Enve SES 4.5 vs Princeton Carbon Works Dual 5550 vs Zipp 404 Firecrest

Enve SES 4.5 vs Princeton Carbon Works Dual 5550 vs Zipp 404 Firecrest - Test, Review, Comparison.

Рет қаралды 17,252

Күн бұрын

I finally have enough miles on the wheels to do a full review and comparison.
The review starts with the Princeton Carbon Works Dual 5550, then moves to the Zipp 404 Firecrest, and concludes with the Enve SES 4.5.

Пікірлер: 63

@charlesmansplaining Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you made that point about the alignment issues with the Tune hubs. I was getting ready to buy one for a front wheel rebuild.

@lawrenceng7626 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your review, I look forward to riding my Enve 4.5's soon.

@beyond8981 Жыл бұрын

I really enjoyed your review - was nice to watch something where I felt confident it wasn't a marketing video. Please keep producing great content like this - amateur enthusiasts like me need more unbiased reviews like this - thank you!

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Will do!

@sraihan9101 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this comparison review! Surely it helps me for my new purchase

@duffyrides Жыл бұрын

I own the Princeton Carbon Works Peak 4550 and find them to be amazing all around wheels. Not to mention they climb amazingly well !

@wsbygt Жыл бұрын

Thank you, I´m considering the SES 4.5!

@piglegluckson9156 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your experience 😊 🙏

@happydays8171 Жыл бұрын

I bought a 17 Cervelo P5X with ENVE 7.8 SES disc rims, DT Swiss 240 hubs a couple years ago, and those rims go, everything this guy said. The only thing Zipp does differently than ENVE is they buy the best tires made and inflate them till they blow off the rim (some go to 400 psi) to make sure your tire goes before their rim fails. So in my experience Zipps feel heavy, a little sluggish going into turns, but I'm 210 lbs, like you Robert, so I know they are bulletproof and feel safe on them.

@rayF4rio Жыл бұрын

Great review. Thanks!

@alexandergeorgeson7116 11 ай бұрын

Spot on with the zipp 404 and larger tires.

@rudysfarinas3613 Жыл бұрын

Awesome videos

@cyberx7098 3 ай бұрын

Great comparison video on these three wheelsets. How does the SES 4.5 compare to the Zipp 454 NSW? I am also curious how the SES 4.5 would compare to the Princeton Peak 4550 with the Tactics TR01 hubs?

@utahcanyoncycling 3 ай бұрын

In my opinion the 4.5 are the best. The 454 accelerate a little quicker, but the 4.5 are faster over all, and to use a cliche, hold their speed better. The 4.5 also have a better hub than the 454. The 4550 are well made wheels, but are sluggish and bland. The tactic hubs lower the overall weight, but have little affect on how the wheel feels since the rim weight makes a bigger difference there and the princeton rims are quite heavy compared to the other options.

@adrianmagalas4954 8 күн бұрын

Great vid. Thanks! I’m keen on Enve rims. 4.5 or the 3.4. Unsure yet which. How would the Enve wheels ride with a 32mm tyre? I’m not so interested in aero as I am comfort for long miles and lots of climbs (like gran fondo or audax rides). I run a 32mm tyre on a 21mm internal rim at moment. What would the difference be with the 25mm internal width Enve?

@asifjilani9798 Жыл бұрын

I have a set of 4.5ARs and love them. But I’m with you on the rim tape issues. I just re-taped using Muc Off brand rim tape (in 30mm width btw) and so far so good. However, as you pointed out, it’s hard to get the tape (I think any brand of tape TBH) to sit down in the channel w/out wrinkles. I have found it’s important to get the tape down in the channel to ease tire installation. Curious if you have any tips/tricks to get the best results taping the rims. I also learned about the tape tearing at the valve stem when I had originally installed the tape with too much tension.

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

Yes, the taping seems to be a common complaint. I just wish Enve would ship them tapped. I don't have any special tips, but if I learn any then I'll certainly share it next time I re-tape my rims.

@jwess1234 Жыл бұрын

Have you ridden the Enve 2.3? How do they compare under acceleration on climbs and also holding 18-20mph on flats?

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

I haven't ridden the new 2.3, I'm hoping to try a pair this summer. Based on wheels I've tried in the past though, I'd expect the 2.3 to accelerate quickly on climbs with their low weight, but not give the extra 1-2mph boost on the flat that you might get with a deeper 50mm wheel.

@Timmeh2Buck Жыл бұрын

What controls were in place for your testing? Same tires, bikes, tire width to external rim width, optimal pressure, etc?

