The 10 Best Chinese Carbon Road Bike Wheels TESTED (2025)

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Here is my list of the best Chinese carbon road bike wheels, including wheelsets for rim and disc brakes, lightweight and deep aero wheels, and both low and high-end options.

For years, I have been closely following the Chinese carbon industry, testing wheels, conducting market research, reading reviews and customer experiences, and watching technical videos to save you time.

Even today, you can find poor-quality carbon wheels that may be unsafe to ride. In this article, I’ll advise you on how to avoid them. To ensure quality and safety, this selection only includes wheels from reputable manufacturers who extensively test their products. Most wheels listed below are UCI-approved and meet ISO or other safety standards.

All of these wheels come with warranties and are popular among riders worldwide. Additionally, all manufacturers offer international shipping. Here are my top picks:

• The best lightweight Chinese carbon wheels are the Elitewheels DRIVE (use the CYCLISTSHUB discount code at elite-wheels.com to get 15% OFF your purchase). They weigh only 1300g (50mm, disc) and are stiff, responsive, and stable in crosswinds. On the flats, however, they can’t hold speed as well as heavier wheels like HYPERs.
• One of the most popular wheels are the Lún HYPER 2023 (use CYCLISTSHUB10 discount code at winspace.cc to get 10% OFF your purchase). They stand out thanks to their rim finish, stiffness, speed, and durability. They are just not as stable in crosswinds as DRIVE (the 3rd gen. is better in this aspect) and are a bit narrower by today’s standards.
• The best budget Chinese carbon wheels are the Elitewheels Edge. They are surprisingly lightweight (~1350g at 50mm), comfortable, and stable in crosswinds. They just don’t feel as fast and responsive as more premium wheels and are narrow.

Read on to learn more about each set of wheels and take advantage of exclusive discounts I’ve negotiated directly with the manufacturers. I’ll also guide you through the selection of wheelsets and explain what to look out for.

What Are the Best Chinese Carbon Wheels?

Skip to the comparison table…

The best Chinese carbon wheels meet quality standards like ISO 4210 and are UCI-approved or certified by third parties. They should be covered by a warranty or a crash replacement program. Depending on your preference, look for high stiffness, aerodynamics, lightweight, and eventually easy maintenance.

All wheels listed below were manufactured by reputable Chinese bicycle brands and are covered by at least a 2-year warranty.

Remember, if you order wheels directly from the manufacturer, they are shipped from China. Delivery will take several weeks, and you may have to pay import fees (learn more).

Feel free to read the buyer’s guide section if you don’t know how to choose carbon wheels.

Elitewheels DRIVE (Best Lightweight Chinese Road Bike Wheels)

Responsive, lightweight, and crosswinds-stable wheels for a surprisingly low price…

My DRIVE wheels scoring at a glance:
Crosswind Stability 5/5 | Stiffness 5/5 | Riding Comfort 3/5 | Speed Maintenance 4/5 | Tire On 3/5 | Trueness 4/5 | Spoke Tension 4/5 | Dishing 5/5 | Price 3/5 | OVERALL 4.0/5
More about this road wheels scoring.

If you’re looking for lightweight, responsive, and affordable road bike wheels, the Elitewheels DRIVE are worth considering. These are my go-to climbing wheels I used in the Dolomites.

Fun fact: Their disc brake option is lighter than the rim brake option!

I tested the 45mm version, which has since been discontinued to simplify their lineup. You can now choose from 40mm, 50mm, or 65mm options. The 50mm disc brake version weighs only 1300g (1315g for the rim brake version), making them extremely agile and responsive, perfect for punchers, climbers, or crit racers. They feel like sports cars. (I am guessing here because I’ve never ridden one.)

DRIVE wheels come with in-house-designed hubs, carbon spokes, and ceramic bearings. You’ll appreciate their unique raw-carbon finish if you like to stand out.

Another thing I like about them is the wider external rim width of 28mm, which makes them more suitable for the increasingly popular 28—and 30-mm tires. The DRIVE II wheels are even wider, with 23mm internal and 31mm external width.

