The 9 Best Chinese Carbon Road Bike Wheels TESTED (2023)

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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 or 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.

• 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.
• The best premium Chinese carbon wheels are the Lún (Winspace) HYPER (use CYCLISTSHUB10 discount code at winspace.cc to get 10% OFF your purchase). These are perfect all-rounder wheels. They look great, are well-made, and maintain their momentum well. They are just not as stable in crosswinds as DRIVE. HYPERs set a new benchmark for Chinese wheels.
• The best budget Chinese carbon wheels are the Superteam UCI-approved wheels. I haven’t been able to try them out yet, but based on the owners’ experience, there’s nothing to complain about with them, given their low price—great carbon wheels for people on a budget.

Keep reading to learn more about each individual wheelset and take advantage of the exclusive discounts I negotiated directly with the manufacturers to get even better prices.

I will also provide some tips on how to spend your money wisely and which wheels to avoid at all costs.

Let’s dive in!

What Are the Best Chinese Carbon Wheels?

Skip to the comparison table…

The best Chinese carbon wheels meet quality standards like ISO 4210, are UCI approved or certified by 3rd parties. They should be covered by a warranty or a crash replacement program. Look for high stiffness, aerodynamics, lightweight, and eventually easy maintenance, depending on your preference.

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

Remember, most wheels are shipped from China if you order them directly from the manufacturer. Their 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…

If you’re looking for lightweight, responsive, and affordable road bike wheels, the Elitewheels DRIVE is worth considering.

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

I tested the 45mm version, which has since been discontinued to simplify their lineup.

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.

Elitewheels 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.

They are also stable in crosswinds, almost as stable as the heavier YOELEO SAT PRO. 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.

The wider external rim width of 28mm sets these wheels apart, making them more suitable for the increasingly popular 28 and 30mm tires.

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

Lún (Winspace) HYPER (Best Premium Chinese Road Bike Wheels)

Chinese wheels that set a new benchmark…

As always, I will be honest with you. HYPERs were my dream wheels because of their butterfly finish. But let’s talk about their riding characteristics. I bought them to make my own opinion after the YouTube hype.

TIP: This article explains how the differences between Lún HYPER 2020 vs HYPER 2023.

HYPERs are not the lightest but not the heaviest carbon wheels out there. They are in the sweet spot, ensuring good momentum and acceptable weight for climbing.

One area HYPER could improve in future versions is their crosswind stability, which is good but not great.

They are quite stiff, effectively transferring energy from your pedal strokes. However, their stiffness makes them unsuitable for rough roads (unless you compensate with lower tire pressure).

According to an independent wind tunnel testing by HambiniEngineering, this was the fastest wheelset they have ever tested. They are faster than some Zipp, Enve, Mavic, and wheels by other mainstream brands.

You can choose between rim or disc brake options and various rim depths (38, 50, and 65mm).

HYPER wheels come with a 2-year warranty but are often sold out due to high demand.

However, no product is perfect, and even HYPER wheels have minor flaws. For example, some users reported creaking after a few rides. I didn’t experience this issue. So it seems Lún addressed it by greasing the hubs.

They also offer HYPER SE wheels, which are the same but cheaper because they have steel bearings. The HYPER 2023 have a few improvements over the HYPER 2020 version. You can read this article for more info.

If you don’t like the butterfly rim finish or want lighter wheels at a similar price point, check out Elitewheels DRIVE wheels which are even lighter and cheaper. I also wrote a detailed HYPER vs. DRIVE comparison.

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

Superteam UCI-Approved Wheels (Best Budget Chinese Road Bike Wheels)

Entry-level carbon wheels for those striving for a cheap upgrade…

These Superteam UCI-approved wheels are perfect for those looking to try carbon wheels without breaking the bank.

According to online customer reviews, they are affordable upgrade that provides excellent value for the money. The wheels are UCI-approved and have Powerway hubs that roll smoothly.

You can choose between two decal colors, black and white, but if you prefer colored decals, Superteam offers a similar model with a narrower rim width of 23mm that is not UCI-approved.

If you’re interested, check out this Superteam wheel review on a Giant TCR for more information.

However, remember that they are only compatible with Shimano or SRAM cassettes and not Campagnolo-compatible hubs. Also, they are not tubeless-ready, so you can only use them with a tire and inner tube.

