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Many riders are always very torn when upgrading their wheels, always hesitating between choosing a carbon wheel and an aluminum wheel. And surely, it needs consideration.
What are the differences between carbon fiber wheels and aluminum wheels? In this article, the author will show you the carbon fiber vs. aluminum wheel: how different they are!
Carbon fiber vs. aluminum wheel: price
The first comparison between carbon fiber vs. aluminum wheel is price.
Generally, a pair of carbon fiber wheels is priced at about $200-700, while if it is some big brand wheels, the price range will be in the $1000-2000.
And there are more expensive and high-end styles, the price can reach $4000-6000 a pair, such as German brand Lightweight.
The price range for aluminum wheels is $100-1000, which means that the most expensive aluminum wheels are cheaper than the famous carbon wheels.
Carbon fiber vs. aluminum wheel: appearance
The second comparison between carbon fiber vs. aluminum wheel is appearance.
The appearance of carbon wheels is undoubtedly very good-looking, with all-black high frame rims looking very fast, while the brake side of aluminum wheels will be slowly worn off even after adding paint or layers.
Carbon fiber vs. aluminum wheel: weight
The third comparison between carbon fiber vs. aluminum wheel is weight.
An entry-level aluminum wheel can often weigh more than 2kg (the kind that comes on some bikes), while a high-performance carbon wheel weighs half that or even less.
And some of the pursuit of ultimate Lightweight manufacturers, but also carbon fiber wheels to make it even lighter.
Lighter wheels (mainly rims) make the car accelerate more lightly, and its benefits can be found in lap races or climbing attacks.
Although it seems to be only a few hundred grams lighter, the difference in riding is still very obvious.
Carbon fiber vs. aluminum wheel: aerodynamic
The fourth comparison between carbon fiber vs. aluminum wheel is aerodynamic.
One of the biggest benefits of carbon wheels is aerodynamics. The high frame rim can reduce wind resistance when riding, allowing you to ride faster with the same power.
The aluminum frame will become very heavy if it is made into a high frame due to the limitation of the material, so generally the frame height of the aluminum frame will not exceed 40mm at the highest.
At 40 km/h, a pair of carbon fiber wheels with a frame height of 50 mm can be 30 seconds faster than a low frame aluminum frame.
This may not make a difference for low-speed casual riders, but in a race or long-distance ride, the difference is very big.
Carbon fiber vs. aluminum wheel: brakes
The fifth comparison between carbon fiber vs. aluminum wheel is brakes.
In terms of braking, carbon wheels actually have a disadvantage.
Aluminum wheels are better than carbon wheels in terms of braking power and heat dissipation, which is magnified exponentially in wet conditions such as rain.
In fact, some people have tested that the braking performance of aluminum wheels with rim brakes is only slightly worse than disc brakes and far better than carbon wheels with rim brakes.
While rim brakes can also cause wear problems, the brake side of an aluminum wheel not only wears more slowly, but the cost of replacing the rim or the entire wheel is also lower than that of a carbon rim.
In addition, for heavy riders or those who press the brakes incorrectly on long descents (or simply because of the poor quality of the rim).
Carbon wheels can suffer from “burned frames”, where the resin on the rim melts due to overheating and the carbon fiber of the rim becomes delaminated or deformed.
However, if you switch to disc brakes, the rim material will not affect the braking performance at all, because the braking force will come from the discs, and you don’t have to worry about wear and tear.
Carbon fiber vs. aluminum wheel: wind resistance
The sixth comparison between carbon fiber vs. aluminum wheel is wind resistance.
In fact, those who have ridden high-frame carbon wheels know that the effect is not too big, especially if you use the popular “fat ring”.
However, for riders who are particularly light, the impact will be greater, so generally these riders will choose a lower frame carbon wheel to reduce the impact of crosswind while ensuring a certain aerodynamic gain.
Carbon fiber vs. aluminum wheel: rigidity
The final comparison between carbon fiber vs. aluminum wheel is rigidity.
The rigidity of a wheel is a very important performance indicator. No one wants a wheel that feels like a sponge when you step on it or keeps rubbing the brakes when you shake the bike.
A rigid wheel is also more reassuring when cornering, and durability is often better.
In fact, both carbon and aluminum wheels can be made very rigid, depending on the manufacturer’s design and the level of wheel weaving, but under the same conditions, aluminum wheels will be slightly heavier.
Final words
Are you riding a carbon wheel or an aluminum wheel? Do you know more about this issue? Talk with us!
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