I find them stable in crosswinds, almost as stable as the heavier YOELEO SAT PRO (2022). However, they don’t maintain speed as well due to their lower inertia, so they’re not the best choice for time trials, steady efforts, or flat roads. Moreover, the quality of their bearings is questionable because mine stopped rolling smoothly after 3000 km. Some people suggest cleaning the factory grease and adding a new one. I’m yet about to try this tip.

They come with pre-installed tubeless rim tape to save you some time installing it, valves, and spare spokes.

Lún HYPER [2023 and 3] (Most Popular Chinese Road Bike Wheels)

Chinese wheels that set a new benchmark…

My HYPER 3 wheels scoring at a glance:
Crosswind Stability 5/5 | Stiffness 5/5 | Riding Comfort 3/5 | Speed Maintenance 5/5 | Tire On 3/5 | Trueness 5/5 | Spoke Tension 5/5 | Dishing 5/5 | Price 2/5 | OVERALL 4.1/5
More about this road wheels scoring.

As always, I’ll be honest with you. HYPERs were my dream wheels because of their butterfly-weave finish. I decided to buy them after a lot of hype on YouTube in 2020 and 2021 to form my own opinion on them.

NOTE: I originally tested the Winspace HYPER 2020, but most of my conclusions also apply to the HYPER 2023 and HYPER 2023 SE wheels, which are lighter, stiffer, wider, and more expensive. I have also recently tested the latest generation HYPER 3.

HYPERs are not the lightest or heaviest carbon wheels on the market. They are in the sweet spot, ensuring good momentum and acceptable weight for climbing. They also feel pretty rigid.

One area HYPER could improve in future versions is their crosswind stability, which is good but not great. After testing HYPER SE 2023, which are 99% similar to HYPER 2023, I noticed a crosswind stability improvement over the previous generation. They could also be a bit wider to better suit 28mm and wider tires.

They are very stiff and efficiently transfer energy from the pedals to the forward motion. However, their stiffness makes them unsuitable for riding on rough roads (unless you compensate with lower tire pressure).

Feeling-wise, the HYPERs are among the fastest bikes I’ve ridden. I even find the HYPER 3 generation slightly more comfortable than the HYPER 2023 generation.

On the HYPER 2023 you can choose between rim and disc brakes and different rim depths (D33, D45, D67). On the D45 and D67 variants, the front wheel is shallower than the rear. The HYPER 3 is now only available in the disc version.

Lún also offers HYPER SE wheels, which are almost the same but cheaper. They have steel bearings and a different rim finish (see below), and I believe they provide better value for money.

If you want lighter wheels at a similar price point, check out Elitewheels DRIVE wheels, which are even cheaper. I also wrote a detailed HYPER vs. DRIVE comparison where you learn more.

Read this in-depth comparison of HYPER and Lún Road Series wheels to learn more.

Elitewheels Edge (Best Budget Chinese Carbon Wheels)

Affordable carbon pro wheels with surprisingly low weight and price…

My EDGE wheels scoring at a glance:
Crosswind stability 4/5 | Stiffness 3/5 | Ride comfort 4/5 | Speed maintenance 3/5 | Tire on 3/5 | Trueness 3/5 | Spoke tension 5/5 | Dishing 4/5 | Price 5/5 | OVERALL 3.8/5
More about this road wheels scoring.

The Elitewheels EDGE are good for beginners or those who want comfortable training wheels at a good price. The price is a big enticement, especially if you buy them on sale, such as during Black Friday, as I did. They often sell for around $500, discounted from up to $1000. However, this is just a marketing trick. Their real price is definitely not that high. Aim for a price below $600 and use discount coupons if available.

Their weight is impressively low. Unfortunately, however, the weight distribution doesn’t have much effect on the response. For example, Elitewheels DRIVE wheels respond much faster. It’s just that they have carbon spokes and lower inertia.

At the same time, EDGE wheels don’t have as good momentum as heavier wheels, so they don’t find them as fast on flats or hilly terrain. However, they have good crosswind stability and are easy to service, thanks to wide-spread Pillar Wing 20 steel spokes and standard hubs.

I can recommend them mainly to beginners, less performance-oriented riders, or those who want light and comfortable bikes. On the other hand, I think you should avoid them if you want fast and stiff wheels for flats, tempo riding, and racing.

