Please help choose a new road carbon wheelset

[askeladd]

Hello everyone,
first of all, let me thank you for let me in, this forum is great! So I'm searching AliExpress for a new carbon 50-60mm deep wheelset for my carbon road bike, and I would like your help. I would like something that I could upgrade to a XDR ratchet if I wanted to switch to a SRAM groupset later. So far, the options that I saw on Ali are:

- Elite Wheels ENT 50mm https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/1005008072935262.html
- Elite Wheels ENT 2.0 60mm https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/1005006902683405.html
- RYET Carbon Wheelset 55mm https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/1005004790612298.html
- CSC Ultralight 58mm https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/1005006281662446.html

I don't really need the most performant wheelset since I'm a recreational cyclist who rides 3-5 times a week, but I would like a reliable one. I would like to spend 400e max if possible. So, what would you recommend me?

Thank you everyone!

[BalticSea]

Elitewheels Edge. Q
With coupons they should be close in price to the options you have currently listed

[askeladd]

Elitewheels Edge. Q
With coupons they should be close in price to the options you have currently listed

Just checked, withn coupons they go down to 620e, a lot more than the 400 of the EDGE 2.0 :/

[askeladd]

if you spend 100-200 more, you can get virtually any spec you need with zero compromise. At 400 you probably have to cut a few corners.
Without knowing more about your situation, can't be too accurate.
that said, i doubt you can go WRONG with a set from Elite.
i wouldn't buy from a random seller on aliexpress though, too big of a risk of some shoddy product.

Yes, I will only buy from official stores on AliExpress. What could I buy with 100€ more? What corners would I have to cut if I choose to buy the Elite ENT 1.0 (they come out with 320€ with coupons, amazing price). Thank you!

[Super_davo]

I've got two sets of Ent-Gravels. First set was so good I immediately ordered a second for a different bike.

I don't think there are any major compromises with them that a recreational cyclist really need care about. They are c300g heavier than my massively more expensive carbon spoke Hunt wheels on my best bike and they don't have super rapid engagement ratchet hub. But they do have a 25mm internal width 32.5 outer which is great for moden wide tyres. The normal ENTs (non gravel) have the same hubs, spokes etc but are 21mm wide / 28 outer. That's fine if you want to run up to 28s but if you want to run wider, go for the Gravel version (you do not have to, and I don't, actually use them for Gravel!)

Worth knowing is you have to pay for DPD delivery and when you do that takes care of any taxes. If you don't include they wll contact you and ask you to add it on. There are some other models which use the same rims but with different hubs e.g. the SLR have a ratchet hub, SLT have a slightly lighter pawl hub. If you just want a set of carbon wheels for general riding the ENTs are a great choice.

[askeladd]

I've got two sets of Ent-Gravels. First set was so good I immediately ordered a second for a different bike.

I don't think there are any major compromises with them that a recreational cyclist really need care about. They are c300g heavier than my massively more expensive carbon spoke Hunt wheels on my best bike and they don't have super rapid engagement ratchet hub. But they do have a 25mm internal width 32.5 outer which is great for moden wide tyres. The normal ENTs (non gravel) have the same hubs, spokes etc but are 21mm wide / 28 outer. That's fine if you want to run up to 28s but if you want to run wider, go for the Gravel version (you do not have to, and I don't, actually use them for Gravel!)

Worth knowing is you have to pay for DPD delivery and when you do that takes care of any taxes. If you don't include they wll contact you and ask you to add it on. There are some other models which use the same rims but with different hubs e.g. the SLR have a ratchet hub, SLT have a slightly lighter pawl hub. If you just want a set of carbon wheels for general riding the ENTs are a great choice.

Thank you for your feedback! The problem with the gravel version is that they do not come in 50+mm profiles. Can you switch the ratchet in the ENT after you buy them?

The CSC rims have the 30mm external width option, and I already saw here that their hub is a copy of the DT Swiss one (and therefore he can take dt Swiss parts) but I never saw anyone saying the quality matches the Elite wheels.

[askeladd]

My default answer, which is now the default answer of a lot of users here, is Peter from Xiamen carbon speed. His prices are competitive, his moulds are very recent / modern, which means wide, and you can customize anything you want, and he's easy to deal with.
I wouldn't ride an elite wheelset because of their logos, because they're 28mm wide which is old tech by now. They usually use cheap spokes, and I prefer the open standard 6 bolt hubs over Shimano s Apple like patents.
But again, at your price point, you can't go wrong. I mean 320 EUR is peanuts for what you get.

Thank you! I guess I will go for the ENT’s!

[ZacItaly15]

I went to CSC with 40mm wide and 23,5inner paired with 28 tyre
Ratchet sound hub and 1410gr

Fast rolling, safe on terribile Italian road, and comfy enough

[Tilmanstoa5ty]

I personally use the ENT 2.0 in 38mm depth right now. I really like them and ordered another pair in 50mm. Gonna put the 38mm on my gravel bike and use the 50mm for the road. I can highly recommend elitewheels.

[kenderu]

I have the rim brake version of the ENT 60mm.  No issues there, been solid for the last 4 years almost.

I got a set of SLR 60mm disc for my next bike, also no issues, but I haven't noticed much of a difference between the two.

[KopytoNieBladzi]

Elitewheels ENT Disc are just lovely

[askeladd]

A question to ENT users: if in the future I change to SRAM, can I change the freehub to an XDR?

EDIT: it seems that orders from Elite will only be delivered past April. I was checking the other options that I saw earlier if was worth to change the order to another company, and was eyeing this one https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006281662446.html from CSC again. They are lighter and the hubs are a DT Swiss clone by what I could find here in forum. Does anyone have/had a CSC and an Elite set they can compare?