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The Elitewheels DRIVE series has been a staple recommendation for high-performance Chinese carbon wheels. So when they announced the new DRIVE SL, an evolution driven entirely by the cycling industry’s current obsession with wider tires, I got curious.
The mechanical differences between the older DRIVE II and this new SL generation are minimal, boiling down almost entirely to rim width. But as someone who regularly tackles the punchy climbs and fast descents around Graz, Austria, I wanted to see if that extra width actually translated to a better ride. In this Elitewheels DRIVE SL review, I share my test results and ride impressions.
KEY TAKEAWAY
The Elitewheels DRIVE SL wheels offer a great balance of stiffness, ride comfort, and crosswind stability. They are well built and competitively priced. I recommend them to riders who have fully embraced modern high-volume tires (30mm and wider) and value confidence when descending.
However, avoid them if your bike has only 30mm of tire clearance, and double-check how much clearance you have left if the bike is rated for 32mm of tire clearance. Depending on the tire width, having 32mm might not be enough. Continue reading for my in-house tests and ride impressions.
My DRIVE SL wheels scoring at a glance:
Crosswind Stability 5/5 | Stiffness 5/5 | Riding Comfort 4/5 | Speed Maintenance 4/5 | Tire On 3/5 | Trueness 5/5 | Spoke Tension 5/5 | Dishing 5/5 | Price 3/5 | OVERALL 4.3/5
More about this road wheels scoring.
Elitewheels DRIVE II vs. DRIVE SL: What’s New?
The Elitewheels DRIVE SL wheels bring several key improvements over the previous DRIVE II generation, shifting the focus entirely toward the modern wide-tire trend:
- Wider internal rim width: Now sitting at 25mm (optimized strictly for tires 30mm and wider).
- Asymmetrical external width: 35.6mm on the front for steering stability and 33.7mm on the rear for aerodynamic efficiency.
- Refined U-shaped rim profile: Should deliver better crosswind stability.
- Upgraded freehub: Features a new one-piece titanium freehub body with a 60T ratchet and 6° engagement.
- Tire compatibility shift: Completely unsuitable for 28mm tires due to the massive front rim width.
Elitewheels DRIVE SL: Main Features and Specs
Here are the main features and specifications of the Elitewheels DRIVE SL 58D wheels. 48D rim depth is also available.
Main Features
- Future-proof specs
- Great balance of stiffness, speed, and crosswind stability
- Consistent spoke tension out of the box
- One-piece titanium freehub
- Mounting tires requires tire levers
- 4 spare spokes and tubeless valves included, and rim tape applied
- QC report included
- Unsuitable for 28mm or narrower tires
- No wind tunnel data
- UCI-approved
- 3-year warranty
Technical Specification
- Brake Type: Disc, clincher (tubeless-ready)
- Weight (with tubeless rim tape):
- Front Wheel: 638g
- Rear Wheel: 716g
- Measured weight: 1354g
- Claimed weight: 1330g (±30g)
- Measured rim width:
- Internal: 25.0mm
- External: 35.6mm (front) / 33.7mm (rear)
- Spokes: Carbon, 3.2mm
- Rim depth: 58mm
- Hubs: Titanium (60T ratchet, 6° engagement), enclosed flanges
- Enclosed flanges: Yes
- Rider’s weight limit: 120kg (270lbs)
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.
First Impressions and Unboxing
The unboxing experience of the DRIVE SL wheels was basically the same as the one I remember with the DRIVE II. The wheels are securely packed to prevent any potential damage during shipping. So, even though the courier placed other packages on top of this one, the wheels arrived intact. The packaging included wheels in protective bags, branded orange end cap protectors, and 4 spare spokes packed in a nice box.
The wheels also came with tubeless tape and tubeless valves. The valves have multiple “air shafts” for better airflow. In theory, they should make seating a tubeless tire easier.
Elitewheels also includes a quality control protocol. I double-checked the assembly quality anyway, but it’s still nice to see.
Riding Experience
Taking these out in Austria revealed their character immediately. Stiffness and power response are high. They are not the stiffest carbon spoked wheels I tested (those are still the Lún MEGA), but I didn’t feel like the power was lost in the system. When it comes to speed maintenance, they hold their own well. In a direct comparison of ride feel, they’re nearly identical to the Toccay Aero 60mm that I recently tested, although those have a faster, V-shaped profile. Because the DRIVE SL rims are a hair wider, heavier, and have a U-shaped profile, they feel a fraction slower at peak high speeds than the Toccay ones.
