HED

Jet 6 Plus Black

If you're an advanced enough initiate in your craft to be eyeing 60mm rims, then you probably don't need us to extol the virtues of the magic feeling aerodynamic wheels like HED's Jet 6 Plus Black bestow at speed. You're probably also familiar with the negative qualities of braking that tend to afflict deep carbon rims, and this is where we — or more precisely, the Jet 6 Plus Black wheels — can educate you.

Instead of dodgy, screaming carbon brake tracks, the Jet 6 Black rims feature a specially machined and anodized alloy surface that HED calls Turbine Braking Technology. This surface nets claimed reductions in stopping distance of 25% and 70% in dry and wet conditions, respectively, and a 5x increase in braking consistency. Keeping in mind that this is in comparison to aluminum rims, not carbon, it's safe to assume that the Jet 6 Black wheels provide the most consistent braking in their category. We suspect that HED's unwillingness to divulge the secrets behind those gains might have less to do with the fact that it's jealously-guarded proprietary technology and more to do with the fact that it's some sort of black magic. Maybe.

But you're here primarily for speed, not stopping, and HED also knows that faster speeds require a heightened sense of control that's often at odds with wheels of this depth. HED's Stability Control Technology (SCT), which reduces force put on the wheels by side winds at 0-15 degree yaw angles. This makes the Jet 6's 60mm depth handle with the intuitive predictability of a 30 or 40mm deep wheel with a true NACA airfoil cross section when the wind gets unruly.

The rims' aerodynamic savings are compounded by a reduction in the rolling resistance because of the Jet 6's 25mm wide C2 rims. C2 rims increase the tire's volume and contact patch for lower rolling resistance, more grip in corners, and a more vertically-oriented side wall that is better able to deform around irregularities in the road surface — all of which translates to being able to run a lower PSI for increased comfort without sacrificing efficiency. The tire shape also means the transition air makes from the edge of the tread to the end of the rim is smoother, resulting in still less aerodynamic drag.

The Sonic Black hubs are virtually the same as the previous Sonic models, running ABEC5 bearings on oversized axles with wide flanges for a stiff, lateral bracing angle for more efficient power transfer. Both quick-release skewers have titanium shafts, and the ratchet ring in the rear hub is also titanium.

Please note that HED suggests using brand new brake pads with the Jet 6 Plus Black wheels. The same metal shavings that hide out in used pads and tend to destroy carbon wheels may also damage the Black rims' finish.