OBED Gravel & Road Bike Wheel Upgrade Guide

At OBED, we are building the bikes we want to ride. Hopefully, they are the bikes you want to ride too! To help you build your dream bike, every OBED can be customized during the ordering process with the exact components (and paint!) you want.  

Wheels are one of the most important component choices you’ll have to make when ordering your new OBED. They have a major impact on your bike’s performance, appearance, and ride feel, so it’s a big decision. This guide will explain how to compare wheels and it will cover the key specifications of all the current gravel and road wheel upgrade options OBED offers for the GVR, Boundary, RVR, RVR SLi, and Baseline.

How To Compare OBED Wheel Upgrades

You pick the wheels. We build your bike. 

Other than cost (please use the bike configurator to compare specific wheel upgrade pricing), there are five main considerations when comparing the wheels for your bike:

• Material
• Weight
• Width 
• Depth
• Rim type

Wheel Material: Aluminum vs. Carbon

Carbon wheels are lighter and stiffer than comparable aluminum wheels of the same width and depth. Lower weight and increased stiffness improve your bike's acceleration and handling. Also, because carbon is lighter, it can be used to make deeper, more aerodynamic rims without a major weight penalty. This makes carbon wheels the most popular option for racers or any rider who cares about performance. Carbon wheels, however, are much more expensive than aluminum wheels. 

Aluminum's biggest advantage is its low cost. Some riders, especially those who are tough on equipment, prefer aluminum because it has a reputation for being more durable and robust. Aluminum wheels usually dent rather than crack from severe impacts, and if needed, they are much cheaper to replace.

A lot of riders may be concerned about the durability of carbon wheels, but modern carbon wheels from reputable manufacturers can survive a lot of abuse. Many riders also report that their carbon wheels need to be trued less than aluminum wheels. If they take a severe direct impact, however, there's a chance that they can crack. If a carbon rim cracks, it becomes unsafe to ride and must be replaced. 

Wheel Weight

Choosing lighter wheels is one of the best ways to make your bike faster. Lighter wheels have less rotating weight, which makes it easier to accelerate. This makes a noticeable difference on climbs and when accelerating from a stop or out of corners. Lighter wheels will make your bike feel more responsive and agile. Carbon wheels are generally lighter than comparable aluminum wheels (i.e., the same rim width and depth). Lighter wheels are also generally more expensive than heavier wheels. 

Wheel Rim Width

There are two key rim width measurements:

• Internal Rim Width
• External Rim Width

Internal rim width measures the internal distance between the rim walls. Modern tubeless wheels have been trending wider because wider internal rim widths provide more support for wider tires and lower tire pressures. Wider rims will improve cornering at low pressures by supporting the tire sidewalls and reducing a tire's tendency to roll off the rim. Going wider tends to improve overall traction and comfort.

External rim width is only a concern with aerodynamic road wheels. If you’re optimizing your bike for aerodynamics, the external width of your rim should be at least 105% of the width of your tire to keep airflow attached to reduce drag. Because gravel tires are so wide, external rim width isn’t a major concern with gravel wheels. 

Wheel Rim Depth

Wheel depth is a measurement of how “thick” the wheel rim is. Increasing the depth of a rim provides more surface area for air to remain attached, allowing wheels to pass through the air more cleanly with fewer wakes and less turbulence. The trade-off is that deeper wheels tend to weigh more than shallower wheels. Many riders also feel deeper wheels look better than shallow wheels, but that’s up to personal preference. 

Most modern gravel wheels have settled between 20-45mm deep. Many modern high-performance road wheels are deeper, around 35-65mm, to maximize aerodynamics. 

Wheel Rim Type: Hooked vs. Hookless

It’s important to know whether your rims are hooked or hookless. Tires on hookless rims should never be inflated beyond 72.5 PSI. Exceeding this can cause your wheels or tires to fail. 