When tackling the punchy gradients around Graz, their measured 1354g weight is respectable for a 58mm deep wheelset. They don’t feel sluggish when you stand up on the pedals, and that new 60T titanium freehub provides instant engagement when kicking out of slow, steep switchbacks.
But descending is where these wide wheels truly shine. Because the 32mm Continental GP5000 S TR tires inflate to over 33mm, the contact patch is massive without the tire inflating to the lightbulb shape. You can lean the bike aggressively into fast corners with complete confidence, knowing the tire sidewall is supported by the wide 25mm internal rim bed.
However, aerodynamically, they are probably too wide, so my guess is that the speed gains come mainly from lower rolling resistance rather than better aerodynamics. Elitewheels adopted an asymmetrical aerodynamic philosophy here: a 35.6mm external width on the front and 33.7mm on the rear. It’s a proven concept borrowed from premium Western brands like Reserve and Roval, where the front wheel manages steering stability while the rear hides in turbulent airflow.
Having such wide wheels also means you must double-check your bike’s tire clearance. For example, the Evolve CIMA has a tire clearance for 32mm tires. This means that the remaining clearance is minimal, and I risk damaging the paint, for example, if I get a puncture.
By the way, if you are a regular reader of Cyclists Hub, you might have noticed that I have transitioned from the Tufo Comtura 4TR 28mm tires to the Continental ones. With the increasingly popular wide rims, it doesn’t make sense to use 28mm tires anymore because I noticed they compromise handling on wide rims. Also, the Continental ones have lower rolling resistance, so I instantly gained roughly 10W without training.
Anyway, the wider, rounded U-shaped profile ensures great stability, which you’ll deeply appreciate when a crosswind hits you on a fast descent. So, despite being 8mm deeper than the DRIVE II I tested, the crosswind stability feels the same.
The riding comfort feels better, but it mainly comes from the wider tires, not the wheels themselves. This is also one of the reasons why the industry goes wider. Where does it stop? I don’t know, but I don’t think we will race our road bikes with 40mm tires. Such wide tires only make sense for long-endurance rides.
The DRIVE SL uses a 60-tooth star ratchet system with a quick 6° engagement angle (7.2° on DRIVE II). At its core, a single piece of titanium combines both the freehub body and the internal ratchet teeth. This design saves weight and prevents the cassette from digging into the body.
Traditional hubs separate the freehub and the star ratchets. Only time will tell whether this integrated design holds up long-term. Two downsides are the maintenance cost and delivery time. Since these freehubs are proprietary, you have to buy them directly from Elitewheels for $90 plus $35 shipping and wait weeks for delivery. That said, these wheels produce a loud, crisp sound without being annoying; simply, one of the best I have ever tested.
The last thing I want to mention is the lack of aero data from Elitewheels. They mention “aerodynamic efficiency” multiple times on their product page, but they don’t back up these claims with the data we deserve.
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.
In-House Tests
As always with road bike carbon wheels, I concluded the following tests before I started using the wheels:
These tests provide a better understanding of the wheel’s assembly quality. So, did the DRIVE SL wheels pass them?
Lateral and Radial Trueness
The DRIVE SL wheels’ lateral trueness was pretty good, as the deviation was less than 0.3mm. The radial deviation was basically non-existent.
Spoke Tension
The spoke tension was excellent, showing a high level of consistency. No spoke was off by more than 5% of the average. It’s one of the best results I recorded.
Rim Centering (Dishing)
The hubs were also well-centered, with no gap between the end cap and the middle piece of the dishing tool. Perfect results again.
A Look Inside
I also took a few photos from the inside of the rim. Overall, I observed no excess resin in the rims, and the side walls appeared smooth.
The Difficulty of Putting the Tire On and Off
I was curious how the tire installation would go on such wide rims. I switched to wider Continental GP5000 S TR tires from the Tufo Comtura 4 TR 28mm tires. Surprisingly, I needed tire levers because this rim-and-tire combination was tight. These wheels gave me a hard time. The tires were probably the worst to put on of all the wheels I’ve tested so far (actually no, this title still remains with Farsports Ventoux S). So I figured I could seat the tires with a floor pump. And I was correct. I didn’t need tire sealant or a compressor, unlike with many other wheels. The tires seated easily with just a few presses of the pump.
