The {industry} has been nudging towards wider rims for fairly a while now. We’re lastly beginning to see an adherence practically industry-wide. However, Zipp has been on the “wider is quicker” prepare for some time, and they’re blowing the doorways off what we expect “broad rims” are. Meet the brand new Zipp 303 XPLR wheelset with a mega-wide 32mm inner rim width.
Zipp 303 XPLR SW Wheelset – What’s it?
The Zipp 303 XPLR SW wheelset is “Zipp’s quickest gravel wheel ever.” How? They attribute this improve in pace to its mega-wide and deep rim and purpose-driven, wide-optimized gravel tires.
Was {that a} typo—32mm? No, not a typo and I’d be the primary to confess — I’ve had fairly a couple of typos. The brand new Zipp 303 XPLR SW (and S collection) measure 32mm inner and 40mm exterior.
How did we get right here? The crew at Zipp began with the tire and went backward, designing a wheelset across the concept of a great-rolling, aero-efficient tire. They did this by specializing in some key gravel racing and using parts.
- Gravel racing is getting quicker, whether or not on account of athletes or tools. The common pace of the winners is bumping up yearly.
- Present technology gravel wheels exhibit poor aerodynamic effectivity with gravel tires.
- Low tire pressures are the important thing to unlocking pace on gravel. Just some producers are designing for this however haven’t gone far sufficient to help lateral cornering masses at decrease tire pressures.
- Present gravel rim designs don’t assist forestall pinch flats whereas utilizing decrease tire pressures.
How does the brand new Zipp 303 XPLR differ?
Proper now (I say that, because it might change in a single day), the popular tire width for gravel is wherever from 38-50mm with various tread patterns. The present gravel wheel providing within the {industry} has an exterior rim width of 28-30mm. Zipp claims this creates an aerodynamic mismatch if you use a 40mm+ gravel tire, leaving watts, pace, and doable victories on the desk.
With that narrower rim and broader tire, the tire-wheel interface seems extra just like the bulge of a lightbulb. The lightbulb look is quicker, and in response to Zipp testing, the environment friendly pairing of wheel and gravel tire of their 303 XPLR SW design supplies a 5-watt aerodynamic benefit over a number one competitor (not named).
Low Pressures Go Sooner
Everyone knows now that low tire pressures considerably improve speeds on roads and gravel. However how do you retain a tire’s right “really feel” and integrity with decrease pressures? In cyclocross, the tires are glued to the rim so riders can go as little as they need, solely indebted to the ability of their tubular glue job. In gravel, nevertheless, if the wheelset has a slim tire mattress with low tire stress, it’ll trigger the tire to break down, fold, or squirm whereas cornering.
To fight this, the brand new 303 XPLR SW’s broad tire mattress will increase tire stance, claiming to permit for decrease tire pressures with out tire squirming below nook masses. Meaning decreased vibrations whereas sustaining predictable nook management and unbroken traction whereas climbing. The 303 XPLR SW claims to additionally assist scale back pinch flats due to a rim edge that’s 77% thicker than earlier fashions, reducing the prospect for harm when the tire bottoms out on the rim edge upon impression (extra on this later).
What about rim depth?
A deeper aero is perhaps higher if we have a look at gravel pace now and that almost all occasions are raced with a median of 22MPH or extra for the leaders. Wouldn’t a deeper rim be stiffer and heavier? Zipp feels the tire quantity and wide-rim mattress ought to even that out. The 303 XPLR SW is massive for weight however fairly mild at a claimed 1496g (1573g on our scales) for the set.
How deep are we speaking? The 303 XPLR SW rim is 54mm deep, creating an efficient aerodynamic complement for big gravel tires at excessive pace. Zipp’s engineering crew discovered {that a} 54mm deep rim creates the right facet ratio for aerodynamic effectivity with a 40mm gravel tire at race speeds.
Zipp XPLR 303 SW Specs
- Wheel Measurement: 700c
- Rim Development: Carbon – Hookless
- Hub: ZR1
- Rim Inside Width: 32mm
- Max System Weight: 286lb / 130kg
- Max Tire Strain: 50 PSI / 3.45bar
- Weight: 1573g
- Driver Our bodies: XDR or SRAM/Shimano driver our bodies (Campagnolo N3W Driver physique bought individually).
