Mavic Allroad SL Carbon Disc Wheelset

The Mavic Allroad SL Carbon Disc Wheelset is Mavic's flagship carbon gravel wheel — built to move fast on open tarmac, absorb what rough gravel and dirt roads throw at the rim, and handle everything in between without requiring a wheel swap. The positioning in Mavic's lineup is intentional: above the aluminum-rimmed Allroad SL and the Allroad S Carbon, this is the build for riders who want genuine carbon depth and weight savings without compromising tubeless performance or mixed-terrain capability. At 42mm deep with a 25mm internal width, these are also unusually deep for a gravel application. Most gravel wheel manufacturers top out at 30–35mm to manage crosswind sensitivity; Mavic's choice to run deeper signals where they intend the SL Carbon to be ridden — on fast, open terrain where aerodynamics make a real difference.

Mavic has been building wheels in Annecy, France since 1920, and the Allroad SL Carbon reflects that manufacturing depth applied to a relatively new discipline. The rims are 100% unidirectional carbon fiber — not a carbon/alloy hybrid or a wrapped construction — with an optimized layup Mavic calls Aero Wide Rim Technology. The 42mm section delivers aerodynamic advantage on faster gravel and road surfaces that a shallower rim profile simply can't match, while the 25mm internal width broadens that benefit: a wide hookless bead flares a mounted tubeless tire into a more rounded profile, improving both aero efficiency and stability under cornering load. The carbon construction also balances lateral stiffness with the vertical compliance that gravel riding demands — the rim absorbs shocks and vibrations rather than transmitting them directly to the rider. At 1,550 grams for the complete pair (720g front, 830g rear), the build is efficient without being precious.

The bead interface is hookless, running Mavic's UST (Universal Standard for Tubeless) system — a standard Mavic helped develop for mountain bikes in the 1990s before adapting it to road and gravel applications. On the Allroad SL Carbon, the hookless bead creates an airtight seal without an additional tape layer; rim tape comes pre-installed from the factory, and a UST valve is included. UST enables lower tire pressures across the full 30–64mm tire range, translating directly to more traction and vibration absorption on mixed terrain. Maximum pressure on a 64mm tire is 36 psi; on a 30mm tire that climbs to 59 psi. Tubetype tires are also compatible using Mavic tubeless tape. The hookless architecture itself contributes to compliance — the rim can flex slightly under a sharp impact rather than transferring the full force to the rider.

The hubs are Mavic's Infinity design — a spoke lacing system built around equal spoke lengths front and rear and a non-contact pattern that eliminates the spoke noise under load common to traditional lacing. Both wheels are laced with 24 of Mavic's own double-butted steel aero spokes in a 2-cross pattern, with black aluminum nipples. The freehub is Instant Drive 360, Mavic's current freewheel generation, which uses a large contactless rubber seal to reduce friction while maintaining durability. It ships with a Shimano HG road freehub body and converts to SRAM XDR, Shimano Microspline, or Campagnolo N3W/ED via separate kits — a broader compatibility range than most gravel wheels at this price carry as standard. Bearing preload is handled by QRM Auto (Qualité de Roulements Mavic Auto): double-sealed cartridge bearings with C3 internal clearance and automatic preload adjustment that stays precise without periodic manual tuning. The oversize axle dimensions reinforce the lateral stiffness the wide rim geometry sets up.

Axle compatibility is 12×100 front and 12×142 rear thru-axle, with adapters available separately for quick-release conversion. Mavic rates the Allroad SL Carbon for ASTM Category 2 use — road and offroad with jumps under 15 cm, maximum system weight of 135 kg including the bike. These are gravel race and fast adventure wheels, not enduro builds; they perform precisely in that range. The Centerlock disc interface is the only brake option. Mavic handbuilds the Allroad SL Carbon in Europe and backs registered wheels with a lifetime warranty — the same coverage level as their top-tier road carbon lineup.