Zipp had to think outside of the carbon box in order to remedy the problems that have long plagued carbon fiber clinchers. Luckily, the Firecrest rim shape was born, and the result is an innovative design that can withstand the detrimental heat of braking while retaining the speed and strength necessary for victory in the cobbled classics. The Zipp Firecrest 303 Carbon Clincher Wheels have proven themselves to be the high-watermark in wheel technology and a total game-changer for how you'll ride in the future.A number of components went into making the Firecrest 303 Carbon Clincher the strongest and fastest clincher in the Zipp arsenal of 'Speed Weaponry.' First is the Multi-Material Co-Moulding process that permanently fuses a sub-200-gram aluminum hoop to a dimpled carbon structure that acts as a leaf spring for road vibration and impacts. The next step in the process is the implementation of VCLC, which involves the insertion of a visco-elastic material between carbon laminates in the rim, which delivers a ten percent reduction in road vibration. When it came to carbon resin, Zipp faced obstacles in relation to applied heat. It found that clincher rims handle all of the air pressure along with the tire, resulting in catastrophic failure when over-heated. Part of the solution came from the development of the Firecrest Clincher rim shape, and the other came out of an exclusive deal with a Formula One carbon resin manufacturer. Together, they worked out a new resin that improves heat dissipation enough to pass European safety testing.Zipp's Firecrest design is steeped in a wider-is-better ideology. Zipp found that a wider rim offers greater vertical and lateral compliance for increased control, comfort, and rigidity. For the clincher, they found that distancing the hook beads further apart allowed the tire to take on a more stable shape without adding rolling resistance.
- Includes 1 Set of Platinum Pro Pads
- Designed for spring classics, cyclocross, hilly courses, and all-around road racing
- 45mm Deep, 28.5mm wide Firecrest profile is the latest generation in aero shapes
- Firecrest allows more stability and cleaner airflow as air leaves the back half of the wheel
- Carbon Bridge on the top of the rim distributes square edge impacts across a Kevlar capstone