You can read my Elitewheels EDGE review for more info.

By the way, I also tested the cheaper Elitewheels ENT. They are too heavy for my taste. You can read about my experience in this review.

YOELEO NxT SL2 (Excellent Price-Value)

Surprisingly capable yet affordable wheels…

My SAT PRO 2022 wheels scoring at a glance:
Crosswind Stability 4/5 | Stiffness 3/5 | Riding Comfort 4/5 | Speed Maintenance 4/5 | Tire On 4/5 | Trueness 5/5 | Spoke Tension 4/5 | Dishing 5/5 | Price 4/5 | OVERALL 4.1/5
More about this road wheels scoring.

YOELEO produces UCI-approved, quality, easily serviceable, and reasonably priced wheels that you can use in official UCI events. I tested the C50|50 PRO wheels with DT Swiss 350 hubs and the PRO 2022 with YOELEO 230 S hubs. My experience with these wheelsets was that they were almost perfectly true and well-made.

Then, YOELEO introduced NxT and NxT SL2. They lowered the weight and increased the rim width. I’ve already received the NxT SL2 C60, so the above rating is for the PRO 2022 wheels. However, I expect the NxT SL2 will surpass it. Thanks to an average 200g lower weight, they will feel more lively and accelerate faster. So, stay tuned.

Unlike many other Chinese manufacturers, YOELEO kept the steel Black Pillar WING 20 Aero spokes. I guess this is because of better serviceability, lower costs, and better riding comfort.

If you are interested, you can watch my review of the previous generation wheels below.

Luckily, the current YOELEO hubs are not as loud as the previous generation. They had the most annoying hub sound I’ve ever heard. So, this is a promising improvement.

Combine your new wheels with these Chinese carbon road bike frames.

Lún HYPER SE (Best Value Lún Wheels)

Wheels that provide the best price-value ratio from Lún offer…

My HYPER SE wheels scoring at a glance:
Crosswind Stability 4/5 | Stiffness 5/5 | Riding Comfort 3/5 | Speed Maintenance 5/5 | Tire On 5/5 | Trueness 5/5 | Spoke Tension 5/5 | Dishing 4/5 | Price 3/5 | OVERALL 4.3/5
More about this road wheels scoring.

I will keep this one short because I wrote about HYPERs extensively already. HYPER SE are 99% the same. They are just $300 cheaper, have steel bearings, and a matte finish. The differences in weight are marginal.

That’s why I believe the HYPER SE 23 provide better value for money than HYPERs. However, HYPERs are more catchy because of their unique rim finish.

Which ones do you prefer? Let me know in the comments below.

Also available at lunwheels.cc

Farsports C and S Series

Premium wheels backed up with clever engineering…

My C5 wheels scoring at a glance:
Crosswind Stability 5/5 | Stiffness 4/5 | Riding Comfort 5/5 | Speed Maintenance 4/5 | Tire On 3/5 | Trueness 5/5 | Spoke Tension 5/5 | Dishing 4/5 | Price 3/5 | OVERALL 4.2/5
More about this road wheels scoring.

Farsports has specialized in developing and manufacturing carbon wheels since 2004. In 2022, I bought and reviewed their Ventoux S wheels, which I still have as my backup wheels. But in 2024, I also tried the updated C Series 2025 wheels. I simply had to include them because of their price-value ratio.

The difference between the C and S series is that the C series has steel spokes, and the S series has carbon spokes. Another important thing you have to know is that Farsports slashed the prices and weights and increased rim width. For more details, I recommend checking out this comparison of Farsports wheels.

The C5 wheels are comfortable, surprisingly stable in crosswinds, and also pretty stiff. They feel almost as stiff as carbon-spoked wheels while maintaining great comfort on rougher roads. There is a difference in stiffness, but it is so marginal that I probably wouldn’t notice it in a blind test. I honestly don’t know how they achieved that.