For gravel riding, using hooked vs. hookless rims is generally not a concern because the tire pressures used are far below the maximum recommendation. For road riding though, where riders tend to use higher tire pressures, it’s important to know if your particular weight/tire width combination is within the safe range. See our tire pressure guide for more details: 

Obed Tire Pressure Guide

OBED Gravel Bike Wheel Upgrade Options

OBED GVR with HED Emporia GA Performance wheels

These are current wheel upgrade options offered on OBED GVR and Boundary gravel bikes. They are listed in order from most affordable to most expensive. If you have more questions about a particular wheelset, don’t hesitate to contact us!

SUNringle Duroc 30 Comp 

Material: Aluminum
Internal Rim Width: 26mm
External Rim Width: 30mm
Rim Depth: 17mm
Rim Type: Hooked
Weight: 1,766g

The SUNringle Duroc 30 Comp uses SUNringle’s Duroc 30 MTB rim laced to a road/gravel hub. This is a tough, dependable option for bikepacking, commuting, and all-around riding that is built to last. The wide 26mm internal width will allow riders to run the widest gravel tires available at very low pressure for maximum comfort and traction. 

DT Swiss G1800 Spline 25 DB 

Material: Aluminum
Internal Rim Width: 24mm
External Rim Width: 28mm
Rim Depth: 25mm
Rim Type: Hooked
Weight: 1,820g

DT Swiss is one of the most respected wheel manufacturers in the world. Their entry-level G1800 gravel wheels feature carefully selected components, with sturdy DT Swiss Aero Comp straight-pull spokes and DT Swiss 370 hubs which use its famously reliable and serviceable Ratchet freehub system. 

Spinergy GX 

Material: Aluminum
Internal Rim Width: 24mm
External Rim Width: 28mm
Rim Depth: 20mm
Rim Type: Hooked
Weight: 1,475g

Spinergy GX gravel wheels are among the lightest aluminum gravel wheels available thanks to the shallow rim depth and its patented PBO spokes. PBO pokes are made of synthetic fiber and are designed to dampen vibrations on rough terrain. They’re laced to Spinergy’s “44” hubs that boast beefier internals and 108 points of engagement.

HED Emporia GA Performance (700c/650b)

Material: Aluminum
Internal Rim Width: 25mm
External Rim Width: 30mm
Rim Depth: 24.5mm
Rim Type: Hooked
Weight: 1,670g (700c) / 1,600g (650b)

The HED Emporia GA Performance is a purpose-built alloy gravel wheel using HED’s wide 25mm internal Emporia rims. Emporia wheels are sturdy, but not clunky, so you can bomb down the hills with confidence, and get up the other side with less effort. The wheels feature HED’s GP Performance Hub. 

The Emporia GA Performance is also OBED's main offering if you are interested in using 650b wheels paired with higher-volume tires on your gravel bike.  

HED Vanquish V45 

Material: Carbon
Internal Rim Width: 22.4mm
External Rim Width: 30.9mm
Rim Depth: 45mm
Rim Type: Hooked
Weight: 1,653g

The HED Vanquish V45 is a wallet-friendly version of HED’s top-of-the-line Vanquish Pro series road wheels, It uses the same aerodynamic rim profile and provides nearly the same performance as HED’s pro line, but it saves you money with slightly heavier hubs and spokes. It’s perfect for riders looking for a high-performance, deep-section carbon wheel at a great price.  

Reynolds ATRx 

Material: Carbon
Internal Rim Width: 23mm
External Rim Width: 32mm
Rim Depth: 40mm
Rim Type: Hooked
Weight: 1,620g

The Reynolds ATRx is engineered for mixed-terrain riding with a lightweight yet stiff design to deliver optimal performance. ATR stands for All Terrain Road, making these wheels an excellent choice for back roads, gravel paths, and rougher surfaces. The wide-profile carbon rims are designed to accommodate a broad range of tubeless tires while the Reynolds Allroad hubs offer precise engagement and smooth rolling. 

