Zipp

808 Firecrest Carbon Clincher Road Wheel

Have a look at some of the most successful time trialists or the wheel count numbers at the largest tri events and you'll likely see a reoccurring theme, Zipp's deep section 808s. Proven at World Championships and Grand Tours, this speed-demon of a time trial and tri wheel is claimed as being the fastest wheel in the world outside of a full disc. Install the Zipp 808 Firecrest Carbon Clincher Road Wheel on your aero road, tri, or TT rig and prepare to smash some PRs with its top-level aerodynamic design and with surprisingly good crosswind handling manners as you storm to the finish.

Zipp's top priority with the 808 is to slice through the wind as efficiently and effortlessly as possible and as such, decrease the drag so you can go faster with fewer watts. Depth gets you there for sure, but Zipp also better manages the attached air at the rim with its signature Aerodynamic Boundary Layer Control (ABLC) dimpling. It utilizes strategically placed and sized dimples across the rim's surface to reduce drag and smooth airflow, allowing the wheel to slice through the air while improving its stability in blustery conditions. ABLC boasts aerodynamic advantages at more real-world yaw angles of 10 to 20 degrees, which compares favorably to many wheels that feature minimum drag numbers at yaw angles of just five to ten degrees — conditions that occur much less frequently outside of a wind tunnel. In non-techy talk, these wheels go faster and handle better than the competition in the actual conditions you'll experience on the road.

Aerodynamics is almost a requirement when racing on the flats, but it's still appreciated on rolling courses and shallow grades and given the 808's carbon construction, it's modest weight won't slow you down when the road turns up. Plus, with its superior drag reduction everywhere else, think about all of those watts you'll squirrel away during the majority of the ride. If you do find yourself on an extended descent, or a technical TT or prologue-esque course, you'll appreciate the lengths that Zipp makes to address the oft-encountered issue of carbon rims overheating under prolonged braking. By using a special, heat-resistant resin in the carbon layup, Zipp succeeds in increasing heat dissipation and reducing the potential for rim failure. Zipp claims that use of this resin has led to an unbeatable record of zero heat-related rim failures in its carbon rims, so you can ride those big descents and twisty courses with the confidence that these rims will get you safely through.

At the center of it all, Zipp uses its 77 hub on the front wheel and 177 hub on the rear for a silky smooth, friction-free ride and its straight-pull spoke flanges provide stiffness while quickly accelerating back up to speed or while sprinting. These hubs also boast increased bearing protection over their predecessors and are ready to roll without the need of any pre-load adjustment.

The rear wheel is sold with either Campy, SRAM/Shimano road, or XD driver bodies, giving riders options for a wider cassette range of up to 10-42t to accommodate the needs of Zipp's sister-company SRAM's one-by drivetrain. As an added bonus, these driver bodies can be swapped out without having to re-dish the wheel if you change up your group affiliations down the road. Each wheel includes an updated quick-release skewer with a wider handle than previous models for better leverage while installing the wheel and a lower profile when closed.

Every Zipp 808 Firecrest Carbon Clincher Road Wheel comes with a set of Tangente Platinum Pro Evo brake pads, a Zipp Integrated Valve Extender with a valve-core wrench, rim tape, and a quick-release skewer. Please note that the Tangente Platinum Pro Evo brake pads are designed specifically for use with Zipp's carbon rims. Zipp also recommends a maximum rider weight of 250lb for these wheels.