Zipp have rolled out two of the most important wheel lineup introductions in the company’s three-decade history.
For the first time, from 202 to 808 rim depths, their NSW and Firecrest Disc brake wheels are being purpose built specifically for the new era of road riding of wider tires and multi-surfaces. These disc brake specific dimpled rims are wider for the same weight and tubeless compatible.
The NSW Series
The NSW lineup now includes disc brake wheels featuring a new rim shape and tubeless compatibility. The comprehensive range includes the following –
202 NSW Carbon Clincher Tubeless Disc brake (32mm deep)
303 NSW Carbon Clincher Tubeless Disc brake (45mm deep)
404 NSW Carbon Clincher Tubeless Disc brake (58mm deep)
808 NSW Carbon Clincher Tubeless Disc brake (82mm deep)
The new 303 650b NSW wheels are also now available as Disc-Brake and Tubeless.
Fast, Stable & Extreme Performance
According to Zipp, the NSW Series is all about engineering the fastest, most stable, and highest performance wheels ever realized. “Disc brakes are at the core of the evolution of road cycling and are a natural fit for the NSW series,” said the company.
NSW wheelsets also feature Zipp’s exclusive ImPress graphics technology—which prints graphics directly on the wheel rather than using decals—to help allow the dimples to do what they were design to do, control vortex shedding.
Zipp say this is crucial to achieving the high stability and low-drag combination we call Aero Balance. ImPress graphics also give NSW wheels a distinctive stealthy look. All NSW rims are handmade in Indianapolis, where Zipp’s engineering, manufacturing, and testing are conducted and includes ‘The Nest’ advanced development lab where NSW was born.
Beyond the rim, Zipp say their NSW-exclusive Cognition Disc-brake hubset rolls efficiently whether you are pedaling or coasting. The Axial Clutch technology allows the freehub’s ratcheting mechanism to cut mechanical drag in half compared to conventional three pawl hubs. As robust as it is fast, Zipp say the European-made Cognition hubset is engineered to go the distance.
Each wheel in the range includes –
Zipp Tangente Quick Release Skewer
Zipp individual wheel bag
Zipp Tubeless valve – factory installed
Tubeless rim tape – factory installed
Valve core removal tool
Zipp Cognition thru-axle caps to fit 12×100, 15×100 and 12×142 dropouts
Zipp Cognition oil – for rear hub service
Freehub body spacer – 11 to 10 speed
Firecrest Carbon Clincher Tubeless Disc-Brake wheelsets
The evolution of disc brake-equipped road bikes is creating new pathways for innovation. The result of this evolution is the redesign of Zipp’s Disc-brake wheel lineup to be tubeless compatible with aero and ride benefits from an updated Firecrest rim shape. Zipp is proud to introduce the following –
202 Firecrest Carbon Clincher Tubeless Disc brake
303 650b Firecrest Carbon Clincher Tubeless Disc brake
404 Firecrest Carbon Clincher Tubeless Disc brake
808 Firecrest Carbon Clincher Tubeless Disc brake
These wheelsets follow the release of the 303 Firecrest Carbon Clincher Tubeless Disc brake wheelset. Without the constraints of rim brake caliper compatibility or brake-track requirements, the new Firecrest Carbon Clincher Tubeless Disc-brake wheels offer the increased stopping power and modulation of disc brakes.To maximize the aero performance of the wheels, Zipp’s ABLC dimples extend all the way to the outer edge of the disc-specific rims.
The new wheels are also optimized for wider tires to meet the performance needs of modern riders in search of low rolling resistance and aero efficiency with high comfort. In developing these wheelsets, Zipp engineers examined three different external rim shape concepts, and within each of those shapes, four separate internal widths before selecting the most efficient design.
The new 202 and 303 Firecrest Tubeless Disc-brake wheels have an internal width of 21mm and are aerodynamically optimized for use with 28mm wide tires, while the deeper 404 and 808 Firecrest models have an internal width of 19mm and are aerodynamically optimized for 25mm wide tires. All of this is in addition to Firecrest’s ability to yield low aerodynamic drag and high crosswind stability, a combination we call AeroBalance.
Tubeless Compatible
Designed to be tubeless compatible, the wheels feature a rim bed made with internal ridges to lock the tire’s bead in place, ensuring secure performance even when ridden at lower tire pressures, which makes for more comfort and cornering grip along with a reduced chance for pinch flats. Zipp’s low rolling resistance Tangente RT28 and RT25 Road Tubeless Tires pair well with these wheels.
A new carbon fiber layup for the Indianapolis-made rims keeps weight low while maintaining the Firecrest Carbon Clincher’s proven durability. The robust 77D/177D hubset, paired with 24 Sapim CX-Ray spokes front and rear, keeps the wheels stiff and responsive. To ensure compatibility with any bike, our versatile 77D/177D hubs come with swappable end caps to work with QR’s and thru-axles, including 12x100mm and 15x100mm front thru-axles as well as 12x142mm rear thru-axles. The 177D rear hub is also XDR driver body compatible for use with SRAM 10-42 cassettes.
Each Wheel Includes:
Zipp Tangente Quick Release Skewer
Zipp Tubeless valve – factory installed
Tubeless rim tape – factory installed
Valve core removal tool
Zipp 77D/177D thru-axle caps to fit 12×100, 15×100 and
12×142 dropouts
Freehub body spacer – 11 to 10 speed
SRAM XDR driver body for 177D available separately
For further details visit your nearest Zipp stockist or outlet.