There is undeniably some confusion in today's flurry of advertisements emphasizing stiffness, wheel strength, and promising near cosmic speed after putting on carbon wheels. There is also no escaping the fact that carbon wheels can provide a great riding experience, but choosing the right wheels that meet all the quality requirements is crucial. Otherwise, instead of experiencing better handling characteristics, you may receive disappointment.
We want to dispel any doubts around this topic to help you make a wise choice. Our goal is to provide you with information that will help you understand what wheels you really need, as well as which are the best wheels to choose with a certain budget.
A question we often hear from our customers interested in new wheels concerns the rim material. If carbon fiber has so many advantages, can aluminum wheels compare with it? With a budget in the range of PLN 1500-2500, is it worth betting on high-end aluminum wheels or going for carbon wheels?
High-end aluminum wheels are likely to be significantly better than cheap carbon wheels.
It is common to associate carbon wheels with high quality and durability. Unfortunately, the reality may be less colorful, as good quality carbon wheels are often accompanied by a high price. While low-end carbon wheels priced at £3,000 may seem like an enticing proposition from a budget perspective, they can turn out to be the worst possible option when it comes to long-term use.
You can find many offers of carbon wheels at an affordable price, but built with poor quality components. Rims made of low-grade carbon (carbon fiber) quickly lose their stiffness, resulting in easier wheel unraveling, and thus their overall durability is simply low. Servicing of such wheels must be carried out much more frequently than for quality aluminum or carbon wheels. At the same time, it is worth noting that there are few dealers who offer comprehensive service after purchase.
In any wheels, even those of the best and most well-known brands, there may be a hidden defect that was not detected at the production stage. In such a situation, it is crucial to be able to ask the dealer for help. For unknown manufacturers of carbon wheels, poor availability of spare parts can also be a problem.
If your budget does not allow you to buy high-end carbon wheels, the best choice is to invest in aluminum wheels built with high-quality components.
Well-made aluminum wheels in the price range of PLN 1,500 - 2,500 significantly outperform cheap carbon wheels in terms of quality and performance.
Aluminum wheels
High-quality components-
Quality aluminum rim from a branded manufacturer
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Reliable DT Swiss hubs with high reliability
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Profejsonal wheel building process
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Robust wheels, without the need for frequent servicing
Carbon wheels
Budgeted-
Carbon rim of unknown quality
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Probably lower quality hubs
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More frequent service possible (centering, bearings)
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Unpopular spare parts
Good carbon wheels. What to look out for?
If you want long-term satisfaction with your carbon wheels, it is important that they are professionally assembled with high-quality components. Carbon rims should be made of better quality carbon fiber, such as T800, and incorporate a modern, more aerodynamic rim shape. The use of old-style "v-shape" rims (for road wheels) is discouraged.
Many companies on the market offer own-branded hubs, which may have poorly sealed bodies and bearings. It is the sealing that affects the durability of the hub. Even the best ceramic bearings or a large number of hub gears can be ineffective if the hub is not properly sealed. Anything that gets inside the body can affect the operation of the bearings and the clutch mechanism.
The construction of carbon wheels should be done by experienced wheel-builders with access to professional tools, so that the braiding is correct and in accordance with the requirements for wheel construction. In addition, professional Vendors guarantee trouble-free access to spare parts. Under such conditions, getting help with any warranty issues simply becomes easier.
What to follow when choosing wheel specifications?
When choosing both aluminum and carbon wheels, it is recommended to choose components from proven manufacturers. In this context, brands such as DT Swiss and Sapim are safe choices. In the case of the hubs we used in the construction of the wheels, we consciously opted for DT, since their products stand out from the competition in terms of trouble-free operation and simplicity of servicing.
An example of reliable hubs is the DT Swiss 350 model. They stand out for their value for money. These hubs are lightweight, well sealed and do not cost a fortune. Depending on the operating conditions, the bearings can spin smoothly without service interference even for tens of thousands of kilometers. An additional advantage is the use of a durable interlocking mechanism - ratchet, which is much more durable than standard pawls.
When it comes to spokes, we rely on reputable brands Sapim and DT Swiss, paying special attention to several models: Sapim D-Light (round, shaded spokes), Sapim CX-Ray and DT Aerolite (some of the lightest, aero flat spokes), as well as two other models for more demanding mountain biking applications: Sapim Race and Strong. High-quality spokes are a key piece of the puzzle, determining the wheel's design, strength, stiffness and susceptibility to centering.
Carbon wheels on proven components and at an affordable price
Aluminum wheels can be an excellent option if you are looking for a reliable set that will serve you for many years. However, if you are looking for wheels for high-performance and competitive use, carbon wheels are worth considering. The aluminum wheels we build are based on DT Swiss hubs and Sapim spokes. With carbon wheels, these components remain the same. The only difference is the rim, which, due to the material, is lighter than aluminum. This is particularly noticeable in road wheels, where wheels with a rim height of about 50 mm weigh similarly or less than aluminum wheels with a low rim of about 20 mm (using the same hubs and spokes).
Decades of experience in wheel building have resulted in our own brand of carbon wheels, Evanlite, which has been on the European market since 2017. We use carbon rims made of quality carbon fiber. Combined with the aforementioned DT and Sapim components, we create professional high-end carbon wheels, but available at affordable prices. The average price of Evanlite carbon wheels starts at 4,500 PLN for a set. The standard configuration offers DT 350 hubs and Sapim D-Light spokes. In addition, each set of wheels is covered by a two-year protection program, under which if the wheels are damaged while riding, the Evanlite brand provides free repair (!). We are aware that carbon wheels can be a considerable expense, so we want to provide peace of mind when using them.
Summary - aluminum or carbon?
Having a limited budget, which does not allow you to buy high-quality carbon wheels, by far the better choice is to invest in high-end aluminum wheels. Such wheels, based on better hubs and spokes, are qualitatively superior to cheap carbon wheels of unknown origin. The differences in the rim are not so crucial, since a solid aluminum rim is definitely superior in quality to a poorly made carbon one.
Choosing the right and sturdy components is undoubtedly crucial for building wheels, but the decisive factor is the professional process of assembling them. Wheels built with the best rims, hubs and spokes, but by an incompetent person, can prove unsatisfactory and bring only disappointment.
By choosing to outsource the wheel building process to professionals, you are assured that the wheels will be assembled correctly, resulting in greater durability and eliminating the need for frequent servicing. In the event of any technical problems, the availability of spare parts will not be an issue.
In our store specializing in wheels, we offer a convenient configurator available for most models, allowing you to customize the wheel components to meet your individual needs and budget. With this tool, you can easily switch between different hubs, spokes, freehub bodies, or axles, while ensuring all parts are compatible in your chosen configuration. Once the configuration is complete, the order moves to our assembly area, where experienced specialists build the wheels.
If you have doubts about choosing the right components, go ahead and contact us. Our consultants are ready to help you make the best choice. You can send us an e-mail or fill out the form and we will prepare a customized wheel offer, tailored to your needs.