim. It boasts a 23.4mm internal width that is hookless and designed to meet the demands of mixed-surface riding.

Price: $1700

www.boydcycling.com

CADEX 36

Cadex is a sub-brand of Giant Bicycles, and they are targeting only top-tier products. The 36 is their newest wheel offering and, like their other wheel offerings, is hookless, tubeless and built with carbon fiber spokes for an ultra-light and responsive feel. The new 36 is 22.4mm wide internally and hits the scales at 1311 grams.

Price: $3625

www.cadex-cycling.com

ZIPP 454 NSW

Zipp claims the wheel is less aerodynamic in the wind tunnel, thanks to its 23mm hookless internal width. But, they also claim they are 12 watts faster overall, thanks to the added volume and real-world benefits. The undulating depth profile is said to add stability in the wind, but most stunning is they only weigh in at 1386 grams with tubeless valves and tape.

Price: $4000

www.sram.com

HUNT AERODYNAMICIST

Hunt has been making waves with their high-performance wheels at very competitive prices. The Aerodynamicist line has three different rim depths all with 20mm internal widths and are tubeless-ready. The carbon wheels are wide to match the trend of 28–32mm tires, and they offer versions with either carbon fiber or steel spokes. 

Price: $1150                                                 

www.huntbikewheels.cc

CAMPAGNOLO BORA ULTRA WTO

The handcrafted Bora wheels are made in Italy, and are tubeless, disc-brake-specific and race-ready. WTO stands for “wind tunnel optimized,” and they come in three depths—33, 45 and 60mm. Campy would prefer if you matched them with one of their drivetrains, but they do have compatibility with Shimano and SRAM.

Price: $3585

www.campagnolo.com

EDCO FOUR-8

Swiss brand Edco focuses on engineering carbon fiber wheels at reasonable price points. The Four-8 starts with a tubeless-ready, 48mm-deep carbon rim built with aero-bladed Sapim CX Delta spokes laced in a 2:1 ratio. The rims are available in rim and disc brake variations, with Edco claiming the disc wheelset weighs in at 1530 grams.

Price: $1595

www.prestacycle.com

KRU C60 

A newer name in Italian wheels is Kru, who offer a selection of carbon hoops in a variety of depths. The C60 wheels use a seamless laminate construction and are tubeless-compatible and -friendly for Campagnolo, Shimano and SRAM drivetrains. 

Price: $1795

www.redroseimports.com

LIGHTWEIGHT PFADFINDER

The legendary German wheel brand is taking a stab at gravel with their latest carbon hoops, which feature a 20-spoke, tubeless-friendly build that can take up to a 40mm tire.  

Price: $5000

www.lightweightinfo.com

URSUS MIURA TC47 

The Italian-made carbon hoops are built with 24 straight-pull Sapim spokes and Ursus alloy hubs with Center-Lock disc mount. The wheels have a 21mm internal width and three different depths (37, 47 and 67mm), depending on where and how you ride. Wheel bags and valves are included.

Price: $1800
www.albabici.com

HED EMPORIA GC3 PERFORMANCE

The Emporia GC3 Performance is crafted by hand in Minnesota. They feature a 30mm-deep carbon rim profile, coupled with a 26mm internal rim width and 31mm external width. As the name implies, these wheels are designed for gravel and are best suited for 35mm- to 55mm-wide tires and the most demanding terrain. They also have a hookless rim design, increasing the strength of the rim and improving impact resistance. These tubeless-compatible wheels weigh in at 1545 grams.

Price: $1650

www.hedcycling.com

E11even ROAD DISC 38

The Carbon Disc Road 38mm wheelset is a wheelset to look into if you enjoy a smooth-climbing ride yet like to get up to speed when you need it. A good wheel for an all-around-type rider that is looking for a carbon option. The rim is 38mm deep and has an internal width of 16.5mm. Laced to DT 370 Center Lock disc brake hubs, the wheels come tubeless-ready and best paired with tires ranging from 23mm to 30mm. The wheelset weighs in at 1820 grams.

Price: $1099

www.e11evenbike.com