On the other hand, it seems to me that they don’t maintain their momentum as well as heavier wheels, especially on flats or in rolling terrain. However, considering their affordability and high-end specifications, I think these will become pretty popular. And, if you don’t want to sacrifice stiffness, you can opt for the carbon-spoked version. I don’t recommend upgrading to CeramicSpeed bearings, though, as their benefits are questionable, and their price is high. You can learn more information in my Farsports C5 review.

Lún MEGA (The Stiffest Wheels I Tested)

These are such stiff wheels that it can be counterproductive…

My MEGA wheels scoring at a glance:
Crosswind Stability 5/5 | Stiffness 5/5 | Riding Comfort 2/5 | Speed Maintenance 5/5 | Tire On 5/5 | Trueness 5/5 | Spoke Tension 5/5 | Dishing 4/5 | Price 1/5 | OVERALL 4.1/5
More about this road wheels scoring.

Where to start… It’s clear from the pictures that these wheels are unique. They may remind you of Lightweight. The engineers at Lún have taken the wheel technology one step further with HALO spokes. All spokes on one side are one piece. Unlike Lightweight, however, you can replace them because they are not directly integrated with the hub.

The MEGA wheels are extremely stiff. They are so stiff that they are not suitable for rougher roads or riders who prefer riding comfort (especially if you have a bike with a stiff rear end). In other words, they are most suitable for racing, not training rides, unless you compensate for their stiffness with lower tire pressures.

In addition to stiffness, of course, they are also fast and have pretty decent stability in crosswinds, look cool, are durable, etc. Just what we’re used to with Lún wheels. I agree with Peak Torque on many of the features.

However, the biggest elephant in the room is their price. It’s over $2500 without the discount. Compared to the other wheels on this list, they are by far the most expensive. On the other hand, compared to wheels from Western brands or Lightweight, they’re not that expensive. As always, it depends on your point of view.

During testing, I also discovered a major manufacturing defect that spoiled my first impression. The rear hub was poorly made, contributing to its off-axis position. Luckily, Lún addressed everything quickly. Read more in my review of the MEGA wheels. Another disadvantage is its relatively narrow rim depth considering today’s standards.

So, if you’re looking for a stiff race wheelset and money is not an issue for you, the MEGA is worth your consideration.

Also available at lunwheels.cc

Farsports Wave

Stand out from the crowd with the wave-like rim shape – for under 1000 USD…

My Wave wheels scoring at a glance:
Crosswind Stability 5/5 | Stiffness 3/5 | Riding Comfort 4/5 | Speed Maintenance 5/5 | Tire On 5/5 | Trueness 5/5 | Spoke Tension 4/5 | Dishing 3/5 | Price 4/5 | OVERALL 4.2/5
More about this road wheels scoring.

I had no idea what to expect from Farsports Wave wheels. I wondered if I could notice any riding specifics due to the wave-like rim pattern.

Theoretically, they should be as fast as 50mm wheels but more stable. To be honest, I didn’t notice any riding specifics, but they pleasantly surprised me when I reviewed them.

These wheels are stable in crosswinds, hold their momentum well, and are comfortable. They don’t excel in any of these categories but score high in all of them.

They have Sapim CX-Ray spokes and DT Swiss 350 (or DT Swiss 240s) hubs that are widely available, so Wave wheels are the sure bet. They are easy to service worldwide.

I enjoyed riding them on flats and in rolling terrain. However, I would avoid them for serious climbing due to their higher weight and lower responsiveness than carbon-spoked wheels like Elitewheels DRIVE.

It’s also a shame they don’t come with pre-applied tubeless rim tape. I believe tubeless wheels should have the tape installed to save you time and money.

The last feature I want to highlight is the external rim width of 31mm. It ensures a relatively smooth transition between the 28mm tires, contributing to better aerodynamics.

Superteam All-Carbon Ultra 2023

Cool-looking wheels with surprisingly good riding characteristics…

My All-Carbon Ultra wheels scoring at a glance:
Crosswind Stability 4/5 | Stiffness 4/5 | Riding Comfort 5/5 | Speed Maintenance 5/5 | Tire On 5/5 | Trueness 5/5 | Spoke Tension 5/5 | Dishing 5/5 | Price 3/5 | OVERALL 4.6/5
More about this road wheels scoring.

