The most expensive road wheels in 2024

The wheels of a road bike have traditionally been one of the main improvements we could incorporate into our machine. Such is their relevance that today the most elitist models on the market have tremendous development behind them and can even cost more than many bicycles.

Aerodynamics, stiffness, extreme lightness, and a very high price. That's how the best wheels on the market are

Beyond geometries, stiffness, or other characteristics of a bike, wheels greatly influence the behavior of a bicycle and often have to achieve opposing characteristics: being aerodynamic but not increasing weight with excessive material, or being absorbent while being rigid. This requires specialized wheel brands to do tremendous research and development work that has made the best models on the market as expensive as the bikes themselves.

And within the vast offer available on the market, there are a few wheel models that have earned admiration, both for their inaccessibility to most people due to their disproportionate prices and for pushing engineering to the limit to achieve qualities unattainable by conventional models. Here are the most elitist and expensive wheels that can be mounted on a road bike

Lightweight Fernweg Evo Pro

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In a list like this, Lightweight could not be missing, the brand that caused a sensation in its day with its full carbon wheels, including spokes, handcrafted in its small headquarters in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Wheels that, as the brand's name suggests, based their reputation on extreme lightness combined with unparalleled stiffness.

Now, in these times, they have also had to incorporate fantastic aerodynamic qualities that reach their peak in these Lightweight Fernweg Evo Pro wheels that push the manufacturing capabilities of the German brand to the limit. Being wheels that prioritize aerodynamics, their weight is not as spectacular as that of their sisters, being available, obviously in very high profiles of 63 or 85 mm.

• Price: €8,100
• Weight: 1,565 g (63 mm rim)
• Profile: 63 or 85 mm
• Internal width: 18.2 mm

Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO

The Bora wheels have been one of the most desired models by road cyclists for years, both for the mere fact of having Campagnolo, a brand of elegance always valued by cyclists, and for the enormous quality that the Vicenza firm has always applied to its products. In fact, with their groups in decline, the wheels continue to be the flagship that sustains the Italian brand.

The Bora Ultra WTO is available in three profiles: 35, 45, and 60 mm, and continues to stand out for its characteristic G3 spoke pattern, a hallmark of the brand, and above all for the unparalleled rolling of its CULT ceramic ball bearings.

• Price: €3,690
• Weight: 1,285 g (35 mm rim)
• Profile: 35, 45, or 60 mm
• Internal width: 23 mm

Mavic Cosmic Ultimate 45

Speaking of classic brands makes it obligatory to mention Mavic. The French firm, after a turbulent economic period, has managed to resume its path of innovation by delighting us with such spectacular models as these Cosmic Ultimate 45. Wheels that achieve extreme lightness without neglecting the necessary aerodynamics thanks to their carefully crafted 45 mm profile made following NACA guidelines.

Their excellent craftsmanship is completed with a design of elliptical section carbon fiber spokes that are handcrafted from one end to the other of the rim, passing, obviously, through the hub or with their efficient Instant Drive 360 hubs with ratchet system.

• Price: €4,449
• Weight: 1,255 g
• Profile: 45 mm
• Internal width: 19 mm

Syncros Capital SL Aero

Manufacturers are often forced to choose between aerodynamics or weight when designing their wheels until Syncros, Scott's component brand, asked, "Why not have both?" Hence the development of these Syncros Capital SL Aero wheels, which have an unbeatable weight considering they have a 60 mm profile rim (also available in a 40 mm version)

The secret to achieving this is their construction in a single piece or the use of a hookless rim that allows shaving every gram to obtain this spectacular result.

• Price: €4,199.80
• Weight: 1,290 g (60 mm rim)
• Profile: 60 or 40 mm
• Internal width: 25 mm

Princeton Peak 4550 Evolution

Popularized by their presence on INEOS Grenadiers' bikes, Princeton achieves excellent qualities in their wheels without the need for special elaborations like other brands use. Simply by developing carefully crafted carbon rims of the highest quality and conventional assembly with the renowned Sapim spokes, where the customer can choose from a wide variety of hubs to configure the wheel that best suits their budget. In the case of the Peak, they represent their most climbing option but do not neglect sufficient aerodynamic gains, although above all, a robust and rigid construction is prioritized to achieve the best performance.

• Price: Between €2,910 and €4,157
• Weight: 1,345 g (DT Swiss 180EXP hubs)
• Profile: 45 mm front, 40 mm rear
• Internal width: 21 mm

ENVE SES 4.5

Another brand that has made a name for itself through word of mouth, appearing in elitist setups of artisanal brands before making the leap to the more commercial circuit a few years ago, without losing its essence with wheels of the highest performance. Their flagship are the SES wheels that combine unparalleled construction quality with one of the best aerodynamics without neglecting the weight parameter.

• Price: €3,426
• Weight: 1,432 g
• Profile: 50 front, 56 mm rear
• Internal width: 25 mm