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.
Elitewheels DRIVE SL Alternatives
There are several alternatives to the Elitewheels DRIVE SL. I want to highlight the UPVINE Pro+ 2, Toccay AERO Ghost, and eventually, the Elitewheels DRIVE II. The table below displays all the wheels I tested, along with their ratings.
| Reviewed Wheelset | Average Score | Crosswind Stability | Stiffness & Responsivity | Riding Comfort | Speed maintenance | Tire On¹ | Lateral and Radial Trueness | Spoke Tension | Rim Centering | Price | Rim depth | Weight (F | R | Pair) | Rim Width (I | E) | Note | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Plus T Series review | 4.2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 50mm | 664g, 775g, 1439g | 21.0mm 29.1mm | Affordable wheels suitable for flats and steady efforts. | Check Price |
| Toccay AERO 60 review | 4.3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 60mm | 563g, 663g, 1226g | 25.0mm 32.8mm | Fast, stiff, but not overly harsh wheels ideal for high-speed rides. | Check Price |
| UPVINE Ultra D40 review | 4.0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 40mm | 446g, 538g, 984g | 23.3mm 29.6mm | Well-balanced wheels that thrive in high-mountains. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 10% OFF |
| UPVINE Pro+ 2 | 4.1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 53mm | 600g, 706g, 1306g | 25.5mm 34.0mm | Well-made and future-proof all-round wheels suitable for higher-speed rides. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 10% OFF |
| Particle GCX45 | 4.3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 45mm | 436g, 520g, 956g | 25.2mm 31.6mm | Extremely lightweight and responsive wheels. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 10% OFF |
| MovingSports SL1200 | 4.0 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 50mm | 565g, 669g, 1234g | 21.3mm 29.0mm | Stiff and responsive, but not as stable in crosswinds. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 15% OFF |
| Nepest NOVA | 4.1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 45/55mm | 567g, 691g, 1258g | 23.4mm 29.6mm | Stiff, stable, and responsive, but might be too stiff for rough roads. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 8% OFF |
| Elitewheels DRIVE II | 4.2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 50mm | 602g, 720g, 1322g | 23.2mm 30.7mm | Stiff, stable, and responsive, but might be too stiff for rough roads. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 15% OFF |
| YOELEO NxT SL2 C60 | 4.2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 60mm | 623g, 736g, 1359g | 23.3mm 31.1mm | Great balance between speed, riding comfort, and stability. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 10% OFF |
| Farsports C5 | 4.2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 50mm | 602g, 726g, 1328g | 24.2mm 30.4mm | Great balance between stiffness, riding comfort, and stability. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 30 USD OFF |
| UPVINE Pro+ | 4.2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 50mm | 661g, 768g, 1429g | 23.5mm 29.1mm | Great balance between stiffness, riding comfort, and stability. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 10 % OFF |
| Lún HYPER 3 | 4.1 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 46/54mm | 598g, 766g, 1364g | 23.2mm 28.6mm | Better crosswind stability and comfort than HYPER 2023, but much higher price and no butterfly-weave finish. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB10 to get 5% OFF |
| Elitewheels ENT | 3.8 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 50mm | 828g, 950g, 1778g | 20.0mm 28.4mm | Heavy and soft but comfortable and good on flats and steady efforts. | Check Price |
| Elitewheels EDGE | 3.8 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 50mm | 633g, 720g, 1353g | 21.2mm 28.9mm | Comfortable, lightweight but relatively soft compared to carbon-spoked wheels. | Check Price |
| Lún MEGA | 4.1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 46/54mm | 616g, 782g, 1398g | 20.8mm 28.1mm | The stiffest wheels I tested. Ideal for smooth roads or racing, but they are not comfortable. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB10 to get 5% OFF |
| Lún HYPER SE 2023 | 4.3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 46/54mm | 654g, 803g, 1457g | 21.3mm 27.9mm | Better than HYPER 2020 in all aspects. I believe they provide better value for money than HYPER 23. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB10 to get 5% OFF |
