ENVE

SES 4.5 Wheelset with ENVE Hubs - Clincher

ENVE's SES 4.5 Clincher Wheelset with ENVE hubs has stolen our hearts with its ability to sprint, climb, and descend. When they first debuted, we were pleased that ENVE finally plugged the hole between its 3.4 and 5.6 rims with a truly all-purpose profile that funnels inspiration from both sides of the climbing/aerodynamic spectrum to fuel any race day dreams. We're even more excited about them now that they're being laced to the all-new ENVE hub set, which features a full carbon shell — even the flanges — and ceramic bearings for weight savings and industrial-grade smoothness.

Like the rest of the SES line, the 4.5s' rims aren't subjected to fixed, arbitrary NACA widths and shapes. Instead, the engineers let each wheel's depth requirements dictate the ideal dimensions for reducing lateral forces and improving aerodynamics across a wide range of yaw angles. This is evident in everything from the rim's rounded inner face to the position-specific depths and widths of the front and rear rims.

The 4.5 wheels handle crosswinds and gusts with the sure-footed stability of a wheelset with half the depth by building up a side-force equal to the changing angle of the wind. While this sounds like so much marketing fleece, it's verified by a Stability Index, which is an externally developed testing protocol borrowed from the Formula One industry. ENVE remains the only cycling manufacturer with the confidence to measure its wheels by such a demanding metric. To rate a wheelset on this index, the front wheel is subjected to quick changes in wind speed at set yaw angles, and the steering torque of user-correction is then measured. This helped ENVE dial the wheels to handle with intuitive predictability, even in gusty conditions or frequently changing wind angles.

Of course, aerodynamics and handling are meaningless if a wheelset balks at the first sign of less-than-ideal road conditions, so we aren't surprised that ENVE's obsessive engineering carried over into the wheels' materials and layup. ENVE routes the fibers around each hole in a 100% intact design — no post-production cutting, machining, or drilling required. By continuously wrapping the fibers, ENVE adds strength, boosts rigidity, and allows for less material and a lighter rim. The use of a removable bladder also keeps weight down compared to other wheels, so the SES series competes for the highest claimed strength-to-weight ratio on the market.

As the cherry on top of the all-purpose sundae, these SES 4.5 Clinchers are finished with the all-new ENVE carbon hubs, which feature DT Swiss' venerable star ratchet engagement system. Unlike the standard 240s, though, ENVE's carbon hubs are built with CeramicSpeed bearings instead of stainless steel, putting them more on par with DT's top-tier, 180 hubs. The ENVE hubs' weights also compare favorably to the top-end kit, with the carbon hubs weighing 74g (front) and 158g (rear) for a total claimed weight of just 232g — 92g lighter than the 240s.