[music] Speaker: These are the brand-new Zipp 303
S wheels that are more affordable, lighter and apparently faster than the 302 wheels
that they replace.
That doesn't seem to do them justice because Zipp say that they've improved the overall
efficiency of this wheelset to the point where the performance surpasses the classic 303
Firecrest that was launched back in 2016 and costs twice as much.
Frankly, I want you to know how Zipp have done it, so let me fill you in.
[music] Firstly, yes, I am still largely confined
to my house, but amazingly have got my hands on some hot new tech.
Thank you very much to Zipp for sending these over, and then also for patiently answering
all my questions so that I can give you lot the juicy details.
First up, a quick reminder of Zipp's wheel range which spans the full spectrum of depths
from the shallow 202 series through the all-rounder 303 series, the 404, and up to the 808s and
the disc wheels.
Most depths have different models and price points at each one.
You've got the Firecrest, which is the classic Zipp with its trademark dimples used and abused
both on-road and off.
The NSW, which takes performance even further, and then you had the 302, which simplified
and distilled all of the carbon and aero knowledge into a more affordable wheelset.
Now we have the even more affordable, lighter and faster 303 S. Disc specific, happy off-road,
as well as on, and tubeless-ready.
So, what's the deal?
Quite largely, they got a new logo, for a start.
[music] Firstly, let's talk about those performance
claims, shall we?
Zipp is saying that this 303 S is 10 watts more efficient at 40 kph than this, which
is their 2016 303 Firecrest.
Leaving aside for one moment that these are faster than their more expensive brethren,
I think it's also really important and interesting to note that Zipp are changing the way they're
quantifying fast, and that's because Zipp say they've moved away from just wind tunnels
to holistic real-world testing as well that includes not just aerodynamics, but tire dynamics
as well.
It's data collection techniques have progressed to the point where you can now get accurate
and repeatable results outside using an aero stick that measures wind and atmospheric data
in real-time.
Zipp engineers have basically had to spend countless hours riding up and down sections
of road at 40 kph.
How do these stack up in the wind tunnel?
I don't know.
Zipp say they're not particularly fast either, pointing instead it's their real-world data
that shows that they're 10 watts more efficient at 40 kph an hour on a smooth road, because
apparently on rough surfaces, that difference balloons out even further.
How?
Zipp have designed these to be aerodynamically optimal for 28 millimeter wide tires.
That's a really big part of this overall increase in efficiency, because wider tires roll with
less resistance, and can also be run at lower pressures, which also increase that rolling
efficiency.
[unintelligible 00:03:28] viewers will note that there's a less difference then between
the external and the internal [unintelligible 00:03:34], and yes, you would be right because
these are hookless.
A traditional rim has a little hook at the top of the inside of the rim sidewall, but
with recent developments in tire technology, you don't need that anymore.
You can get rid of it and then gain a whole stack of advantages as a result.
One of them is aerodynamics.
Going hookless means there is a much smoother transition from tire to rim which generates
less turbulence as you're cutting through the air.
Then also because that internal rim width can be wider, the tire balloons out less over
the rim which also generates less turbulence.
The rest of the rim profile has also changed accordingly.
These are the same depth as the old 302s, 45 millimeters, but the rim is much less blunt
at the nose than its Zipp predecessors.
What about the weight then?
They are 165 grams lighter than the 302s that came before them, which means that in total,
they're just 1,530 grams for the pack.
That's 710 for the front and 820 for the rear.
Admittedly, that's not silly, silly light, but for a wheel of this depth, strength, and
price, I'd say that's pretty good going.
How are they so much lighter then?
Zipp say through evolution of the construction process, the mold design and the carbon layup,
they've been able to be more efficient with less material.
One of the big steps forward has been, surprise, surprise, by going hookless.
They've been able to change the way they form the rim bed.
This they're going from a soft mandrel to a metal mold which gives more consistent compaction.
They can basically use less resin and less carbon in this part of the rim.
If you're worried about strength, you needn't be.
I think it's fair to say that Zipp have always been risk averse when it comes to construction.
In impact test, they're strong as their predecessors, but these also now have a lifetime impact
and damage replacement policy that covers all damage while out riding.
How are they making them more affordable then?
Well, these are the first carbon Zipp wheels to be made outside of the USA.
SRAM, who is Zipp's parent company, have their own carbon manufacturing facility in Taiwan,
and they've completely replicated the Zipp Indianapolis production process over there,
but then Zipp also say that through those refinements in the construction process, like
going hookless, they've been able to make it more efficient.
They also say that because they're lighter, there are simply less raw materials in here.
It's not often you hear manufacturers saying that the reason something is less expensive
is because it's lighter, but high-fives all round for that.
[music] It's taking a while to get back to this, but
it's such as the amount of cool stuff that's been going on, but one of the most obvious
differences with the new wheels is the new decals.
The classic Zipp logo is changing from this to this.
Eagle-eyed viewers out there will, of course, have spotted this not only on the mountain
bike wheels as it launched last year, but also on the wheels that team Movistar were
using at the beginning of this year.
There are two final points to mention.
Firstly the hubs, that they have the same bearings axle and free hub as those that have
been used on the Firecrest wheels for the last few years, but here the difference is
actually in the spokes and the way they enter the hub.
These use J-bend spokes, whereas the Firecrest used straight-pull spokes.
Then finally, a very important note about the tires that you use with these.
It's critical that you use tubeless ready tires on these rims, because the higher tolerances
and the stiffer bead of tubeless tires means they don't need that traditional hooked design
to work.
You can, of course, use an inner tube in here, but you do need those tubers ready tires.
We'll have another video for you very soon where we'll be diving into Zipp's new testing
protocols, because it's a big departure for the brand, and by all accounts, they've been
finding out some super interesting, and also super useful insights, some of which actually
that can already be found on their new tire pressure calculator which has an algorithm
that's been built on all of their recent research.
I had a little play.
I think is super cool.
We'll put a link to it in the description beneath this video.
That is a very quick fly-through of the new 303 S. They retail at just under $1,300, or
just under £1,000 for the pair, making them, as I said at the start, the most affordable
carbon Zipps to date.
Make sure you let us know what you think in the comment section down below, and please
give this video a big thumbs up.
[00:08:19] [END OF AUDIO]