DT Swiss's new wheels are certainly eyecatching, with white and red graphics setting off the shimmering carbon rims perfectly. However, the white DT Aerolite spokes could be a bit over the top for some tastes.
Matching their remarkable looks is their strikingly light weight: 955g for the pair, despite a 32mm deep rim. Once on the bike they feel exhilaratingly fast, helped by the smooth bearings of the DT Swiss hubs and elliptical aero spokes, accelerating speedily out of bends and dancing up steep climbs.
The rear wheel transfers power effectively during seated efforts, though there’s some side to side flex when rocking the bike or during very hard cornering. Stiffness is excellent for featherweight wheels, though really strong riders might experience some brake rub when giving it their all out of the saddle.
Braking is powerful and reliable, whether roads are wet or dry. We advise you stick with the supplied SwissStop pads because alternative pads we tried lost modulation and gave a grabby on-off feel to braking.
Annoyingly, our test set got knocked out of true after just one race and the rim decals began peeling as well – hardly what you expect for the price. The internal alloy nipples mean wheel truing requires removing a well stuck tubular, but once trued our set remained straight throughout testing.
The RWS skewers provided have an awkward twist-to-close mechanism and despite titanium shafts, at 95g they make up nearly 10 percent of the total weight.
A few niggles aside, if you’re looking for a set of wheels for ultra-hilly courses these are staggeringly fast and noticeably boost your climbing speed – it isn’t often a test product gets a race win to its credit! They’re available in Shimano and Campagnolo versions.