Giant P-SLR1 Aero WheelSystem review

While Giant may not be the first name you think of when considering wheels, you can't afford to ignore the new range of WheelSystems launched last year.

At the heart of these fast-feeling wheels is a 23mm-wide aluminium braking surface onto which a fairly blunt aero-profiled structural carbon element is bonded. This tall, wide aero structure follows current thinking: wider, blunter, curved rims are more stable in crosswinds.

On the road this bears out well, as these are among the most controllable wheels in the test in blustery conditions. A quick spin up on the road was backed up by inertia results in the lab that place them well into the top half of the table.

Where the road feel differs from lab-derived expectations is in the stiffness. With both lateral rigidity and opposite deflection results mid-table or lower, particularly the 180° figure, we were expecting wheel rub while sprinting and some corner wandering.

The reality was totally different.