The 10 Best Chinese Carbon Road Bike Wheels TESTED (2024)

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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. 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 (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 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 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?

Best Lightweight

Use this Elitewheels discount code CYCLISTSHUB at elite-wheels.com on the checkout page to get 15% OFF your purchase. Share this code via email.

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Popular Choice

Use this Winspace discount code CYCLISTSHUB10 at winspace.cc or lunwheels.cc during checkout to get 10% OFF your purchase. Share this code via email.

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Best Budget

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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…

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.

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.

Another thing I like about them is the wider external rim width of 28mm. It 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 HYPER [2020 and 2023] (Most Popular Chinese Road Bike Wheels)

Chinese wheels that set a new benchmark…

My HYPER 2020 wheels scoring at a glance:
Crosswind Stability 3/5 | Stiffness 5/5 | Riding Comfort 3/5 | Speed Maintenance 5/5 | Tire On 5/5 | Trueness 4/5 | Spoke Tension 4/5 | Dishing 4/5 | Price 3/5 | OVERALL 4.0/5
More about this road wheels scoring.

As always, I will be honest with you. HYPERs were my dream wheels because of their butterfly finish, and I bought them to form my own opinion after the YouTube hype.

NOTE: I reviewed HYPER 2020 wheels, but most of my conclusions also apply to HYPER 2023, which are lighter, stiffer, wider, and more expensive.

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. UPDATE: After testing HYPER SE 2023, which are 99% similar to HYPER 2023, I noticed a slight crosswind stability improvement over the previous generation.

They are stiff, effectively transferring energy from your pedal strokes. However, their stiffness makes them unsuitable for rough roads (unless you compensate with lower tire pressure). Otherwise, you won’t experience too much riding comfort.

According to this 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. I can also confirm that HYPERs are among the fastest wheels I’ve ridden.

You can choose between rim or disc brake options and various rim depths (D33, D45, D67). The front wheel is shallower than the rear wheel in the D45 and D67 options.

However, no product is perfect, and even HYPER wheels have flaws. They are too stiff for me, so the riding comfort on rough roads is not the best. I also find them less stable than Elitewheels DRIVE or YOELEO SAT PRO 2022.

Lún also offers HYPER SE wheels, which are the same but cheaper because they have steel bearings. You can read this article for more info.

If you don’t like the butterfly rim finish, go for the HYPER SE 2023. I believe they provide better value for the money. Eventually, 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.

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 who want carbon wheels without breaking the bank.

According to online customer reviews, they are an 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.

However, remember that they are only compatible with Shimano or SRAM cassettes, 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.

YOELEO SAT C50|50 PRO 2022 (Ideal for Easy Maintenance)

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

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 also the PRO 2022 with YOELEO 230 S hubs. My experience with these wheelsets was that they were almost perfectly true and well-made.

They are not the lightest on the market. They have higher inertia at around 1510g in 50mm depth, making them perfect for flats or rolling terrain because they maintain speed well.

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

The old and 2022 versions don’t differ much except for the rim finish (matte vs. marble) and hubs. YOELEO started using their copy of DT Swiss hubs. They are the biggest flaw of these wheels because they are super loud. Luckily, you can still opt for DT Swiss ones with Shimano/SRAM or Campagnolo freehub body.

The packing of rim brake wheels includes titanium quick releases, ceramic brake pads, extra spokes, and valve extenders. 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.

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 Ventoux S (My Back-Up Wheels)

Premium wheels backed up with clever engineering…

My Ventoux S wheels scoring at a glance:
Crosswind Stability 5/5 | Stiffness 5/5 | Riding Comfort 4/5 | Speed Maintenance 5/5 | Tire On 3/5 | Trueness 4/5 | Spoke Tension 4/5 | Dishing 4/5 | Price 2/5 | OVERALL 4.0/5
More about this road wheels scoring.

Farsports has been specializing in developing and manufacturing carbon wheels since 2004. I bought and reviewed their Ventoux S wheels. So, how did they perform?

NOTE: Farsports Ventoux S series went through slight refinements. For example, their F and R rim depths differ.

They feel stiffer and more stable in crosswinds than HYPERs. They can also maintain their momentum well. I find them ideal for criteriums and racing but also for day-to-day riding. Despite their stiffness, they are pretty comfortable, and I love riding them.

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

Lún MEGA (The Stiffest Wheels I Tested)

These are such stiff wheels that it might 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. Even so stiff that they are not suitable for rougher roads or riders who prefer riding comfort. In other words, they are most suitable for racing, not training rides. That is 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 big manufacturing defect that spoiled my first impression. The rear hub was poorly made, contributing to the inability to align the disc brake. Luckily, Lún addressed everything quickly. Read more in my review of the MEGA wheels.

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 been hesitant 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 that 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 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 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.

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 had a chance to try them yet.

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 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.

Their main benefit is increased riding comfort thanks to the lower pressures. When run on lower pressures, they are also less prone to puncture.

Tubeless tires also have a self-repairing capability. The sealant fills out small holes, allowing you to continue riding.

Their downside is that they are slightly more expensive than clincher tires and more difficult to replace. Check out this article to learn which road tubeless tires are the best.

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 the rims, the more aerodynamic and faster the 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.

However, 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 things that 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 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. 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, 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.

There are 3 basic types of spoke nipple exposures:

1. Fully-exposed nipples are the most common and great for maintenance but are the worst for aerodynamics.
2. Half-exposed nipples are less common than fully-exposed nipples. They are good for maintenance and aerodynamics. It’s a great compromise between the other two.
3. Hidden nipples are the best for aerodynamics but the worst for maintenance (you have to take off the tire if you want to adjust spoke tension).

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 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.

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.