Honestly, I’ve hesitated to include these wheels in this article for a while. Although I was very pleasantly surprised by their handling characteristics, they failed at the least opportune moment – just as I was riding up the Col de la Loze ahead of stage 17 of the 2023 Tour de France.

So what happened? Superteam sent me wheels from one of the first production batches for review. Unfortunately, their QC failed, and after about 800 km, a problem with the rear hub showed up. It was not allowing me to continue riding. You can watch my video review to learn how it all turned out.

I immediately contacted Superteam. They sent me a new rear wheel and parts to replace the old one. I have not experienced any problems since.

I was one of the first to review these wheels. Subsequently, Cam Nichols published his review. He was also impressed with the wheels and did not encounter a similar problem. However, we both agreed on the great ride characteristics and build quality.

All-Carbon Ultras are stiff yet comfortable. I find them fast on flats but responsive in climbs. They are also more stable in crosswinds than HYPERs, for example. They came well-assembled and achieved the highest score possible in my in-house testing… Feel free to read my All-Carbon Ultras review for more info.

Superteam has assured me they have taken every step to ensure the hub issues do not happen again. So far, it seems they kept their promise. Considering the price and ride characteristics, All-Carbon Ultra are wheels you should know about.

Check out the best Chinese road bike handlebars if you are interested in an additional upgrade to your road bike.

ICAN AERO

Affordable but well-made carbon wheels…

Are you looking for affordable, lightweight, and tubeless-ready carbon wheels? ICAN AERO series is worth considering.

AERO is ICAN’s core series, combining great value for the money. It’s inspired by the ICAN FL series.

You can choose from multiple rim depths from 40mm up to 86mm. The 40mm wheels weigh around 1310g, which makes them ideal for climbing. You can also choose the deeper ones if you ride time trials or enjoy steady efforts on flats.

AERO wheels come with Novatec R01 hubs and Sapim CX-Ray spokes. They are common on entry-level wheels and easily serviceable.

The rim brake option wheels provide great braking performance and can tolerate up to 300°C. So, if you like long descents, you don’t have to be afraid of bad stopping power.

On ICAN’s website, you can also choose the disc type (center lock or 6-bolt) and freehub (Shimano or XDR).

Honorable Mentions

Below, I include some wheels worth mentioning and those I would like to test:

• Lún Routte Series – unique-looking wheels without many reviews.

• Farsports Kaze/Feder – I assume they will be similar to Wave, but I haven’t tried them yet.

• Light Bicycle wheels – I heard some positive things about them but haven’t tried them yet.

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Wheels	Depth	Weight (F | R | Pair)	Rim width (I | E)	Price range	Shopping link	Average score	Crosswind stability	Stiffness	Comfort	Speed maintenance	Tire on¹	Trueness	Spoke tension	Dishing	Price
Elitewheels DRIVE*	45mm	562g, 718g, 1280g	21.4mm 28.8mm	$$$	CHECK PRICE Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 15% OFF	4.0	5	5	3	4	3	4	4	5	3
Lún HYPER 3*	46/54mm	598g, 766g, 1364g	23.2mm 28.6mm	$$$$	CHECK PRICE Use code CYCLISTSHUB10 to get 10% OFF	4.1	5	5	3	5	3	5	5	5	2
Elitewheels Edge	50mm	633g, 720g, 1353g	21.2mm 28.9mm	$	CHECK PRICE	3.8	4	3	4	3	3	3	5	4	5
YOELEO NxT SL2*	50mm	1320g	23mm 32mm	$$	CHECK PRICE Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 10% OFF	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Lún HYPER SE*	46/54mm	654g, 803g, 1457g	21.3mm 27.9mm	$$$	CHECK PRICE Use code CYCLISTSHUB10 to get 10% OFF	4.3	4	5	3	5	5	5	5	4	3
Farsports C*	50mm	602g, 726g, 1328g	24.2mm 30.4mm	$$	CHECK PRICE Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 30 USD OFF	4.2	5	4	5	4	3	5	5	4	3
Lún MEGA	46/54mm	616g, 782g, 1398g	20.8mm 28.1mm	$$$$$	CHECK PRICE Use code CYCLISTSHUB10 to get 10% OFF	4.1	5	5	2	5	5	5	5	4	1
Farsports Wave	45/50mm	736g, 880g, 1616g	21.0mm 28.7mm	$$	CHECK PRICE Use code CYCLISTSHUB50 to get  50 USD OFF	4.2	5	3	4	5	5	5	4	3	4
Superteam All-Carbon Ultra	50mm	736g, 880g, 1616g	21.0mm 28.7mm	$$	CHECK PRICE Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 5% OFF	4.6	4	4	5	5	5	5	5	5	3
ICAN AERO*	50mm	1468g	18mm 25mm	$$	CHECK PRICE Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 5% OFF	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

