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Description
50mm Profile Meets Minimal Drag for Maximum Speed
Designed for high speed racing environments and modern road plus tire widths, the ULTEGRA WH-R8170 C50 TL wheelset shares the same all-carbon rim profile with its pricier DURA-ACE brethren but employs hub compatibility across both Shimano 12 and 11-speed cassettes.
For situations where aerodynamic performance takes top priority, the new ULTEGRA WH-R8170 C50 wheelset features an all-carbon, 21 mm internal, tubeless compatible rim and a super-fast cup and cone bearing hub that is compatible with both 12 and 11-speed cassettes.
With its focus on reduced drag and high stiffness, the WH-R8170-C50 wheelset is ideal for road racing. The high-profile rims make it possible to put more pressure into the corners, so that every bit of power is converted into forward momentum..
While a sophisticated D2 rim design and 50mm deep profile underline a focus on aerodynamic efficiency, the ultralight hubs keep weight to a minimum while greatly enhancing overall wheel stiffness.
The OPTBAL system emplys a 2:1 spoke ratio, resulting in twice as many spokes on the drivetrain side as on the opposite side. The technology counteracts the unbalanced tension caused by increasing cassette widths on the drive side. The OPTBAL construction balances out this spoke tension increasing the spoke lifetime and creating a much stiffer wheel overall.
The result is an extremely lightweight, ultra-stiff performance-driven road racing wheel.
The new Ultegra carbon disc wheel release consisting of the C36, C50, and C60 wheelsets was created to compliment Shimano's new 12-speed groupset but is conveniently reverse-compatible with Shimano's 11-speed as well, providing maximum flexibility across a wider range of drivetrains.
Features:
FREE Cassette Installation - Order a cassette along with a wheelset and we can install the cassette for free. Cassette installation requires special tools that not all our customers have. The cassette will be professionally installed and torqued to spec. Just add "Please install cassette" to your order notes at checkout and we'll take care of you.
Returns: This product is overweight and/or oversize and does not qualify for our fixed rate return shipping label. If you need to return this item, we can offer a return shipping label at our discounted shipping rates, or you can arrange for your own return shipping.
B-Stock - This product has one or more B-Stock units available. These units can be purchased at a discount (see option select). B-Stock units were returned from other customers and may have missing or damaged packaging materials. These units are otherwise as new. The full manufacturer warranty applies. Click Here for more information.
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Specifications
Axles: Thru-Axle | |
Cassette Type: Shimano 11 | |
Wheel Features: Disc Brake Compatible | |
Tire Compatibility: Clincher - Hooked | |
Brake Compatibility: Disc | |
Wheel Size: 700c | |
Pair - 11/12 speed - 12x100/12x142, Centerlock | Internal Rim Width: 21 mm |
Mfg PartNum: EWHR8170C50LFERED | |
Reviews
What an amazing set of wheels! They are so much fun to ride beause of two factors; one a big surprise.
These are fast as expected for a 50mm wheel and similar to my old WH-7850, also 50mm. BUT these wheels have such great cross-wind control. I can ride with no hands again! A big surprise was how well these wheels corner! They inspire such confidence! They remind me of those stiff Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels with aliuminum spokes that were so good in a criterium. They are a bit firmer riding than most of my wheels: Roval C38, Ksyrium Elite UST Disc with a 22mm rim height, Shimano RS-770 with a 30mm rim height, and the dozens of rim brake Ksyriums I have used in 45 years of racing. BTW-C38s are Terrible in crosswinds, almost as bad as MadFiber wheels.
Overall a very smooth but firm riding wheel.
they're an absolutely phenomenal, unbelievable value.
given they're supposed to have an identical rim profile to the dura-ace wheels used by world tour teams, i assume that the design is aerodynamically sound (this is my first carbon road wheelset, so saying they "feel fast" or stiff or whatever isn't really meaningful).
being compatible with both 11 and 12 speed cassettes is great, aero spokes are a nice feature, and the weight is reasonable for the price.
aesthetically, as someone who appreciates minimalism and doesn't like giant banner-like logos and branding, i love the subtle (in practice almost invisible, unless you're looking for it) logo on the wheels, and the very quiet hubs that don't sound like a kid put a baseball card in his spokes just to be loud.
overall i'd say that at full price they're great wheels with decent value, but if you can get them at a discount then they're really fantastic.
Slices through headwinds and deep enough to sail with quartering tailwinds. Typical bombproof Shimano hubs that are easy to service with conventional tools and no noisy freehub like so many other wheelsets. The quiet freehub allows you to stay stealth before unlashing your sprint.
I was a bit skeptical about these wheels, glad I was wrong. Biggest difference I've experienced upgrading to carbon wheels on a bike. They immediately felt much lighter and faster, and for some reason, more comfortable with bumpy roads (this one may be placebo). Where it shines is at higher speeds, you feel more speed for the same power. Only downside I see is you can't upgrade the free hub to XD, AFAIK.
Money well spent, very happy with purchase.
I love my Shimano WH-8170 C50 Ultegra Wheels. The all black stealth color of carbon and decals looks sexy. Fellow cyclists admire how good my wheels look. But it's not just aesthetics. The wheels are and feel stiff, light, and super smooth. The rear hub is quiet, and the cup-and-cone bearings run so smooth that feel like ceramic. Spokes are bladed but thin. I decided to fit tubeless Contis at low pressure and my rides are most comfortable while road resistance is minimum. My 50 width performs great when cutting through headwind and in group rides, while not affecting much my steering during crosswinds. Also important, this wheelset is remarkably affordable. It is cheaper than other non-brand carbon sets. I was glad BTD had it in stock as soon as they came out in the US market, their price was better than other stores (and I could earn points for future purchases), shipping was fast and trackable, and arrived perfectly in its original packaging. Love them.
I have a variety of wheelsets I ride including Dura Ace C50 Tubulars but this is one is the best. Set-up with 25mm Continental Grand Prix 5000 TT TR tires tubeless (without sealant they holds pressure abut 4 hours) they are by far the fastest in my riding group. Highly recommended in my experience.