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

I used the same 28mm tubeless tires at 65psi front / 68psi rear on all of the wheelsets (each manufacture claims their wheels are optimized for a 28mm tire). All of the wheels were tested on my personal Scott Addict RC. Zipp external width is 27.5mm, internal width 23mm. PCW external width is 29mm, internal 22mm. ENVE external width is 32mm, internal 25mm. Hope that helps!

@Timmeh2Buck Жыл бұрын

@@utahcanyoncycling Thanks for the info!

@wss327 Жыл бұрын

great review, thanks for the information. I am considering a set of Enve SES 4.5 but this tape thing... It would have been nice if Enve mounted the tape at the factory. Have you ever tried a set of Campag Ultra WTOs?

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

Agree 100% about the tape. I haven’t tried the Ultra WTOs, but I really want to. I’ve overheard that the WTO roll very smoothly, but that they aren’t the fastest or most stable. I don’t know if that is true or not though!

@wss327 Жыл бұрын

@@utahcanyoncycling I have the regular WTO 45’s and the cup & cone is so smooth but a bit shaky on the cross winds. I am now considering to get either a set of Bora Ultra 60 or the Enve SES 4.5. I am in EU so Bora Ultra is easy to get and ok priced but the Enve. Expensive and hard to find.

@AndrewCJXing Жыл бұрын

Great video! I just wonder how pcw 6560 and zipp nsw 454 would perform against enve 4.5 or 6.7. Looking forward to your future content.

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

Thank you! I’d also like to compare those wheel sets in the future if I can get my hands on them.

@simonwarmer8777 2 ай бұрын

Good review, thanks! I see you ride galfer rotors. So do I on my 4.5’s 140 in the front and back (Holland/flat). Do you know how they hold up in the mountains?

@utahcanyoncycling 2 ай бұрын

I use 160F/140R. They do well on most of the bigger downhills, but they can start to fade after aggressive braking on very steep hairpin sections (around -15% to -20%). It happens infrequently enough that I keep using them. The new Shimano CL rotors, though heavier, do seem to be a pretty good alternative that don't experience the same fade.

@simonwarmer8777 2 ай бұрын

@@utahcanyoncycling great! Thanks for sharing your experience

@wecycleshop Жыл бұрын

Waiting for my new 4.5 w DT180 hubs. What spokes are you running? What is the overall weight?

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

I'm using Sapim CX Ray spokes and the required ENVE brass internal nipples. With rim tape mine weigh 1410g.

@wecycleshop Жыл бұрын

@@utahcanyoncycling that’s what I’m going with as well. Looking forward to it! I’ve been on the 3.4AR with Chris King ceramic hubs for a few seasons. Time for change

@eikm31 Жыл бұрын

If you would have to choose between zipp 353 nsw or the enve's 4.5 which would you pick ? thank you

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

Tough call. The 353 climb really well, but the 4.5 are stiffer and faster. Depending on where you live and what type of riding you do will determine which set is best for you. I personally prefer the 4.5 on most occasions, except when doing super long and very steep climbs where I enjoy the 353 more.

@user-cu7cn1km7i Жыл бұрын

Hi Utah Cycling. I ride roads in north Texas on a Pinarello endurance bike. We have huge winds here, 15 to 22 mph is common. I’m currently running zip 303S, it’s a outstanding wheel, except in the cross winds. I’m a light rider at 150 pounds and ride about 800 miles a month. I’m looking for a different wheel that will be more stable in the cross wins. Do you have any feedback on the zip 303 fire crest? Also just starting the research on the enve 4.5, how do you think they would perform in my crosswinds. We have rolling, terrain here. The zip 303S has been a great wheel for my rough roads, impossible to knock out a true. Can you give me some feedback on the Enve and zip 404. How do you think they would perform with cross winds and rough roads. I currently run continental STR 30 mm for a smooth ride. Thanks again for a great video.

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

Hi! We often have similar wind speeds so hopefully I can help you out. The 303 FC (40mm deep) is definitely better in cross winds than the 303S. The 4.5 are much faster than the 303FC and faster than the 303S. Stability wise the 4.5 are great and better than the 303S, but the 303FC will still be the most stable. The zipp 404FC are similar in stability to the 303S. You mentioned using 30mm tires, with tires of that size I would not recommend the 404. You could consider the 3.4 wheels which will be more stable, like the 303FC, but have a better tire to rim interface with a 30mm tire, plus the 3.4 will be a bit faster than the 303FC.

@user-cu7cn1km7i Жыл бұрын

@@utahcanyoncycling Thank you so much for your advice. I’ve got it down to two choices now, 303FC and the enve 3.4. The 3.4 is about $800 more expensive and just trying to figure out if it’s worth the extra money.

@user-cu7cn1km7i Жыл бұрын

I bought the Enve 4.5. Wow! Super fast and great wind stability. First ride out of the box set my PR on my 50 course. Thanks again for the advice.

