Zipp 303 XPLR S Gravel Wheelset & Goodyear XPLR Inter 45mm Combo
As I was recently looking for an upgrade to the stock wheelset on my GT Grade, I was compelled to try Zipp’s new wheelset that they were touting as the newest, fastest, best gravel wheelset out there. At a little less than $2500AU with tyres, this carbon wheelset is quite a deal and packs a hell of a punch.
THE WHEELS
Zipp 303 XPLR S Wheelset - This wheelset is designed specifically for gravel riding and racing. With a lightweight combination of rim hubs and spokes, these wheels offer impressive acceleration and stability, making them perfect for both fast, smooth paths and rough trails where traction is needed. The wide (32mm!!) internal rim profile allows for bigger tyre volume and a bigger contact patch, enhancing traction and control, especially when navigating the rocky sections, roots, or super steep climbs & descents.
The rims are the heroes here, at least where I felt the biggest difference. With a rim depth of 54mm, they aren’t the typical rim you’d expect on a compliant wheelset for offroading – conventional thinking has us thinking the opposite. But the compliance here comes with the tyre volume & the internal width of the rim, not the rim flex, or perceived rim flex that might be what we have thought a few generations ago. The depth of the rim, combined with a wider rim and tyre that is oh-so-slightly narrower than the rim gives us the magical 105% combination that hits the sweet spot for aerodynamics. If you have not watched the must-see video on this, take a few minutes and check it out here. This makes the wheels faster in the headwind, on the flats, out in front of your group. It adds up and it’s noticeable. So when you put together the improvements in rolling resistance with the bigger tyre volume, lower pressures and wider tread for better traction and cornering, and the aerodynamic combination of rim and tyre, you get a formidable wheelset and a performance boost over almost any other wheelset that I’ve encountered.
Hookless Bead - these rims are also hookless, meaning there is no "hook" on the inside lip of the rim for tyre bead retention. This means the tyre/rim combo needs to be carefully chosen, and the tyres must be tested to a very high standard, plus you have to be very careful with max tyre pressures. It may seem like a lot, but if you stick to the approved list of tyres, and use a pressure gauge (which you should already be using) you'll be fine.
The wheelset retails for $2150 and weighs in at 1620g/pair without rotors, tyres, or cassette. Zipp also offers a lighter version of these wheels (1450g/pair) called the 303 XPLR SW
Note for Big Guys! For you heavier riders who are looking for a wheelset that can hold over 100kg – and there not very many out there – these can handle 135kg full rider & system weight and still be covered by warranty.
THE TYRES
At the writing of this review, Zipp only has a short list of tyres that are approved & tested for the wide-body hookless XPLR wheels, two models from Goodyear (the Slick & Inter) or a few new gravel tyres from Schwalbe. The list is small, yes, but the choices cover most riding requirements for most riders. I’m sure that the list will expand with time, but for the meantime, for a wide range of paved & unpaved rides, with a decent dose of sand & singletrack, I chose the Inter 45. This tyre was the closest to my personal favorite, the WTB Riddler TLE in 37 width, which gives low rolling resistance from a tightly-packed small center section of knobs, and a generous bigger knob section on the edges. On the Riddler, I can climb a 22% gradient with loose gravel and maintain traction, but also speed along in a paceline on road or gravel at 30km/hr just as easily (when the wind allows it). The Inter did deliver a similar ride feel and speed, but with the increased width of the 45 and bigger rim width, gave more traction and comfort through the bumps than I was expecting. I’d happily either of the recommended Goodyear models based on rider’s choice of terrain and speed they were after. The wider tyre was concerning at first, “might as well be a narrow 29r mountain bike tyre!” was heard once or twice. I didn’t find that them slower by any means, and actually found my overall setup faster overall. If you listen to the top ten riders in USA’s Unbound gravel race, the tech is changing fast at the competitive end of the spectrum, and they are almost universally saying that you can’t go wide enough. That’s a very controversial concept, but the results don’t lie. They’re finding that reduced punctures, increased bump absorption, better traction and other factors need to be considered as well.
Tubeless - My wheels were also set up tubeless and I played with the pressure a bit to get it right. 27psi gave me a bit more speed, I felt, but it slide around a bit more in the loose. 24psi and I felt the gentle rim impact on a few sets of steps and sharp roots. I settled around 25/26 for my 80kg frame, and with a bike that has a little vertical give in the system. You should always play with the pressures to get it right for you and your terrain, but I doubt you'll be much more than a couple psi either way from mine.
CONCLUSION
There are a few dirt roads that climb into the Dandenongs from Ferntree Gully Rd (alongside Thousand Steps) that challenge your ability to keep moving forward with steep and loose gradients; no problem for these puppies. Sandy trails alongside the train tracks between Carrum & Frankston? No speed loss, no two-wheel slides, just precision traction and efficiency with lightning-fast accelerations out of the corners. Loose, fast descents where an unexpected off-camber curve or corner can catch you out? point & shoot, and let the big volume and wide contact patch keep you on your chosen line. One of my riding buddies commented that my acceleration out of corners was hard to keep up with and had immediately improved with these wheels, so the weight also plays a big role in performance vs. a lot of stock wheels on most gravel bikes up to $9k. The aerodynamics of the setup also should not be underestimated as I found the hard 10-12 minute efforts along the uninterrupted Ferny Creek Trail with a slight headwind just a little bit easier with these wheels. So for someone wanting a competitive wheelset for events or group rides, but also a light, fast, capable wheelset for all gravel terrains, I’d highly recommend them. I’ve recently acquired a new Cannonndale SuperX gravel racer with narrower rims and I’ve immediately noticed a difference in aerodynamics as well as traction/confidence in loose, fast corners. So I’ll be quietly acquiring another pair of these soon enough.
Zipp 303 S XPLR wheelset – RRP $2150 (1620g/pair)
Goodyear Inter 45c Tyres – $140 (525g each)
