When reaction, speed, stability and balance are your strict requirements for an endurance road disc brake wheel, you need to move the 303 Firecrest Tubeless Disc Brake Rear Wheel to the top of the list. In a change from past experience and having long proved the windtunnel and computer testing values of the Firecrest design, the engineers sought to combine aero analysis with the larger tires sizes and lower pressures associated with disc brakes and tubeless tires, respectively, by performing hours of tests on the road, in real world scenarios. So you still get the Firecrest features of comfort, incredible handling and stability with the ABLC 303-specific dimple-aerodynamic design, but in a wider, more capable rim, with a hookless tubeless bed and profile shape that is aero-optimized for 28-30mm tires and lower pressures. The 303 Firecrest Tubeless Disc becomes the weapon of choice for high mileage and effort over pure pavement or on variable terrain often found in long training rides or the gran fondo scene. As a set, the wheels weigh in 300 grams under the previous design, and this rear wheel with a 40mm depth is incredibly capable at a mere 739 grams.

The key to the updated Firecrest is actually just an advancement to a wider structure and more bulbous tire to rim shape, which of course is very similar to the original version, but substantially wider. With a hookless tubeless rim system the 25mm internal width seems even wider, freeing the restriction on how the tire reacts to air pressure, and the 30mm max external width creates the optimal aero shape for 28-30mm tires, even at low pressure. The set-up is fast, super stable, resilient to road chatter and strong. Zipp engineered the new hookless tubeless system as Tubeless Made Easy, as with most Tubeless Ready tires, you will not need tools to install or remove the tire, nor will you need a compressor to seat and seal the tire to the rim edge. The concept is simple, the engineering was difficult, but the rim edge is incredibly strong and highly reliable.

As part of the update a new disc brake hub was sourced from Germany, and while the front hub is in general a simple component, with all the fancy bits on the rear, the ZR1 Center Lock disc brake hub is fast, smooth, and has an advanced seal system protecting the bearings for improved durability. The rear hub has a 12/142mm thru-axle endcap set-up that is adaptable and an incredibly quick response with 66 points of sure engagement. The symmetric rim is laced to the hub in a 2x/2x pattern via 24 high-tensile, fatigue-resistant 18/8 stainless steel Sapim CX-Sprint j-bend spokes, which have become widely used and highly regarded for managing tension and hub-based disc brake forces. The CX-Sprint has a slight blade shape and butting that helps to defeat road vibration and protects the rim from potential damage from unavoidable impacts. In other words, these are the perfect spokes for a disc brake endurance road, carbon rim equipped wheel.

Zipp includes the tubeless valve and tubeless tape, along with a Center Lock locking. These rims are not designed for clincher tires however, if you need to deal with a roadside issue you can run a tube in your tubeless tire. The tubeless tire pressure range runs from 45-70psi, and user range is determined by a combination of tire size and rider weight. Zipp features a detailed chart of this to maximize the potential of the aero and tubeless features, but also to prevent rim damage. If you seek incredible tubeless performance in a premium all-around front disc brake road wheel, the updated 2021 Firecrest Tubeless Disc Brake carries our highest recommendation Return to Top