Replacement road wheels

Diameter and spacing: measurements that matter

Almost all road bikes use rims with a six hundred and twenty-two millimetre diameter at the tyre seat, the old designation seven hundred C. The real difference is in the spacing of the hubs: one hundred millimetres at the front, one hundred and thirty at the back for a bike with quick-release brakes, one hundred and thirty-five for a disc brake bike with quick-release, and one hundred and forty-two at the back with a thru axle of twelve millimetres. A wheel with the wrong spacing will not fit or will strain the frame's dropouts. You measure between the dropouts, or rely on the bike's technical specifications.

The other parts

Wheels and spare parts are also available:

• Gravel Wheels.
• MTB Wheels.
• Rims.
• Hubs.
• Freehub Body.
• Thru Axles.
• Wheel Locking Mechanisms.

All parts are gathered on the wheels page.

Center Lock Disc or six-bolt, pads and braking surface

The braking system fixes the type of wheel. A wheel for pads has a machined braking surface on the rim side; in carbon, it requires specific pads, otherwise overheating may occur on long descents. A wheel for discs receives the rotor on its hub, according to two standards: the Center Lock, with notches and a locking nut, and the six-bolt attachment. An adapter allows a six-bolt disc to be mounted on a Center Lock hub, never the other way around. The diameter of the disc, one hundred and forty or one hundred and sixty millimetres, depends on the caliper and the frame.

Internal width, hooks and tyre pressure

The internal width of the rim determines the usable tyres: around nineteen millimetres, you can fit twenty-five; at twenty-one or twenty-three millimetres, tyres of twenty-eight to thirty-two millimetres take on a rounder and more stable profile. Hookless rims, without hooks, impose tyres approved for this setup and a maximum pressure of five bars, while a hooked rim can tolerate more. Finally, the freehub body must accommodate its cassette: Shimano HG, SRAM XDR or Campagnolo, depending on the drivetrain. On many hubs, it can be changed without replacing the wheel.

Good deals

Great deals can also be found in the good deals, promotions, clearance, sales, Black Friday. The new arrivals showcase the latest collections, and items shipped within 24h are prepared and sent in 24 hours. The year's highlights follow a stable pattern: the Black Friday at the end of autumn, the year-end holidays, the winter sales, the French Days in spring, followed by summer sales and back-to-school season.

Frequently asked questions

Aluminium or carbon wheels for road bikes?

Aluminium remains robust, affordable and tolerant on rough roads, ideal for training. Carbon allows for taller and lighter rims with equal stiffness, geared towards speed, but requires more care, especially with rim brakes.

What rim height should I choose for mountain riding?

In the mountains, a low or medium rim, twenty-five to forty millimetres, keeps the wheel light and less sensitive to side gusts. Profiles of fifty millimetres and above are mainly justified on flat terrain and in triathlon.

How can I tell if my wheels are tubeless compatible?

The rim bears the tubeless or tubeless ready label and has an appropriate bead profile. You then need a waterproof rim tape, tubeless valves, compatible tyres and sealant to successfully set it up.

What tyres should I fit on road wheels?

Look at the ETRTO marking on the tyre, for example twenty-eight for six hundred and twenty-two, and check that it matches the internal rim width and the frame's clearance. Most recent bikes accept twenty-eight millimetres.

Should I change both wheels at the same time?

It's not mandatory, but a matched pair ensures the same rim width, thus a consistent handling of the tyres at the front and back. Road wheels are usually sold in pairs anyway.