- Life-style Guarantee
- Worth: $2100.00
Zipp 303 XPLR S
The Zipp 303 XPLR S takes the tech of the SW above and trickles it down with a lower cost. This wheelset borrows important options from the 303 SW premium broad gravel wheelset, however it’s extra attainable and strong.
Almost every part is similar because the 303 XPLR SW, however some weight-saving measures and weighing solely 150g greater than the top-tier model. The primary distinction is a non-dimpled carbon rim (just like the 303 Firecrest and 303S), and the 303 XPLR S receives a extra reasonably priced hub. Additionally they include a weight restrict of 286 lbs, just like the 303 XPLR SW wheels.
Zipp XPLR 303 S Specs
- Wheel Measurement 700c
- Rim Development Carbon – Hookless
- Hub 76 / 176
- Rim Inside Width 32mm
- Max System Weight 286lb / 130kg
- Max Tire Strain 50 PSI / 3.45bar
- Weight(g) 1642g* claimed
- Max tire stress 50 psi/3.45 bar
- Lifetime Guarantee
- Worth: $1400.00
Goodyear XLPR Gravel Tires
Each wheels work finest (in response to Zipp) with Zipp-approved tires, and the wheels launch in partnership with Goodyear tires. The Goodyear XLPR Inter and the Goodyear XPLR Slick are the counterparts within the 303 XPLR wheel system.
Goodyear XPLR Inter
The Goodyear XPLR Inter (700×45) presents probably the most versatile gravel setup with 303 XPLR and might be ridden in most conditions. The tread has a good sample within the heart, whereas the extra distinguished aspect blocks provide grip and confidence when cornering. The dimension of tire beads is designed to make sure handy meeting and safe retention on Zipp TSS rims (32c). Solely Zipp-approved tires can be utilized on the 303 XPLR wheels.
Goodyear XPLR Slick
The Goodyear XPLR Slick is a extra of an all-road and quick gravel tread design. The middle line is clean, with slight knobbed sides to assist dig riders out of sandy or lighter gravel. The XPLR Slick is 700×40 and measured 38mm on our take a look at rims. The dimension of tire beads is designed to make sure handy meeting and safe retention on Zipp TSS rims (32c). Solely Zipp-approved tires can be utilized on the XPLR wheels.
Zipp SL 70 XPLR Gravel Handlebar
Zipp publicizes a full-on gravel (I imply XPLR) bar optimized (however not just for) the SRAM RED AXS groupset to spherical out the gravel providing.
The brand new carbon handlebar is purpose-built for gravel and all-road using, designed with options that reach hand management and join the rider with their machine. One tremendous cool function that exemplifies that is an overhang to cowl the brake hose the place it exits the hood.
The brand new XPLR bar has a brake hose routing beneath the flat higher of the bar and exits tightly close to (not into) the stem. This shelf creates a platform that mates with the brake lever, offering a super perch on your arms when on the hoods. Zipp calls this an optimized consolation zone, they usually’re not off. It’s a really dialed place.
The bar options shallow and broad drops for effectivity and luxury for the lengthy haul. Furthermore, SL 70 XPLR has outlined locators marked on the drop and the bar prime to position SRAM Wi-fi Blips simply.
Options Zipp SL 70 XPLR Handlebar
- Materials: Carbon
- Clamp Diameter: 31.8mm
- Attain / Drop: 70mm / 115mm
- Widths: 40cm*, 42cm, 44cm, 46cm, 48cm *Examined
- Designed for integration with SRAM RED AXS
- Outlined locators for placement of SRAM AXS Wi-fi Blips
- Hidden exterior routing for hydraulic hose routing into the stem
- 70mm Attain, and 115mm drop enable a cushty hood place and a shallow drop place
- 5° drop Flare and 11° drop out sweep
- 240g for 44cm bar (40cm weight
- Lifetime Guarantee
- Worth: $320
First Impressions: The Entire 303 XPLR Expertise
Like many, I used to be greatly surprised by the super-wide Zipp 303 XPLR wheelset and stoked to examine them out and see for myself. I used to be given a tour of the Zipp manufacturing facility earlier than the launch, and I might see the product crafted in entrance of my eyes.
I might see the design and product testing that went into the wheels and the info churned after every take a look at. Particular care and deliberate intention are on the forefront of those wheels and the XPLR group.
Extra DH Than Gravel
The Zipp 303 XPLR SW wheelset is genuinely one thing totally different. They’re wider than my mountain bike wheels and look extra like Aero DH wheels than something drop-bar-worthy. The rim wall is 4mm broad and tremendous stout. In contrast to different rims, the Zipp 303 XPLR has a squared-off, nearly sharp wall.
