Corima Essentia 40 wheels review - a jack of many trades but a masterly performer on less-than-perfect roads

Designed to handle tires ranging in width from 28mm to 50mm, these tubeless carbon hoops are an all-road wheel to be reckoned with

Images shows rear wheel of Corima Essentia 40 wheelset
(Image credit: Luke Friend)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

Designed to work with a wide range of tire widths and across a plethora of surfaces, the Essentia 40 is a thoroughly modern and versatile carbon wheelset. Potentially in danger of being a jack of all trades but a master of none, instead it performed impressively both on the road and on off it. It’s better suited in its all-road guise than as an out-and-out gravel wheel but if you have a bike that you like to use on asphalt, byways, cobblestones and gravel trails, perhaps all in the same ride, then armed with the right tire it’s a very good fit indeed.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Comfortable over a range of surfaces

  • +

    Reliable hub with good engagement

  • +

    Versatile rim design can handle wide range of tire widths

  • +

    Attractive raw carbon finish

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    A tad heavier than some of its rivals

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Given the continued blurring of lines between road and gravel bikes - clearance for higher volume tire, disc brakes, endurance geometry - it's no surprise that some of the best road and gravel wheels are created to work across a range of surfaces and tire widths as a consequence. 

Designing a wheel versatile enough for on and off-road use has plenty of appeal for those who like to push their modern road bikes to the limits as well as those who use their gravel bikes on tarmac surfaces. Looking to help bridge this gap, Corima has released the Essentia 40; what the French brand describes as its “ultimate all-road wheel”.

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