Many road bike riders are probably looking to upgrade their bicycles. When upgrading a road bike, changing the frame or wheels is the quickest way. When you decide to change your road bike's wheels, you'll encounter two options: "carbon wheels" and "aluminum wheels." This article will explain which option is better, carbon wheels or aluminum wheels!

【Pros & Cons】Road Bikes with Carbon Wheels vs. Aluminum Wheels

Some carbon wheels weigh less than 1kg

Recently, many carbon wheel frames weighing less than 1kg have become available. Road bike riders greatly value the weight of their bicycles. Of course, the lighter the road bike, the faster you can ride. By the way, how much do aluminum wheels weigh? The average weight of aluminum wheels is 1.6kg. Wheels under 1.5kg are sometimes called lightweight wheels. This means that while carbon wheels are typically less than 1kg, aluminum wheels are considered lightweight at 1.5kg. Therefore, for road bike riders, carbon wheels are recommended.

In fact, carbon wheels can be expensive or affordable

Today's carbon wheels can be expensive or affordable. Similarly, aluminum wheels also come in expensive and affordable frames. Carbon wheels can range from tens of thousands of yen to hundreds of thousands of yen. Frankly, if carbon wheels cost tens of thousands of yen, there isn't much difference from expensive aluminum wheels. If you have the budget, it's probably better to go with carbon wheels. If you're on a tight budget, aluminum wheels might be a good option.

Just knowing they are carbon wheels doesn't tell you if the ride is comfortable

Some people might think carbon wheels automatically mean a comfortable ride. However, ride comfort is determined by the "spokes" that support the handlebars and wheels. Even if the wheels are carbon, it's not a guarantee of ride comfort. Therefore, if ride comfort is important to you, check if the spokes themselves are carbon.

Carbon wheels are vulnerable to heat

Carbon wheels are less resistant to heat than aluminum wheels. When braking, friction heat is applied to the "rim" area of the wheel by the brake pads. And as you probably know, aluminum is resistant to heat. However, carbon wheels have weaker heat resistance than aluminum wheels. Therefore, the rim of carbon wheels is more susceptible to damage from braking. In that case, you'll have to change your bicycle's wheels again.

Lifespan of Bicycles with "Aluminum Wheels" vs. "Carbon Wheels"

The lifespan of road bike carbon wheels is probably around 6 years. However, if you ride off-road, their lifespan may be shorter. So, which has a longer lifespan, aluminum wheels or carbon wheels? It's carbon wheels.

In fact, carbon is often used in products other than bicycles, with some airplane parts lasting about 50 years. While high-performance carbon wheels can be quite expensive, if you hear that they have a longer lifespan than aluminum wheels, carbon wheels might be a better option.

Upgrade Your Road Bike with Our Featured Products!

【Under 100,000 yen】Carbon wheels "AERO 40" 76,670 yen

If you're looking for something ultra-lightweight, check out "AERO 40." The ICAN AERO40 is a 40mm rim wheelset from the AERO series, developed by the ICAN R&D team. By the way, the AERO series is an improved version of the "Fast and Light series." The weight is "front 568g / rear 746g," which is quite lightweight.

【Over 100,000 yen】Carbon wheels "DT180 AERO 40 Disc" 150,000 yen

The DT Swiss 180 carbon ceramic hub achieves the lightest weight in its lineup at 307g per pair, thanks to its carbon fiber hub body and aggressive weight reduction machining. With ceramic bearings, the DT Swiss 180 carbon ceramic hub boasts smooth rotation performance. The weight is "front 628g / rear 712g."

Also, the "DT AERO 55 Disc" is 112,360 yen. This "DT AERO 55 Disc" is a model designed based on the new Aero series. While inheriting the speed, lightness, and powerful disc brake wheel performance of the FL series wheels, it uses a combination of Toray T700 and T800, achieving a weight reduction of approximately 100g per wheelset. The aerodynamic performance of the 55mm deep rim tubeless-ready wheels is at the same level as the FL55, and climbing hills will definitely be easier! The weight is "front 698g / rear 831g."

Summary

Thank you for reading this far. If you're looking to upgrade your road bike, changing the bicycle frame or wheels is the quickest way. This time, we introduced options for those considering changing their wheels. Road bike wheels come in "carbon" and "aluminum." Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Please consider why you want to upgrade your road bike before changing your wheels. Also, you can currently get a 3,350 yen coupon at "ICAN"! "ICAN" sells road bikes, frames, wheels, and more, with prices ranging from 50,000 yen to 107,000 yen.

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