New Shimano Dura-Ace and Ultegra carbon wheels: lighter and for all disciplines

Along with the new Dura-Ace and Ultegra Di2 groupsets, Shimano is also unveiling two new wheel ranges. The C36, C50, and C60 (referring to rim depth) carbon wheels feature a new matte finish and a slightly wider profile. They are also available for tubed/tubeless tires or tubulars for certain models, and even for disc or rim brakes. All models are also lighter than their predecessors.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: Irmo Keizer / @Shimano / DR

The new Shimano C50 are the most versatile in the range.

For its new high-end wheel collection, Shimano announces that it has focused on aerodynamics, responsiveness, and weight savings. The brand first presents three Dura-Ace wheel models (code name WH-R9270) for disc brakes, compatible with tubed and tubeless tires: the C36, C50, and C60.

The C36 features rims with a 36 mm depth, an internal width of 21 mm, and a weight of 1338 g. They benefit from new hubs, with a Direct Engagement freehub body that is said to provide 63% faster responsiveness than the previous version, when accelerating after a period of coasting. The front wheel lacing is 1:1 (same number on each side) with 2.0-1.5-2.0 mm spokes to reduce weight. The rear wheel has a differentiated 2:1 Optbal lacing. The freehub body is only compatible with the new 12-speed Shimano cassettes. The C50 has the same characteristics, but with a rim depth of 50 mm. The weight is announced at 1465 g per pair. The C60, meanwhile, is announced at 1609 g, but with 20% increased stiffness, aimed at rouleurs and sprinters. They use slightly thicker spokes (2.0-1.8-2.0 mm) and are laced 2:1 at the front for more stiffness.

More Aerodynamics

The new C50 wheels offer a 5.1 watt reduction in aero drag compared to the previous C40 tubeless, and 1 watt compared to the previous C60 tubular. All this while saving weight, as ultimately, the new C50 tubed/tubeless are 161 g lighter than the previous C40.

The new rims are also wider than the previous ones.

The internal shape of the rims for tubed/tubeless tires.

Tubular Versions

Shimano also offers its three pairs of Dura-Ace disc brake wheels in tubular versions. The C36 thus drop to 1153 g per pair, the C50 to 1332 g, and the C60 to 1439 g. All three models feature rims with an external width of 28 mm.

The hubs retain their cup-and-cone bearings.

Rim Brake Versions

That’s not all! The Japanese brand also offers the three models for rim brakes, but only in tubular versions. The C36 are thus listed at 1278 g, the C50 at 1359 g, and the C60 at 1449 g.

Overall, weight savings have been achieved on the rear hub (- 45 g compared to the previous Dura-Ace) and on the rim, with, for example, a C36 that is 55 g lighter than the current C40 and a C50 only 10 g heavier than the same C40.

The Direct Engagement freehub body uses two interlocking serrated rings instead of a pawl system.

Ultegra Too

At the same time as the Dura-Ace wheels, Shimano presents an Ultegra wheel range, still with the same rim depths and widths (C36, C50, C60), but only in tubed/tubeless versions for disc brakes. Furthermore, the Ultegra wheels retain the current hub and are therefore compatible with 11 and 12-speed cassettes. The C36 are announced at 1481 g, the C50 at 1562 g, and the C60 at 1642 g.