Zipp 404 Firecrest review

An exemplary blend of weight and depth, these wheels make an excellent all-rounder

Zipp 404 Firecrest wheels Editor's Choice
(Image credit: Zipp)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

The Zipp 404 Firecrest wheels combine a relatively light weight (1,428g, measured) with a 58mm deep rim. The result is a wheelset which delivers a real boost when riding at speed – but that also is responsive to accelerations and a rapid climber. It’s a fantastic all-rounder and is a great choice for most terrains.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Wide 23mm internal width provides good support and plumps out the tyres

  • +

    58mm deep section rims feel fast and are impressively stable in cross winds

  • +

    Lightweight at 1,528g (measured, with rim tape) for the set

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Despite a £800 price reduction, still more expensive than rival brands

  • -

    Hookless rims limit tyre choice

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.

Zipp’s 404 Firecrest road bike wheels combine 58mm deep rims with a low 1,528 gram weight, pitching these firmly as part of that new generation of the best road bike wheels which are fast on the flat but can hold their own on the climbs too.

Back in 2020, Zipp made some pretty major changes to the rim design of its wheels. Internal and external widths became much greater and hooks gave way to hookless – allowing for lighter wheels at a lower cost. These updates have been rolling out across the whole range, so if some of these elements sound rather familiar, it’s because they are.

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