ENVE

SES 4.5 Carbon Road Wheelset - Clincher

The ENVE SES 4.5 Carbon Clincher Road Wheelset with DT Swiss 240 Hubs has garnered a storied reputation as a jack-of-all trades that's as capable on soaring ascents as it is railing criterium corners and settling into a blistering pace off the front of the peloton. This version comes outfitted with ENVE's new textured Generation 2 brake track and pads for an added dollop of control to top off its versatility.

ENVE has made something of a signature out of its shallow front and deeper rear wheel pairings, and the 4.5s fall into the sweet spot between its more climbing oriented 3.4 and TT leaning 6.7 wheelsets. With wind tunnel and real world testing to back up claims that these wheels will hold steady in a wide variety of wind conditions, the 4.5s have laid claim to being the all-rounder wheel of choice for riders across the world.

While shaping and dimensions are the brand's calling card, ENVE's obsessively clean construction also sets it apart from the herd of carbon competitors. ENVE wraps carbon fiber continuously around a removable bladder to construct the rims, routing the fibers around each hole for a completely intact, precise design that boasts the highest claimed strength-to-weight ratio on the market. As an added step, ENVE removes the bladder for a final product that's both lighter and more structurally sound than rims that remain packed with molding material. While that extra step of removing the bladder adds time and expense to the manufacturing process, the end result is worth it.

The 4.5s come laced to DT Swiss' venerable 240 hubs, complete with their incredibly satisfying star ratchet system and indisputable durability. We also think it's worth noting that the 4.5s' generous interior widths grant your tires a lower rolling resistance at a lower PSI, so you can enjoy a ride that's simultaneously faster and more comfortable.