List of the best Chinese carbon road bike wheels with information on UCI homologation, depth, weight, rim width, price range and rating based on this
road bike wheels scoring.
*UCI-approved, TR=Tubeless-ready
¹How difficult it is to properly seat a Tufo Comtura 4 TR tire.

My Verdict

Based on my experience, I recommend buying Chinese wheels from established brands only. Buying unbranded Chinese bikes may result in a lack of customer support and lower quality due to limited quality control.

How to Choose Carbon Wheels?

Read this buyer’s guide for more useful information before spending hundreds of dollars on a new Chinese wheelset. Make sure also to check out the FAQ section.

Wheels for Disc or Rim Brakes

Today’s bikes use rim or disc brakes. You can’t buy wheels for disc brakes and use them on a bike with rim brakes. These two types of wheels differ from each other. Wheels for rim brakes use quick release, and wheels for disc brakes use a through-axle (also called thru-axle).

Clincher vs. Tubular vs. Tubeless

Wheels (and their rims) exist in 3 types – clincher, tubular, and tubeless.

Nowadays, tubeless wheels are the most popular, and you can use them with tubeless tires but also with normal tires and tubes. Tubular and clincher non-tubeless wheels are on the decline. The following table summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of each type. Or read this article to learn more.

Wheel/Tire	Pros	Cons
Clincher	• Easy to replace • Easy to repair	• More prone to puncture • Heavier than tubular or tubeless
Tubular	• Allows very low and high tire pressure • Less prone to puncture • Lightweight	• Difficult to replace • Difficult to repair • More expensive than clincher
Tubeless	• Allows lower tire pressure • Self-repairing capability (sealant fills out small holes, quality sealant required)	• Tricky installation without an air compressor • Difficult to replace • Difficult to repair • More expensive than clincher

Pros & cons of clincher, tubular, and tubeless wheels/tires
Sources: cyclistshub.com, theproscloset.com, cyclingtips.com

Rim Depth: The Deeper, the More Aero, but Less Stable

Another important feature to consider when choosing road bike wheels under $1000 is the depth of the rims. This affects the wheelset’s aerodynamics, stability, and weight.

Generally, deeper wheels are more aerodynamic and thus faster but less stable in crosswinds. The most versatile wheels have a rim depth of around 45mm, balancing aerodynamics, weight, and stability.

So, if you live in a mountainous area or prioritize a lightweight bike, consider shallow rims with a depth of around 25mm. For mixed terrain, wheels around 50mm are the best choice. For flat areas, I recommend 60mm wheels or deeper.

Watch the following video to understand how bike wheels’ aerodynamics work. Aerodynamics expert Hambini explains how factors like rim depth, wind, and other elements impact aerodynamics. You can also read my in-depth comparison of aluminum vs. carbon wheels for more info.

Rim Width: The Trend Is Clear – Go Wider

The rim width affects, among other things, how wide tires you can put on them, the transition between the tire and rim (which affects aerodynamics), and stability.

In general, wider tires with large air volume are more comfortable. In the past, narrow tires (19mm or 20mm) were used on the road. However, studies have shown that wider rims and tires (25 and 28mm) are faster, more comfortable, and more efficient. From about 2023 onwards, riding 30 to 32-mm tires and, therefore, wider rims started to become trendy. You can learn more about the benefits of wide rims and tires here. In short, aim for an internal rim width of around 24mm and an external one of over 30mm.