| Superteam All-Carbon Ultra 2023 | 4.6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 50mm | 633g, 769g, 1402g | 21.3mm 28.7mm | Not overly stiff, but responsive. Stable in crosswinds and ideal for most terrains, questionable reliability. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 5% OFF |
| Farsports Wave | 4.2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 45/50mm | 736g, 880g, 1616g | 21.0mm 28.7mm | Affordable, easy-to-service, unique-looking wheels suitable for flats and steady efforts. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB50 to get 50 USD OFF |
| Trifox WT11 | 3.8 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 50mm | 769g, 874g, 1643g | 18.4mm 25.1mm | Affordable and comfortable, but not well assembled. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 8 % OFF |
| YOELEO C50|50 SAT DB PRO 2022 | 4.1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 50mm | 705g, 830g, 1535g | 18.5mm 25.5mm | Affordable and easy-to-service wheels suitable for flats and steady efforts but with too loud hubs. | Check Price |
| Farsports Ventoux S | 4.0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 45mm | 637g, 755g, 1392g | 19.2mm 25.5mm | Stiff, responsive, and premium wheels suitable for most terrains. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 30 USD OFF |
| Elitewheels DRIVE 45mm Disc | 4.0 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 45mm | 562g, 718g, 1280g | 21.4mm 28.8mm | Stiff, responsive, and lightweight wheels suitable for hilly and mountainous terrain. Not too fast on flats. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 15% OFF |
| Lún HYPER 50mm | 4.0 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 50mm | 650g, 779g, 1429g | 19mm 26mm | Stiff, responsive, and lightweight wheels suitable for hilly and mountainous terrain. Not too stable in crosswinds. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB10 to get 5% OFF |
| YOELEO C50|50 SAT DB PRO | 4.3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 50mm | 705g, 830g, 1535g | 18.5mm 25.5mm | Affordable and easy-to-service wheels suitable for flats and steady efforts. | Check Price |
The scale for each feature is 1-5 points, where 5 is the best. The rating can be retrospectively adjusted based on the comparison with other wheelsets (more about this scoring).
SCROLL HORIZONTALLY FOR MORE INFO.
¹How difficult it is to put a Tufo Comtura 4 TR 28mm tubeless tire on and properly seat it.
If you prefer comfort over stiffness, I recommend choosing the steel-spoked version, DRIVE SL SS. They offer similar specs, but should be slightly more comfortable.
My Verdict
The Elitewheels DRIVE SL delivers exceptional build quality, perfect spoke tension, and great ride characteristics. While they aren’t a massive mechanical leap over the previous DRIVE II generation but rather an evolution, they offer the key advantage of optimizing modern wide-tire setups. If you ride 30mm or 32mm tires and value descending stability, the DRIVE SL wheelset is a smart investment; just keep standard 28mm tires away from them, as the wider internal rim profile is designed specifically for high-volume rubber.
This brings up two logical questions: Are these worth $100 more than the DRIVE II? And how do they stack up against direct competitors like the UPVINE Pro+ 2 or Lún HYPER 5?
If you prefer riding wider tires (30mm and above), the DRIVE SL is worth the $100 difference. Comparable wide-rim carbon wheelsets typically cost several hundred dollars more. While ride quality is fairly similar across most carbon-spoked options, tire choice ultimately dictates real-world feel. As wider road tires gain traction, wider rims become essential. Compared to the competition, the UPVINE Pro+ 2 is an excellent setup but far more expensive, while the Lún HYPER 5 relies on a narrower rim profile that cannot maximize wide tires as effectively.
Anyway, I hope you find this review helpful. If you decide to buy the wheels, please consider using the discount code below. It’s the best way to support me and this website at no extra cost to you. You can also join the discussion in my Facebook group. See you in the next one.
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.
Browse More Chinese Carbon Wheels Reviews
10Plus T Series 50mm Review
Elitewheels DRIVE II D50 Review
Elitewheels DRIVE 45mm Review
Elitewheels EDGE 50mm Review
Elitewheels ENT 50mm Review
Farsports Ventoux-S 45mm Review
Farsports Wave 45/50mm Review
Farsports C5 Review
The product for this review was kindly provided by the manufacturer. This did not influence my overall verdict or my opinion about the product. You can learn more about how I approach reviews here.
