How to Choose the Right Rim Height

Rim depth plays a large role in the performance and ride feel of a wheelset.

It affects aerodynamics, crosswind stability, weight and stiffness.

What rim depth is best for you depends on your goals and the conditions you ride in.

The fastest rim depth mostly depends on where you ride. If you ride mostly on the flats, a deeper rim depth of 50-60mm would be ideal. While there are deeper rims, they can be very difficult to control in crosswinds.

If you ride on mixed terrain or mostly climbing, rim depths of 40-50mm tend to be the fastest, as aerodynamics is the biggest force to overcome in cycling and can even play a significant role when climbing.

For very steep grades, aerodynamics plays a small part. The most advantageous rim depth would be as shallow as possible.

For most climbs, however, rim depths of 40-50mm still tend to be faster, as aerodynamics still makes a difference.

The fastest wheel depth for racing depends on the course and whether or not you are riding in a group or not.

In general, most professional cyclists choose rim depths of between 45-60mm depending on the course.

For time trials and triathlons, a deep section from wheel, ideally 80mm and above and a rear TT disc wheel would be ideal. Such deep wheels tend to be impractical for most riding and racing, as they are strongly affected by crosswinds, making them difficult to control.

Crosswind stability can vary significantly from wheelset to wheelset even if the rim depths are the same. The reason is that rim shape is paramount.

In general, shallower rims, and U-Shape rims tend to perform best in crosswinds. The issue is that the wheels that perform the best in crosswinds tend to perform the worst aerodynamically.

If you live in an area with significant crosswinds, we recommend a 45mm front wheel. A deeper section rear wheel has little effect on crosswind stability, as it is fixed in place and does not swivel.

Mixed rim depths have become increasingly popular. It is typical for the front wheel to have a shallower rim height, such as 45mm, and a rear wheel rim to be 50/52mm.

The reason is that front wheels are more difficult to control in crosswinds, while the rear wheel can be made deeper, as it doesn't really affect crosswind stability in a meaningful way.

Mixed rim depths is personal preference. Some pro and amateur riders prefer mixed depth, while others prefer to keep the same rim height on both wheels.