Elitewheels ENT 50mm Review: Cheap but Surprisingly Good?

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Elitewheels ENT are among the best-selling carbon wheels on AliExpress. I couldn’t resist ordering a pair for review during the Black Friday sales to find out what was behind their success.

I have tested Elitewheels DRIVE, their flagship wheelset, and have experience with many Chinese carbon wheels. So, how did the ENT hold up on Belgian cobbles during my Tour of Flanders recon? And how do they compare to other wheelsets? In this review, you’ll find out!

Elitewheels ENT Main Features

Here is a quick summary of the features and specs of the Elitewheels ENT 50mm wheels.

Shipping and Import Fees from China Explained

Guess which option I chose. I wanted to play it safe initially, but then I had a brain switch off and didn’t pay the pre-paid shipping. I could have had a worry-free customs process, but I was afraid customs officers would apply anti-dumping duties, which would double the price.

In the end, I paid an extra $105* for import fees. This is a bit more than the price of the prepaid shipping. In total, however, the wheels only cost me $382.12 (287.12+105).

*Customs $16 + TAX $78 + Customs declaration services clearance $11.

Elitewheels will contact you directly through AliExpress and ask you which shipping option you want to choose before shipping your order. Even during Black Friday, they replied within a day.

I placed my order on 25/11/2023, and the package was shipped on 5/12/2023. Remember, this was during the Black Friday shopping frenzy when Elitewheels had huge deals.

Because the package was held in customs and there was a delay in clearance, it arrived on 28/01/2024. I probably would have received it much sooner if I had prepaid the DPD shipping. At least now you won’t have to repeat my mistake.

First Impressions and Unboxing

The unboxing was basically the same as with all other wheels. You don’t have to be afraid that the wheels will arrive damaged. The package didn’t include spare spokes or tubeless valves, but at this price point, I didn’t expect it. The tubeless rim tape was included, which was a pleasant surprise. However, I had to install it myself.

The Elitewheels ENT are almost indistinguishable from the Elitewheels EDGE. I only noticed the different weights and slightly different rim profiles when holding them. The rim finish and decals are the same.

In-House Tests

Lateral and Radial Trueness

I put both wheels on a truing stand and double-checked their lateral and radial trueness. The wheels were trued pretty well, as I didn’t observe any major deviations. The results were comparable to some of the more expensive carbon wheels.

Spoke Tension

The spoke tension also pleasantly surprised me, as it was relatively consistent, and only a few spokes were outside a 5% tolerance of the average. That’s a strict limit. See the following charts for reference.

Rim Centering (Dishing)

The dishing (measuring how well-centered the hub is) also ended well. Only the rear wheel showed a gap of about 0.2mm between the tool and the end cap. The front wheel was perfectly centered. But that’s just me being picky.

A Look Inside

Looking inside, I discovered more wrinkles and epoxy residue than usual. The carbon’s texture was not completely smooth, and honestly, at this price point, I didn’t expect it to be.

The Difficulty of Putting the Tire On

Despite their low price, ENT wheels are tubeless-ready. So, as always, I tried to put my Tufo Comtura 4 TR 28mm tires on once I applied the rim tape. I wasn’t able to put on slightly used tires without tire levers. This wasn’t a problem with most of the higher-end Chinese wheels I tested. Seating them with an air compressor was not a problem, though.

The table below shows the individual criteria of all wheels I tested and my rating.

Riding Experience

I started riding ENT wheels right after I finished testing Elitewheels EDGE wheels. I rode them mostly in my area, but I also took them with me to Belgium, where I conquered the most famous cobblestone climbs, such as the Koppenberg, Paterberg, Oude Kwaremont, and many more.

I can tell you that riding the steep climbs in Belgium with ENT wheels was tough. These wheels are heavy (1778g). I am used to riding wheels of the same depth that are 300-400g lighter. That’s a huge difference. They are relatively soft because they use steel spokes. This results in better riding comfort on rougher roads but lower responsiveness. Especially on steep climbs, I felt like the power I put into the pedals was not translating into forward movement. The wheels felt sluggish.

It was super windy on my way to Gent, so I was able to experience how they ride with tail, cross, and headwinds. With a tailwind, they were flying. Their weight and inertia resulted in good momentum. In crosswinds, they remained pretty stable and felt predictable. And with the headwind, it was more about my tired legs than the wheels.

In terms of stiffness and comfort, I would compare them to Trifox WT11. But those are narrower, not tubeless-ready, and more expensive. The even more expensive Farsports Wave and YOELEO SAT PRO 2022 provide slightly better riding characteristics in all aspects. The same applies to most higher-end wheels, such as Elitewheels DRIVE 45mm (1280g). The difference between ENT and DRIVE is huge, especially in terms of responsiveness.

Elitewheels ENTs use Pillar 1423 steel spokes, so finding a replacement should not be a problem if you break them.

The hub is from Elitewheels and uses the 6-pawl hub system, which has a pleasant sound. It also survived my high-torque power intervals in the steep climbs.

Elitewheels ENT Alternatives

My Verdict

Their greatest strengths are flat riding and steady efforts, as their weight makes them great at keeping momentum. Unfortunately, the weight is also the biggest drawback, as the wheels don’t feel lively and aren’t suitable for hills.

It’s no wonder why ENT bikes are so popular. Their attractive price and good handling characteristics make them a worthy upgrade from aluminum wheels. Lastly, it’s also important to mention that they are tubeless-ready.

Elitewheels ENT FAQ