HED Emporia GC3 Pro 

Material: Carbon
Internal Rim Width: 26mm
External Rim Width: 31mm
Rim Depth: 24.5mm
Rim Type: Hookless
Weight: 1,425g

The Emporia GC3 Pro is HED’s premium gravel wheel offering. It’s super light, super tough, and built with a wide 26mm internal width to work with high-volume gravel tires. The wheels are handmade in HED’s Minnesota factory and are the ultimate wheel option for gravel riders who want to maximize their bike’s speed and handling.

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OBED Road Bike Wheel Upgrade Options

OBED RVR with ENVE 45 wheels

These are current wheel upgrade options offered on the OBED RVR, RVR SLi, and Baseline endurance road bikes. They are listed in order from most affordable to most expensive. If you have more questions about a particular wheelset, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Shimano RS171 Disc

Material: Aluminum
Internal Rim Width: 19mm
External Rim Width: 24.6 mm
Rim Depth: 19mm
Rim Type: Hooked
Weight: 1,995 g

The RS171 is Shimano’s robust and reliable entry-level wheelset for road and gravel. With strong alloy rims and Shimano’s proven hub technology, it offers a high level of stiffness and riding stability at an accessible price point.

DT Swiss E1800 Spline 30 Disc

Material: Aluminum
Internal Rim Width: 22mm
External Rim Width: 26mm
Rim Depth: 30mm
Rim Type: Hooked
Weight: 1,764g

DT Swiss is one of the most respected wheel manufacturers in the world. Their entry-level E1800 endurance road wheels feature carefully selected components, with an aero-optimized rim design, sturdy DT Swiss Aero Comp straight-pull spokes, and DT Swiss 370 hubs which use its famously reliable and serviceable Ratchet freehub system. 

HED Ardennes RA Performance 

Material: Aluminum
Internal Rim Width: 21mm
External Rim Width: 25mm
Rim Depth: 25mm
Rim Type: Hooked
Weight: 1,575g

HED Ardennes wheels have been long-time favorites for cyclists who demand reliable performance in an aluminum rim. The Ardennes RA Performance offers the same all-road capability and reliability as HED's Ardennes RA Pro models at a lower price by using budget-friendly spokes and hubs. It’s the ultimate durable workhorse wheel in the HED stable.

ENVE 45

Material: Carbon
Internal Rim Width: 21mm
External Rim Width: 28mm
Rim Depth: 45mm 
Rim Type: Hookless
Weight: 1,535g

The ENVE 45 brings ENVE’s decades of carbon wheel crafting knowledge and WorldTour-winning technology to the masses. Its aero properties and patented pinch flat protection (through its wide hookless bead) make it ideal for racers, riders doing hard solo efforts, or any cyclist looking to test the waters on carbon wheel performance.

HED Vanquish V45 

Material: Carbon
Internal Rim Width: 22.4mm
External Rim Width: 30.9mm
Rim Depth: 45mm
Rim Type: Hooked
Weight: 1,653g

The HED Vanquish V45 is a wallet-friendly version of HED’s top-of-the-line Vanquish Pro series road wheels, It uses the same aerodynamic rim profile and provides nearly the same performance as HED’s pro line, but it saves you money with slightly heavier hubs and spokes. It’s perfect for riders looking for a high-performance, deep-section carbon wheel at a great price.  

Zipp 303 Firecrest Disc

Material: Carbon
Internal Rim Width: 25mm
External Rim Width: 30mm
Rim Depth: 40mm
Rim Type: Hookless
Weight: 1,408g

Zipp’s 303 Firecrest features technology deeply rooted in Zipp’s drive to conquer the Spring Classics. Used by many of the world’s best cyclists, the latest version uses a wider rim that is aerodynamically faster, lighter, and more capable over varied terrain, and a German-engineered ZR1 DB hub featuring 66 points of engagement. The 303 Firecrest is ideal for dedicated cyclists who aspire to ride the latest in technology. 

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