Superteam carbon wheels come with a two-year warranty, skewers, brake pads, rim tape, and extra spokes with nipples included.

… or read this in-depth Superteam wheels review.

YOELEO SAT C50|50 PRO (Best UCI-Approved Carbon Wheels)

Perfect wheels for flats, steady efforts, and time trials…

YOELEO produces UCI-approved wheels that you can use in official UCI events. I tested the C50|50 PRO wheels with DT Swiss 350 hubs and also the PRO 2022 with YOELEO 230 S hubs.

YOELEO wheels are perfectly true and well-made. Because they are not the lightest on the market, they have higher inertia, making them perfect for flats or rolling terrain because they maintain speed well.

They also have great crosswind stability, so if you live in a windy area, you should seriously consider them.

You can customize the hubs, the freehub body (Shimano/SRAM or Campagnolo), and decals on the YOELEO website.

The packing of rim brake wheels includes titanium quick releases, ceramic brake pads, extra spokes, and valve extenders, which is a nice plus.

Disc brake wheels come with spare spokes only. Unfortunately, tubeless valves or rim tape are not included.

YOELEO wheels are covered by a 3-year warranty.

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

Farsports Ventoux S (Best High-End Chinese Carbon Road Bike Wheels)

Premium wheels backed up with clever engineering…

Farsports is a less-known brand in the US and Europe. But they have specialized in developing and manufacturing carbon wheels since 2004.

I bought the Farsports Ventoux S series wheels and reviewed them. So, how did they perform?

They are stiffer than HYPERs, more stable in crosswinds, and can better maintain their momentum. They are a perfect choice for criteriums, racing, and demanding riders.

On the other hand, the unboxing experience was not as premium (as with HYPERs), and I also found some spokes tension inconsistencies.

Hambini, a former aerospace engineer and aerodynamics expert, tested the S EVO and the results were pretty positive (for Farsports).

Farsports Ventoux S are available for rim or disc brakes and in various rim depths (35, 45, and 55mm).

You should not miss them if you want a pair of high-quality and premium Chinese carbon wheels.

Farsports Wave

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

I had no idea what to expect from Farsports Wave wheels. I was curious 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.

The truth is the wheels are stable in crosswinds, hold their momentum well, and feel comfortable.

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.

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.

It’s also a shame they don’t come with pre-applied tubeless rim tape. But that’s a detail, and me being picky.

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

Lún Road Series Wheels

Sub 1000USD carbon wheels with a unique rim finish…

Lún Road Series wheels are more affordable than HYPERs. However, they are also UCI approved (since 2021) and about $400 cheaper than HYPERs. They also look great (or at least I like them), but the design is not the important feature most of us look for when buying a pair of carbon wheels.

As HYPERs, Lún wheels are also available in 3 rim depths (30, 45, and 60 mm) and in options for rim and disc brakes. The main difference is that Lún wheels come with steel Pillar spokes and steel bearings OR with steel Sapim spokes and ceramic bearings. The second option is for a $100 upgrade.

The Pillar aero spokes and steel bearings combine Pillar 1420 and 1432 spokes depending on the drive/non-drive side. The Sapim spokes (Sapim CX-Ray and CX-Sprint) also have an aero profile to decrease air resistance.

Although the Lún wheelsets come in different rim depths, they are about 150g heavier on average than HYPERs.

On the other hand, you can choose the decal color (white or black).

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 starting at 40mm up to 86mm.

The 40mm wheels weigh around 1310g, which makes them ideal for climbing. Or, you can 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 they can tolerate up to 300°C. So, if you like long descents, you don’t have to be afraid of bad stopping power.

These wheels are also reasonably stiff, ensuring efficient power transfer.

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

You may also be interested in this selection of the best Chinese road bikes.

Farsports Kaze

Customizable wheels for those who know what they want…

Farsports have multiple wheel product lines. However, Kaze belongs to the most popular.

Kaze wheels are characteristic of their simple design and many options.

You can customize almost everything – from the wheel type (clincher, tubular, tubeless-ready) through rim depth, width, and finish to hubs and nipples.

These wheels are high-quality and cost a fraction of the price of mainstream brands.

