Whether you’re getting a new pair of carbon wheels to replace the stock ones that came on your bike, you’re thinking about upgrading your entire setup to disc brakes, or you want something on the cutting edge, Triathlete‘s complete guide to wheels has got you covered.

Scroll down below for our expert-tested guide with ratings and at-a-glance information you won’t find anywhere else: from overall value, ride quality, handling, aero tech, hub quality, and all of the measurements you need to make sure you’re as fast as you can be.

But if you’re not sure exactly what you’re looking for, first check out our guide on wheel width—why wider wheels matter for more than just speed—and our handy wheel depth chart to help you pick out which depth wheel to use and when. After you’ve learned a bit more about today’s wheels, check out the latest and greatest wheels we’ve reviewed below.

It’s clear that the carbon wheel market trend is full steam ahead in two directions: disc brakes and tubeless. Now, it’s more apparent than ever that “bigger is better” when it comes to tire size, as multiple wheelsets are now being optimized for 28mm or even 30mm tires.

We’ve seen a lot of action with updated technology across multiple wheelsets this summer – all disc brake (many no longer even offer a rim brake option), all tubeless. Take a look at the tech you may want to add to your race arsenal sooner than later to keep up with the (aero) times.

RELATED: Should All Triathletes Be Running 28mm Tires?

The best carbon triathlon wheels

Cadex Ultra 50 Disc

cadex-cycling.com / $3,500

These wheels are the definition of snappy. Their upgraded hub and integrated spoke design mean that as much power per pedal stroke as possible is transferred directly into pushing the wheel forward. The Ultra 50s are stable without being stiff and hold their line while under the torque of a steep climb or the winds of a downhill. There’s a lot to like here, and we expect more great things from the Cadex wheel and bike lineup in the future. 

Zipp 858 NSW

zipp.com / $4,400

Our notes:

Zipps will always hold legendary status in triathlon as they were among the first carbon deep-dish wheels, gaining notoriety for their golf ball-esque aerodynamic dimpling on the rim. The new 858s have stripes of dimpling on the rim (instead of the entire rim being dimpled) and have gone so aero as to print the Zipp logo right onto the wheel instead of using a decal. The 858s leverage an undulating carbon design at the spokes’ connection point to the rim which is designed to help air flow through and around the wheels better as well as provide more stabilization in crosswinds (we found this to be true), which has been the biggest enemy of previous Zipp 808 models. 

RELATED: Why It’s Time To Look At Wide Wheels

Hunt 7387

us.huntbikewheels.com / $1,469 

Our notes:

The Hunt 7387 wheelset was designed based on the principle that air flows over the front and back wheels differently. As such, the rim width of the front is wider than on other wheelsets to better allow the front to cut through crosswinds while the rear wheel retains a more common rim width (30mm) to provide the stiffness riders have come to expect from a deep-dish carbon rear wheel. For nearly $2,000 less than its competitors listed here, the Hunt wheels provide a solid race wheel experience. The cost savings come at the expense of a fancier hub (Cadex, for example, completely redesigned and upgraded their hub as part of the Ultra 50 R&D process) and stiffness that verges on being just a bit too stiff, but is still a weapon on a flat, windy course.

Swiss Side HADRON2 Classic 500

swissside.com / $1,650

Vision Metron 81 SL DISC

visiontechusa.com / $1,834

Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 60

campagnolo.com / $3,802

Fulcrum Wind 75 DB

fulcrumwheels.com $1,581

Princeton GRIT 4540

princetoncarbon.com / $2,800-$3,750

Bontrager Aeolus RSL 75 TLR Disc Road 

trekbikes.com / $2,400

RELATED: Ask A Gear Guru: What Are the Best Tires for Triathletes?