Description
Unveiling the Zipp 353 NSW Tubeless Disc Wheelset
There are few things more beautiful in our eyes than when a seriously lightweight pair of wheels can be ridden super hard over all sorts of paved and gravel terrains and still come away begging for more. The Zipp 353 NSW Tubeless Disc wheelset have a weight that screams WorldTour exclusivity and a versatility that will make them your obvious choice for rides ranging from 100 mile gran fondos to mix surface explorations on your gravel bike.
The beauty of the 353 NSW Tubeless wheels for disc brakes is that they take the best of the 303 Firecrest and the 454 NSW and mold them into a perfect pair of mid-profile wheels. Your first question to yourself will be how did they get them so light? At 1255 grams a pair, there are very few brands out there that can make a wheel that light with a pretty deep 45mm profile, especially at this price point! Just for comparison, the 303 Firecrest Tubeless Disc wheels have a 40mm rim depth and weigh 1352 grams. And that’s already pretty impressive.
Hookless Rim Technology used in the 353 NSW Tubeless Disc
A lot of the overall improvement comes thanks to the hookless rim design that has been perfected and applied to the 353 NSW Tubeless Disc. This has several benefits since the hookless design allows for a more efficient resin distribution during production, which means lighter, stronger wheels. Hookless rims, which use flat rim walls that do not curve to grab a tire bead, enhance the aero advantage as well. With the rims 25mm internal width paired with tubeless tires that are at least 25mm wide, the transition between the tire and the rim is nearly seamless which reduces drag. It’s an integral part of what Zipp calls their TSE or Total System Efficiency. Not looking at one aspect over another, the TSE approach considers ways to overcome wind resistance, gravity, rolling resistance, and vibration losses in order to make the rider as fast as possible.
The 353 NSW Tubeless Disc wheels also enjoy the benefits of the re-engineered Cognition V2 Hubset. By updating the Axial Clutch V2 mechanism for quicker engagement, lower friction, and improved durability, the wheels roll so much more smoothly and engage way faster, enhancing the already impressive snappiness of the already super lightweight wheels. That’s thanks to the design where the freehub ratchet mechanism disengages completely when coasting, so that there is no unwanted internal drag between the hub shell and the driver body. Then once you start pedaling again, the wave spring of the AxialClutch V2 instantly re-engages.
If you are looking to upgrade your racing bike or perhaps have some big riding goals for the summer, the Zipp 353 NSW Tubeless Disc wheelset can be a durable, featherlight addition for all types of terrains. They come with a lifetime warranty and are sold with XDR or SRAM/Shimano driver bodies, though if you prefer to ride with Campy, the Campagnolo driver body is sold separately.
Be sure to check also all of our road bikes.