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

@@user-cu7cn1km7i Of course! Glad you are liking the new wheels.

@ucdescents Жыл бұрын

You should do a few test runs and post the average run time for each wheelset

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

I agree. I'm currently trying to draft the most repeatable test methods to more accurately capture differences between wheels, but it's pretty hard attempting to eliminate all human and other variables.

@TerjeRiisnaes 2 ай бұрын

Great video! It would be interesting to see a comparison between Enve 4.5 and Enve 45 (SES vs Foundation in other words)

@utahcanyoncycling 2 ай бұрын

If price is a factor, stick to your budget. If price is not a factor, I much prefer the 4.5s, as long as you are happy to run 29mm tires (or bigger). The 4.5 are more stable, accelerate better, and slightly faster.

@BikeronaTrek Жыл бұрын

I am interested in upgrading my wheels. I have ZIPP 303s wheels now. These are nice, but I want to go with a deeper rim profile. I really like the polished look of the ENVE wheels. The ZIPP wheels have a flatter finish, and I'm not wild that they use sticker decals. I weigh 200 lbs, so I also need to run 28 mm wheels. I know this is being anal, but these wheels are a little pricey, so i'm being picky. Thanks for the review. I guess I'll try to get the ENVE's.

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

The Enve’s also use stickers, which I think is cheap, but it does give you the option to color match your bike using their custom decal builder.

@noels8817 Жыл бұрын

What's the experience with hookless rims. Are they safe, in a blowout, like will there be a possibility of the tire coming off - with no hooks to keep them in the rim?

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

If you understand the rim/tire/psi combination requirements then they are safe, if you don't follow the instructions then you could be at risk of a failure. I've never had any issues, but I can't speak for others' experiences. I always follow the guidelines.

@normanderson01 Жыл бұрын

Would love to see a test video of the Reserve 40/45s

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

I'd like to test those ones too. I don't have the budget for more wheels right now, but maybe I can convince a local shop to let me borrow a pair for a few weeks.

@normanderson01 Жыл бұрын

@@utahcanyoncycling or you could borrow mine! 👍

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

@@normanderson01 send me an email at utahcanyoncycling@gmail maybe we can work something out!

@spartanbike2260 Жыл бұрын

princeton wheel are gimmicks i have not see any third party test to validate princeton aero claims. the top aero wheelset is the dtswiss 1100

@mgrant6607 Жыл бұрын

I have the Princeton Grit 4550 (DT180) and they are impervious to cross winds. Hmm.

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

The Girt 4550 are wider externally (30mm) and narrower internally (21mm) than the 5550. Yours also have a bit shallower rim depth. I wonder if that combination is helping with the stability? I wouldn’t be too surprised. Thanks for sharing!

@simonirvine1628 6 ай бұрын

Do you really know the real reason why deep section wheels were introduced into road racing and where their major benefit is within a race. That's one for you to think about, I look forward to your answer and lets see if you get it right. Peace

@brasso9393 Жыл бұрын

You still can get away with gp5000STR 28mm tire at the front of the Zipp 404 as it is a tad narrower than other brand’s 28mm tires

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

Yes, you can definitely use a 28mm on the 404. In my opinion it is not as good though. Since Zipp’s rims are only 27.5mm externally a 28mm tire (29mm WAM) will negatively affect the airflow onto/around the rim. That said, safety is most important and you should definitely use a 28mm and a safe psi if required.

@brasso9393 Жыл бұрын

@@utahcanyoncycling alot of other brand rims are 21mm internal width and already recommended 28c tires. This 404 has internal width of 23mm and yes Zipp recommended 25/26c tires for it but not all 28c tires measure equally. The STR tire are narrower compare to many other brands out there like Vittoria, Pirelli etc and it sit very flush on the 404 rim without disrupting the 105% rule.

@DDGB08 11 ай бұрын

😊

@tsuiwingkin2955 Жыл бұрын

I think your evaluation is a bit wrong because Princeton only makes wheels and not Hubs. Hubs is one of the reasons that affect the wheels.

@utahcanyoncycling Жыл бұрын

Princeton does make hubs, the Tactic hubs are made by Princeton. The wheels I rode have Tune hubs which are not made by Princeton. I explained in the video that if you pick any of the other hub options PCW offers with their wheels like the Tactic, DT Swiss, Carbon Ti etc that you won't have the alignment issues that showed up with the Tune hubs. That said, the hubs only played a minor part of the review, the real issue was the heavy, not as aero rims which contributed to a lackluster experience. Your opinion may be different and that's okay, but I did not find the PCW to be as good as the other wheel sets tested.