Harry Kooros
It’s not every day we hear of a new wheel brand arriving in Australia. But here we test out one such make, the S-ALL Carbon Ultra Wheelset from ‘Superteam.’
I’ve been road testing the new S-ALL Carbon Ultra wheels made by the Chinese brand Superteam, and in an initial two words I’m ‘very impressed’.
Given this wheelset’s price point, low weight, great handling and impressive ride – and the fact they’re a relatively unknown brand – they have really surprised me. Having never heard of Superteam and was somewhat skeptical early on, these wheels have proven to be a great, budget-friendly option in the competitive wheel market.
First Impressions – Design and Build Quality
Out of the box, the first thing that jumps out at you is the unique design. While waved rims are fairly common these days, the ‘Shark Fin’ imprints on the rims themselves were the first I’ve come across. These multi-sized nodules are said to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of the wheels.
The rims have a matte finish with glossy logos, available in black or reflective silver. Looking at and feeling the hubs, they seem strong and of impressive quality, with silky smooth ceramic bearings. The rear hub features a 36-tooth ratchet, providing more contact points for engagement.
Spokes, Hubs, and Rims
The S-ALL Carbon Ultra has 50mm deep rims, an external width of 28mm, and they come tubeless ready. The spokes, at 5.2mm wide, are kept light with a thickness of just 0.9mm while maintaining considerable tensile strength.
The wheels come equipped with Superteam branded hubs featuring ceramic bearings and a 36-tooth ratchet on the rear, offering enhanced engagement points. This level of hub performance is unexpected at this price point among lesser-known wheel brands I’ve ridden over the years.
How Do They Ride?
My initial impression was how comfortable these wheels were to ride. Having experienced all the major brands over the years, as well as being some of the lowest priced carbon wheels available, these definitely rank high in terms of comfort and ride quality. After many kilometres on fairly rough roads, they proved to be very compliant.
Over three months of riding on rough roads, I haven’t encountered a single issue with them. They haven’t creaked, buckled, or shown any major signs of wear. Superteam backs the wheelset with robust support, offering a 3-year warranty on the rims and a 1-year warranty covering the lightweight hubs and spokes.
Cornering
Navigating tight bends or descending challenging gradients, these wheels felt agile and nimble. Thanks to the 36 points of engagement on the rear hub, accelerating out of corners is quick. Overall, the wheels feel very fast, both entering and exiting corners.
Comfort
Switching from a $3,000 set of wheels to these, I was curious about how they would compare in terms of comfort. These wheels held their own, proving to be super comfortable and rolling smoothly on the roads.
Weight
At just 1385g for the set, these wheels were impressively light. ‘The wheels make the bike’, as we often hear, and these have truly transformed my steed.
Summing Up
Retailing at $1,475 for the set, the S-ALL Carbon Ultra wheelset is priced considerably lower than most competitors in the category. For the budget-conscious rider – and that’s almost all of us at the moment – these wheels are a no-brainer.
Reader Discount: To Save On Superteam Wheels Visit The Website And Use Discount Code BCA5 – More At www.superteamwheels.com
Specifications
Rim Depth: 50mm
Rim Width: 28mm
Weight: 1385g (±30g)
Bearings: Ceramic Bearings
Spokes: Aero-52 carbon spoke (3.4g/root)
Price: AUD $1,475
