Zipp 303 Firecrest Tubular 24 Spokes 10/11 Speed Cassette Body Rear Wheel

The 303 is a wheel you can never count out. In 2010, it became not only the first carbon wheel to win a major cobbled classic, it won the two biggest classics: Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. The wheel is light, utterly dependable and aerodynamic. And it’s just gotten even better.

Zipp's exploration of the 303’s wider rim led to the Firecrest technology. And now that development has come full circle with the 303 Firecrest. The new wheel features Firecrest’s signature shaping designed to optimize both halves of the wheel, which creates a rim that is significantly faster and also much easier to handle in crosswinds.

At just 1255g, the weight of the new 303 is virtually unchanged from its predecessor and remains one of the lightest carbon wheelsets anywhere. Its 45 mm-deep rim outperforms much deeper rims with a traditional V-shaped cross-section. And yet, because Firecrest technology allows us to manipulate the wheel’s center of pressure, the new 303 handles like a box-section rim. It’s ultra-stable, and suitable for even the windiest days.

The 303’s new 26.45 mm-wide brake track (at centre) has been optimised for wider tyres, the ride quality is better than ever.

The new wheels retain all the small details that make Zipp wheels what they are. Exposed spoke nipples sit in the aerodynamic shadow of the rims, keeping serviceability simple without compromising speed. And Zipp's signature ABLC rim dimples squeeze every last second of performance possible.

To complete the package, Zipp has refined its venerable 88/188 hubset, reshaping the hub body and pushing the non-drive-side flange and bearing out by 7.5mm on the rear hub to increase overall stiffness and strength. The wheelsets come with two decal options, the stealthy Beyond Black or the distinctive Classic White decals. Both decal options feature black anodized hubs, black spokes and black nipples.

The new 188/V9 hub has larger precision Swiss steel bearings for increased durability. Our new “virtual 3 cross” lacing on both sides of rear wheel improves stiffness, achieving 3 cross stiffness in a 2 cross pattern with a new spoke geometry. The 188/V9 has 25 percent more torsional stiffness than a leading competitive hub. This measure of stiffness is crucial for the direct power transfer to the rear wheel for out-of-the saddle sprints and climbs. The new hub also is laterally (side-to-side) stiffer that its rival or predecessor.

Key Features:

• Weight: 735g
• Rim used: 285v4
• Hub used: 188/V9
• Rim depth: 45mm
• Brake track width (centre): 26.45mm
• Max width: 28.50mm
• Nominal tyre bed width: 17.98mm
• Spoke count: 24
• Spoke length non-drive: 264mm
• Spoke pattern non-drive: 2 cross
• Spoke pattern drive: 2 cross
• Spoke length drive: 262mm
• Track adaptable: No
• Dimpled surface: Yes
• Ceramic bearing: Aftermarket
• External Nipples: Yes
• Set weight: 1310g
• Brake track top: 25.14mm
• Brake track bottom: 27.57mm
• Max recommended rider weight: 250lbs