FlatlandClimber wrote:Enve's chart is the opposite of conclusive. They named all ZIPP wheels incorrectly. We don't know if the 454 are the 2018 or 2021s were tested. Why do I even question that? Because the tested the Bontrager XXX wheels form 2016, and not the RSL wheels.
As per ZIPP, the 353 wasn't even designed in a windtunnel: "
Compare those measured tyre widths above to the 30.65 mm exterior width of the rim, and straight away, you can see that these wheels don’t meet the often referenced 105% rule and are therefore not going to please the aero-obsessed. In fact, according to Donzé, the 353 NSW did not spend design time in a wind tunnel."
Cyclingtips
I guess we don't know.
However, the 353 are not an aerodynamic wheel, but rather an all-road wheel. It's Almost certainly less aero than the 303, and also I have not found a tire combination that works aerodynamically by the 105 rule.
Every 28c I've seen on the 353 balloons to 31mm or more.
The 454 is narrower externally (by 2mm) but also internally (also by 2mm). So a 28c tire has a higher chance to come in at 28-29mm.
Ended up with the 454s after sending some 353s back after a ride. Have had several experiences with the new Enve 4.5s as well, prior to my recent set literally exploding.
Some interesting first impressions after a 20-mile rolling test ride:
Nice build, seemed true. Easy to put on GP5K S TRs. After inflation, the front wheel went slightly out of true. Didn’t bug me enough to fix.
Weight:
-353s were 1328g with tape and valves
-454s are 1408g with tape and valves
Tire Width:
-353s sat 28c GP 5000 ST Rs at 31.58mm
-454s sat same tires at 30.3mm (initially was 29mm, but expanded after first ride)
Ride Comfort:
I may be crazy, but I thought the 454s were actually a little more comfortable than the 353s, which I thought were comfy but very stiff. Neither the 353 nor the 454 flexed under power, even with my large self on them. I’m not sure either are as comfy as the 4.5, but all are significantly more comfortable than my Rapide CLs with 28mm Turbo Cottons and latex tubes.
Handling:
A real strong suit of the 353 and 454. I usually don’t think about how wheels handle unless they really jump out as a strength. The 353s just felt like magic while descending, same to a slightly lesser degree than the 454s.
Climbing:
A real toss up between the 353s and 454s for me on this, believe it or not. I couldn’t tell much difference. I like the feel of climbing on the Zips better than the 4.5s which could feel dull and slightly flexy for me at times. Very impressed by the 454s here.
Stability:
Didn’t feel any cross wind pressure on the 353s. 4.5s are phenomenal in cross winds as are my Rapide CLs. Interestingly, I thought the 454s caught a bit more side wind than the others. However, when they did, it was more predictable and less of an issue. Weird.
Speed:
Hard to tell, honestly. They felt faster than the 353s, especially on the flats. It’s a toss up in feel of speed between the 4.5s and 454s for me, with an edge to the Enves. I put effort into 3 segments today (a short climb, a rolling 3.5 mile loop, and a rolling 1.5 mile descent). I set PRs on each of those last week when trying out the 353s. I beat each of those times today on the 454s, but it did require significantly more power. I think wind conditions likely played a role, however. When up above 40kph, the 454s felt in control and fast. Above 50, they felt even better.
Overall, initial impressions are that they are great wheels that are overpriced. I’m most impressed with the handling and climbing elements of these wheels. If it were a blind test, there’s no way I would’ve thought they were deep section wheels. If the fins do anything, I think they add some nice strength and stiffness, and they MAY make cross wind stalling more predictable.
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