How I Test and Score Road Bike Wheels: My Testing Process v1.0

On this page, I explain how I perform tests of carbon road bike wheels so you get a better idea of the details. Each category’s results contribute to my overall verdict on the wheels’ quality.

I evaluate them on a scale of 1-5, where 1 is the worst and 5 is the best. It looks as follows:

Crosswind Stability 4/5 | Stiffness 3/5 | Riding Comfort 4/5 | Speed Maintenance 5/5 | Tire On 4/5 | Trueness 5/5 | Spoke Tension 2/5 | Dishing 5/5 | Price 4/5 | OVERALL 4.3/5

Scores 1–2.5 are RED, 2.6–3.9 are ORANGE, and 4–5 are GREEN.

My scoring is not weighted, and I am aware of this limitation. I am working on an updated scoring to reflect better the importance of certain features (like spoke tension consistency vs. stability).

Objective Criteria

Objective criteria include measuring lateral and radial trueness, spokes tension, wheel dishing, and price.

Lateral & Radial Trueness

After opening the box, I visually inspect the wheels. Then, I mount them on the wheel truing stand, where I check the lateral and radial trueness.

Currently, I don’t use a professional truing stand that can measure the deviations, so I use a feeler gauge. However, in addition to visual deviation, I listen for changes in sound when the clamp touches the rim and the wheel is spinning.

Spoke Tension

I use a spoke tensiometer to measure the spoke tension. I always measure all the spokes and plot their tension on a chart. This allows a quick and easy comparison of the consistency of the spoke tension.

I also compare the results of each spoke to the average and categorize the deviation from the average. The categories are 5, 10, 15, and 20%. 

Deviations within 10% are still relatively strict but attainable. Wheels made to tight tolerances and assembled by a skilled wheel builder usually have spoke tension just within 5%, with a few or no spokes outside that limit. 

Wheel Dishing

Wheel dishing allows me to evaluate how well-centered the hubs are. I use a dishing tool for this purpose.

Price

I also included the recommended retail price (RRP) in the evaluation, although the perception of value is highly subjective. 

But the truth is that some wheels simply provide better value for the money than others. I noticed that wheels above $1500 usually add marginal performance gains. The main value you get is better customer support and brand awareness.

Subjective Criteria

The subjective criteria are mainly based on my experience with other wheels. They are based more on ‘feel.’ I approach each wheelset as objectively as possible. However, like everyone, I am subject to biases and expectations.

In the future, I would like to eliminate some subjective criteria and use methods to make them objective. This can be done, for example, by using specialized equipment to measure wheel stiffness and stability.

Currently, I evaluate crosswind stability, stiffness & responsivity, the ability to maintain speed, riding comfort, and difficulty putting a tire on.

I evaluate all criteria below on a scale of 1-5, where 5 is the best.

Crosswind Stability

Crosswind stability is one of the most important features of carbon wheels. The shallower, the more stable, and vice versa. I usually buy (or advise brands) to send me 40, 45, or 50mm wheels so I can compare them with each other. 

My crosswind stability rating is relative. This means that wheels that I rate as 5 (stable) belong among the most stable wheels I tested at the specific rim depth.

Unfortunately, I have yet to find a way to measure the crosswind stability (if you know how to do it, please let me know).

The truth is that some wheels are more stable than others. It’s just difficult to quantify the differences.

The stability also differs at different speeds. I noticed some wheelsets were unstable at speeds reaching 70km/h (43mph) and more. They vibrate, and I lose confidence in them. When I notice this behavior, I write about it in the review.

When evaluating crosswind stability, I try to perceive to what extent wind gusts will throw me off balance and the wheels’ predictability. For example, whether I have to concentrate on holding the handlebars or if I can lay on them and ride in a TT position.

• 1 – E.g., unstable wheels that require a lot of focus when riding in crosswinds.
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5 – E.g., stable wheels that behave predictably in crosswinds.

Stiffness & Responsivity

Stiffness and responsivity are other features riders look for in carbon wheels. Carbon spoke wheels are usually stiffer than those with steel spokes.

I am a relatively lightweight rider (my weight fluctuates around 67kg [147 lbs]), so it doesn’t allow me to push the wheels to the limits.

Wheels I perceive as stiff may feel ‘soft’ to heavier riders. But again, it’s relative, and I am scratching my head about how to measure the wheels’ stiffness.

From my experience, the responsivity usually goes hand in hand with the stiffness but is also influenced by the weight distribution.

For example, shallow carbon-spoked wheels feel more responsive because they have lower inertia, and spinning them up is easier than heavier deep-section wheels.

• 1 – E.g., soft and unresponsive wheels.
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5 – E.g., stiff, usually carbon-spoked wheels.

Riding Comfort

I wondered whether to include a comfort rating in the procedure for a long time. At first, I didn’t notice much difference in comfort between the wheels despite riding them all with the same tires and tire pressures. But the more wheels I tried, the more differences I could find.

The riding comfort is tied to stiffness. Wheels with carbon spokes are generally less comfortable than those with steel spokes. Stiff wheels transfer more vibrations to the frame and your body than softer ones.

If you live in an area with bumpy roads, you’ll need to run lower pressures on carbon-spoked wheels to compensate for the reduced comfort. 

• 1 – E.g., carbon-spoked wheels that are stiffer, but less comfortable, especially on bumpy roads.
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5 – E.g., steel-spoked wheels that are softer, but more comfortable, especially on bumpy roads.

Ability to Maintain Speed

When riding different wheelsets, I noticed they maintain speed on flats differently.

The heavier and deeper section (more aero) wheels are better than shallow and lightweight wheels. As with the crosswind stability, I evaluate this relative to the rim depth. 

So, two different wheelsets, one shallow and one deep, can get 5 points but are compared with wheels of a similar rim depth. 

Measuring aerodynamics and inertia, which influence this ability, requires expensive equipment. Furthermore, the differences between two wheelsets are often so small* that other variables (like a different jersey, helmet, etc., used between the testing runs) can skew the measured results. 

*CdA difference of 0.00x. (This claim is based on a communication with an aerodynamic expert.)

So, I again rely on my feelings. The more wheels I test, the better I get. And honestly, my conclusions often match those of other reviewers.

• 1 – E.g., sluggish wheels that struggle to keep momentum on flats.
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5 – E.g., fast wheels that keep their momentum on flats.

The Difficulty of Putting the Tire On

I rate the difficulty based on whether I can put the tires on the rims without using tire levers. 

Based on my bad experience with tubeless tire pumps and the large volume of wheels I test, I bought an air compressor and made seating tires easier. However, it levels the seating procedure between good and bad wheels. 

• 1 – E.g., the tires on the wheels need to be fitted with tire levers. Their subsequent seating is very difficult and requires a compressor.
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5 – E.g., tires can be mounted without tire levers and seating them is possible with a standard pump.

Unboxing Experience

The unboxing experience is not a part of the scoring.

I include the impression of the box and also the condition in which it arrived in the unboxing experience section. This criterion does not affect the quality of the product but shows the manufacturer’s attention to detail. Therefore, I do not include it numerically in the overall rating. However, I will at least comment on it in the review.

Some manufacturers pay more attention to detail and use the box as a marketing tool. For example, they have a branded box or add a funny message, a link to their website, social networks, etc. But, the most important element is that the packaging protects the product in transit. 

Conclusion

I hope you now have a better idea of how I review bike wheels. I aim to communicate my experience to potential buyers and help you make educated buying decisions.

Please remember that I am still tweaking and improving this process to provide you with the most valuable information possible. 

Recent Updates

• Dec 12, 2023: V1.0 testing procedure introduced.