I can’t get enough of the transition from 25mm to 28mm. I also tried 32mm tires, and they are even more comfortable, yet they don’t feel slower. Greater ride comfort with wider tires is mainly due to increased air volume and lower pressures.

Remember that a more pressurized tire does not necessarily mean lower rolling resistance! This is a widespread myth. You can read more on the Silca website. I recommend their calculator to determine the ideal pressure.

Weight: Lighter Doesn’t Always Mean Better

The wheelset weight depends on the rim material, depth, type, hubs, spokes, etc. Carbon wheels are lighter than aluminum wheels. There’s no doubt about it. But how much should a pair of good-quality Chinese carbon wheels weigh? It’s about 1500g for 50mm deep wheels. However, I have seen a trend of weight reduction over the years. Wheels 50mm deep and weighing under 1300g are no longer rare.

However, weight distribution is also important. Wheels with low inertia and centered weight distribution take less energy to spin, making them feel livelier. They accelerate faster, but they don’t maintain momentum on flats as well as heavier wheels.

Hubs

High-quality hubs are often overlooked. But they are as important as quality spokes, rims, etc. In the end, hubs are what spin. And as my friend says, “What spins on the bike has to be high-quality.”

Hubs differ by weight, construction, and, of course, bearings. Learn more about the benefits and disadvantages of steel vs. ceramic bearings.

Most Chinese wheelsets come with certain hubs, so you can’t choose hubs from a different brand, for example.

Yet, some Chinese brands allow you to customize your wheelset, so if you can spend extra money, you can choose more expensive hubs over cheaper ones.

The question is: Will you be able to notice the difference in speed or durability? For some people, the “hub sound” is more important than the riding characteristics.

Stiffness: Responsivity or Comfort?

Stiffness is one of the most abstract features. It can be quantified, but how do you know if one wheel is 5% stiffer than the other without measuring it? Can you really notice the difference?

When it comes to stiffness, if you ride on a super smooth racing circuit-like surface, the stiffer, the better, but most of us are unlucky, and our local roads are bumpy and full of potholes. In that case, it’s good if the wheels aren’t too stiff. They can better absorb vibrations, making the ride more comfortable.

Ultimately, it also boils down to your weight and personal preference. Heavier riders should go for stiffer wheels so that when they ride out of the saddle (or accelerate), the wheels won’t flex.

My experience is that carbon-spoked wheels are stiffer and less comfortable than steel-spoked ones. Read more below.

Spokes: Steel or Carbon? Rounded or Bladed?

There are multiple spoke types. Here are two basic categories:

You can read my in-depth article comparing the benefits and disadvantages of carbon and steel spokes or watch the following video for more information.

Nipples: From Exposed to Hidden

Once marginal gains accumulate, they make a difference. One of these marginal gains is the extent to which the spoke nipples are exposed.

Other Features to Consider

Weight limit
Wheels have their weight limits. If you are a heavier rider (no offense), make sure you don’t buy wheels with a low weight limit. You could damage them; in the worst-case scenario, they can fail, and you crash.

Cassette compatibility
Shimano and SRAM 11spd cassettes are interchangeable, but 12spd cassettes are not. If you plan to use the Campagnolo groupset, ensure the hub is Campagnolo-compatible.

What is included in the package
Carbon wheels often come with rim tape, valve extenders, brake pads, extra spokes, etc. These small “things” are a nice detail that will save you time and money because you don’t have to order them separately.

UCI Approval
Obtaining UCI Approval might be important for those who want to participate in official UCI events. You can learn more about it on uci.org.

Safety standards
Assure customers that the wheels meet certain quality and safety requirements. Certifications indicate that the wheels have undergone rigorous testing and have been verified to be safe and reliable for use. One certification to look for is ISO 4210.

Chinese Carbon Wheels FAQ

This post is regularly updated to provide the most up-to-date product tips. If you find a product that is not up to date, please contact me.

Recent Updates

• Dec 18, 2023: Added scoring to tested wheels. Added Superteam All-Carbon, Lún MEGA, and Lún HYPER SE wheels. Moved Farsports Kaze and Lún Routte to honorable mentions. Added Light Bicycle wheels to honorable mentions.
• Jun 17, 2024: Added video reviews.