Mounting the Goodyear XPLR Slick tires proved to be no problem, however I did discover the rim scraped my tire lever, leaving some plastic shards, one thing I’m not used to. I inflated the tires utilizing the SRAM Tire Strain information and set them as much as my spec with weight, bike weight, and kit.
First Rides
My first journey was on lighter gravel with largely highway to and from. The wheels felt good on the pavement; they spun up quick, held pace, didn’t pull within the wind, and have been as stiff as any gravel wheel I might keep in mind.
Nevertheless, after I hit the gravel, the flats began. I instantly received a small lower that was an excessive amount of for my Orange Seal. I plugged it with a Dyna-Plug and cursed my luck. One other 10 minutes later, one other flat, this time in entrance.
Identical deal; Dyna-plugged it and moved on. Then I observed I used to be hitting the rim practically the whole time. The stress was above what the SRAM calculator advisable (to be on the secure aspect). However but the tire was bottoming out and hitting the sharp rim bead whereas leaning the bike.
This was a standard theme for the subsequent hour or so till a lower so massive required a tube and tire boot. I made a decision to avoid the gravel and journey the highway dwelling. This journey ended with 4 fixable flats and one which required a tire boot – I used to be not impressed.
Change to WTB
I switched out the unusable Goodyear XPLR tires for WTB Vulpine 45mm authorised for Zipp 303 XPLR use. This time, I went the wooded route; I might hit the rim each time I went over a root whereas leaning on the bike, leading to a flat or lower within the tire. Sure, the WTB tires lasted longer. They took no cuts extra important than 3mm and supplied fewer flats, however not a house run by any means.
I made a decision to offer my final Zipp-approved tires a shot, this time with the WTB Resolute 50mm tires. This combination was proper on, it let the wheels do the speaking greater than the narrower tires. The SRAM stress calculator prescribed round 21PSI and the tires floated over the gravel with a pleasant mixture of pace and luxury.
This time, I skilled zero flats on my journey. The quantity mates with the rim a lot better. As for aero benefit and weight, nevertheless… the Resolute isn’t WTB’s race tire; it’s extra of a do-it-all tire with some knobs. The expertise was a lot better with the 50mm tires, however not what I anticipated. I’m fortunate the ENVE MOG body might accommodate, however I’m guessing most can be pushed to the max with a 50mm tire on 32mm inner rim wheels.
Sure – they don’t seem to be the tremendous quick race tires that Zipp launched with, however they nonetheless felt rattling good. So might the 40mm (38mm) tires and 45mm tires be too slim for the rim? No – I don’t assume that’s the problem, however I’m going to order my full ideas till we get the 45mm Goodyear tires on the 303 XPLRs and provides them one other go.
How about these bars?
After I acquired the XPLR element (bars, wheels, and tires), I discovered that the Zipp SL 70 XPLR bars wouldn’t match on my ENVE MOG take a look at machine. How the handlebar routes the brake hoses interferes with the MOGs internally routed stem. As an alternative, I opted for the ENVE bars for my construct, however I used to be curious why Zipp by no means created an internally routed stem. Contemplating these bars are for gravel racing, and an XPLR group requires a UDH. Most bikes that may accommodate are pretty progressive and can seemingly have inner cable routing.
A Mixture of My Favourite
As an alternative—I mounted the bars on my Specialised Crux with Shimano GRX 12-speed (gasp!). The bike didn’t catch hearth, and the bar mated properly with the shifters. The routing performed properly with the Crux’s exterior routing and gave the hoses a greater entry level to the body.
The match and management of the bars are nice, like a combination between highway (my go-to bars for highway are the Bontrager RSL) and gravel (CADEX GX being my favourite). I went with a 40cm, which feels spot on for getting locked and loaded in an aero place with some means to drive the bike within the single observe.
Contact Factors
The drops are nice. They’ve a slight indent that you may relaxation your thumbs on when in lengthy, windy sections and are shallow sufficient to maintain your head up. The Zipp SL 70 XPLR bars are a superb choice for riders trying to get extra aero within the wind however may not be used to a full-on highway race setup. The hooks on the lever place are glorious and create a near-perfect perch on your palms.
Search for a full assessment of Zipp 303 XPLR SW coming early fall.
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