Carbon Fiber or Aluminum , which road wheel set you will choose?

In recent years, the market sales of road bikes continue to rise, and more and more people are riding road bikes.In the components of the road bike, besides the road bike framesets,the wheel group take an important role,too. Many riders often discuss the different wheel group attributes,the material,size etc. Then let’s discuss the types of road wheel groups and what advantages and disadvantages they have, so that we can choose the wheel group as a reference later.

The road bikes popular drives the rapid development of road wheel products. Carbon fiber wheels are the most popular part for road riders to upgrade. The popularity of carbon fiber road wheel group affects the sales of aluminum alloy road wheel group. Because the carbon fiber wheel group in weight, rigidity, efficiency are better than aluminum alloy wheel group. However, both wheel groups have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Aluminum alloy road wheel set

Aluminum is the most popular wheel material. It is easy to produce and maintain, which makes aluminum wheels as the standard wheel set for entry models.

Basically, the height of the aluminum wheel on sale is relatively low. From the perspective of the manufacturer, it is relatively simple to manufacture the aluminum wheel. You can choose the frame, the spoke and the hubs freely. Therefore, a variety of aluminum wheels are available for the rider's needs, including beginner wheel sets. But compared with carbon wheels, aluminum wheels are not only uncompetitive in terms of weight, but also in aerodynamics, which is why aluminum wheels are labeled "Low"！

Advantages:

Price: Aluminum wheels are often less than half the price of carbon wheels, or even cheaper.

Durability: Aluminum wheels can withstand greater impact, and the life of aluminum wheels is longer than the life of carbon wheels.

Safety: Aluminum wheel (rim brake) in humid environment or long downhill road, better braking, and aluminum wheel heat dissipation effect is better.

Green: Aluminum is a good recyclable material.

Disadvantages:

Heavier: It goes without saying that in the age of ultra-lightweight cycling, heavier means slower.

Poor aerodynamic performance: the general aluminum wheel is a low wheel group, which also means that the flat road performance is slightly worse.

Lack of rigidity: The rigidity of the aluminum wheels will be less than that of the carbon wheel

Carbon fiber road wheel set

Carbon fiber wheel set with a higher frame height can provides better aerodynamics，light weight and fast speed. However, carbon fiber frame is made of hand-laminated carbon fiber, shaped, layered and heated, so the flexibility in selecting the spoke and the hubs is limited. So that there is difficult in the manufacturing process and maintenance . This also makes it difficult to repair the frames once they are damaged. However its incomparable advantages in light weight and fast speed still is the most riders choose.

Advantages:

Light weight: The average weight of carbon fiber wheel is about 300-500 grams lighter than aluminum.

Rigidity: Carbon fiber makes the wheels stiffer and more responsive.

Force: carbon fiber wheel group usually frame high, the overall effect of loading better.

Aerodynamics: Higher wheel frames represent better aerodynamics, and performance is greatly getting better

Disadvantages:

More expensive: the price of a wheel set can buy you a normal bike.

Low durability: Carbon fiber rims are more brittle and can break when hit badly. At the same time, the carbon fiber rim (rim brake) may overheat when going downhill for a long time, resulting in frame burning. but it is very rare.

Difficult to repair: If there is a terrible problem with the carbon wheel, then replacement is the better way, even after repair, the strength will be affected a little.

In short, good carbon wheels can help riders to get fast speed. The only drawback is that the carbon wheel needs high cost to develop a special mold in the production process, so the price is naturally much higher than aluminum wheel. The choice you make is up to your riding style and upgrade needs. To be sure, getting a good set of wheels can optimizes whole bike performance and riding experience.