Their only main disadvantage is that they are not officially UCI approved, but they meet UCI quality (and ISO 4210) quality standards.

Additionally, they are covered by a 2-year warranty.

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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.

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How to Choose the Best Chinese Carbon Wheels?

Read this buyer’s guide, where you will find more useful information to make a wise and thoughtful decision 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.

Below, I explain what tires they are compatible with and their advantages and disadvantages.

Clincher

Clinchers are the most widespread type of wheels/tires. The tire is supported by an inner tube made of rubber or latex.

This type of wheel is “user-friendly” in terms of maintenance. It is much easier to replace the inner tube or tire with clincher wheels than tubular or tubeless tires.

The downside is that they are more prone to puncture because they won’t allow you to inflate lower pressures (as tubular or tubeless do). They also may feel slower due to higher overall weight.

NOTE: If the wheels are ‘clincher tubeless-ready,’ you can use them with tubeless tires (read more).

Tubular

Tubular tires are more common among professionals. But some hobby riders use them too because they allow you to inflate lower pressures. This means they are more puncture-resistant and more comfortable.

The downside of tubular tires is that they are more difficult to maintain – you have to glue them on wheels. This can be messy and difficult work for beginners.

Tubeless

Tubeless tires are the most modern ones. Tubeless-ready wheels allow you to use a tube-free tire because they use sealant instead of the inner tube.

The main benefit of tubeless tires is their self-repairing feature – the sealant fills out small holes.

These tires also allow you to inflate lower pressures, making them more comfortable and less prone to puncture.

Their downside is that they are a little bit more expensive than clincher tires and more difficult to replace.

Rim Depth

The shape and the depth of the rim influence aerodynamics and the overall speed.

The general rule of thumb is that the deeper rims, the more aerodynamic and faster wheels. Of course, other factors like spokes, wind direction, etc., also affect wheel efficiency.

If you are a techie and want to learn more about wheel aerodynamics, I recommend watching the following video by Hambini.

In addition, I recommend reading my article on the pros and cons of aluminum vs. carbon wheels.

Rim Width

The rim width also affects, among other things, how wide the tires you can fit on the bike and the tire-rim transition (aerodynamics).

In general, wider, high-volume tires are more comfortable. In the past, riders used narrow (19mm or 20mm) tires on their road bikes.

But over time, studies have shown that wider rims and tires (25mm and 28mm) are faster, more comfortable, and more efficient.

The rim width is given as the inner rim width. However, the outer width is also important for road cycling because aerodynamics plays an important role.

You should choose the tire width based on the ‘Rule of 105:’

The Rule of 105 states that the rim must be at least 105% the width of the tire if you have any chance of re-capturing airflow from the tire and controlling it or smoothing it. (Source)

In other words, if the outer rim width is 29.4mm, you should use 28mm tires to maximize aerodynamic benefits.

However, you probably won’t notice the differences if you don’t ride professionally.

Weight

Carbon wheels are lighter than aluminum wheels. There is no doubt about that. But how much should a pair of good Chinese carbon wheels weigh?

The short answer is around 1500g.

The wheelset weight, of course, also depends on the rim depth, rim type, hubs, etc. I compared different wheels and wheel types in the table below.

Hubs

High-quality hubs are often overlooked features of wheels. But they are as important as quality spokes, rims, etc.

In the end – hubs are the thing that spins. And as my friend says, “what spins on the bike has to be high-quality.”

Hubs differ from each other by weight, bearings, construction, etc.

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 you can choose more expensive over cheaper hubs if you can spend extra money.

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

Stiffness is one of the most abstract features of wheels. Yes, it can be quantified, but how do you know if the wheels are stiff or 5% stiffer without measuring it?

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, and the ride is then 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

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

See the following video explaining the benefits of carbon spokes.

Nipples

Once marginal gains stack up, they make a difference. One of these marginal gains is how much 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 cassettes are interchengeable. But if you plan to use the Campagnolo groupset, ensure the hub is compatible.

What is included in the package – Carbon wheels often come with rim tape, valve extender, 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. These certifications indicate that the wheels have undergone rigorous testing and have been verified to be safe and reliable for use. One of the certifications to look for is ISO 4210.

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Chinese Carbon Wheels FAQ

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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.