Road wheels occupy an important position in the whole road vehicle. Especially with the rapid development of carbon fiber wheels, from thousands to tens of thousands, various grades of carbon fiber wheels have become the favorite upgrade part for road bike riders.
Although carbon wheels have become mainstream, aluminum wheels will always exist in bicycles. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Aluminum wheels
Aluminum alloy is the most popular wheel material currently. It is easy to produce and easy to repair, which also makes aluminum wheels the standard wheel for entry-level models. Maybe the entry-level car you bought a few years ago was equipped with aluminum wheels. Basically, the frame height of aluminum wheels is relatively low, which also means that when you go out for a ride and have a flat tire halfway, the inner tube you replace will be fine regardless of the length of the valve. From the perspective of the manufacturer, it is relatively simple to manufacture aluminum wheels - the frame, spokes and hubs can be freely selected - so various aluminum wheels can be provided according to the needs of riders, of course, including the most affordable entry-level wheels. But aluminum wheels are not perfect. Compared with carbon wheels, they are not only uncompetitive in terms of lightweight, but also pale in comparison in terms of aerodynamics. Therefore, aluminum wheels are labeled as "slower".
Advantages:
Cheaper: The price of aluminum wheels is often less than half of that of carbon wheels or even cheaper. More durable: Aluminum wheels can withstand greater impact without damage, and the life of aluminum wheels is longer than that of carbon wheels. Safer: Aluminum wheels (rim brakes) have better braking performance in wet conditions or on long downhill roads, and aluminum wheels have better heat dissipation. More environmentally friendly: Well, aluminum is a good recyclable material.
Disadvantages:
Heavier: There is no doubt that in this era of pursuing the ultimate lightweight of bicycles, heavier means "slower". Poor aerodynamics: Relatively speaking, the deeper the rim, the better the aerodynamics. Insufficient rigidity: Compared with carbon wheels, the rigidity is slightly worse, and poor rigidity will lead to insensitive control.
Carbon wheels
Choosing a carbon fiber wheel with a higher frame height is more aerodynamic and light and fast. However, since the carbon fiber frame is made of hand-stacked carbon fiber cloth, shaped, and heated, the flexibility in choosing spokes and hubs is relatively limited, which increases the difficulty of the process and maintenance. This also means that once the carbon fiber frame is damaged, the possibility of repair is almost zero. Even though carbon fiber wheels have the inherent problem of being difficult to repair, they are light and fast, which is its incomparable advantage. Therefore, carbon wheels are still the best choice for riders when upgrading wheels.
Advantages:
Lightweight: The average weight of a carbon fiber wheel is about 300 grams lighter than aluminum. Stronger rigidity: Rigid carbon fiber wheels are responsive. More aerodynamic: Generally, carbon wheels have deeper rims, and deeper rims mean better aerodynamics. Looks cool: Although aesthetics is a more subjective factor, riders seem to be on the side of carbon wheels on this point.
Disadvantages:
More expensive: The "rich play wheel" is not just a joke. A carbon wheel worth tens of thousands of dollars can buy a good road bike in minutes. Not durable: Carbon fiber rims are very brittle. Rim impacts may cause carbon fiber rims to crack (lateral stiffness of carbon wheels). Carbon fiber rims will overheat and fail during long descents (wheel failures are often seen in Grand Tours). Unrepairable: If there is a problem with the carbon wheel, then replacement is the only way out.
Simply put, if the carbon wheel is replaced well, there will be no worries about speeding up. The only drawback is that since carbon wheels need to develop exclusive molds in the production process, their manufacturing cost is naturally much higher than that of aluminum wheels, so the price is not affordable enough. Now that you have a general understanding of the characteristics of carbon and aluminum wheel sets, it depends on your own opinion on how to choose. After all, this depends on your riding style and upgrade needs. What is certain is that changing a set of good wheels is the most noticeable upgrade in a bicycle, while optimizing equipment performance and riding experience.
In addition, it is undeniable that good wheels are usually better looking, which makes you more confident to face unknown road conditions. This is more or less the placebo effect, and it is also true in other aspects of life. For this reason, it is definitely a good idea to invest more money in a set of carbon wheels. Aluminum wheels have always been good value for money and are very suitable for leisure riding. But if you are a rider who pursues continuous breakthroughs, carbon wheels are not only light and fast, but also have a light and direct road feel. If you want to get better aerodynamic advantages, high-rim carbon wheels can make you ride faster; but relatively speaking, because the higher rim height is more susceptible to crosswinds, riders need better control skills to control it.
