Zipp 858 NSW Tubeless Disc Front Wheel

The Zipp 858 NSW Tubeless Disc Front Wheel is what you reach for when speed is the only variable that matters. Designed for triathletes, time trial specialists, and road racers targeting maximum flat-course velocity, the 858 NSW is Zipp's deepest road disc wheel — a 700c carbon hookless rim with an undulating Sawtooth profile that spans 82mm to 85mm at its peaks. This listing is the front wheel only at $1,900; most riders pair it with an 858 NSW rear or a Super-9 disc to complete the aero setup.

Sawtooth Rim and the TSE System

The 858 NSW is built around Zipp's patented Sawtooth rim profile and Total System Efficiency (TSE) framework — an engineering approach that treats the wheel as a system, targeting four barriers to speed simultaneously: wind resistance, rolling resistance, gravity, and vibration losses. The Sawtooth profile accomplishes something most deep-section wheels can't: it reduces aerodynamic drag and crosswind side force at the same time. Zipp calls this AeroBalance. It works through Hyperfoil nodes — patented fin-shaped structures along the inner rim diameter — paired with HexFin ABLC dimples at each node. These hexagonal depressions increase boundary layer mixing, keeping airflow attached to the rim at higher yaw angles. The result is a wheel that tracks predictably in crosswinds rather than fighting you for the line, even at 82–85mm depth. The Sawtooth geometry produces higher-frequency vortex shedding — smaller, more manageable vortices — a meaningful difference on an exposed course or when gusts arrive mid-effort.

Hookless Carbon and the Tubeless Advantage

The 858 NSW uses a hookless carbon rim with a 23mm internal width and 27mm external width, optimized for tires in the 28–32mm range. Hookless construction enables a more integrated tire-rim interface for reduced weight and improved sealing, and Zipp's TSE engineering produces a rim that delivers deep-section performance at weights typically associated with wheels 20mm shallower. For triathlon and TT, running wider tubeless tires at lower pressure reduces rolling resistance on chip-sealed roads while dampening vibration — preserving energy you need for the run after. Maximum recommended tire pressure is 73psi, and the rim accepts ISO/TSS tubeless tires or tubeless-ready tires with tubes for riders who prefer that setup. The rim is also compatible with SRAM's Wheel Sensor for in-wheel tire pressure monitoring. ImPress graphics are applied by printing directly onto the rim surface rather than using adhesive decals, keeping the dimpled Hyperfoil profile uninterrupted and working as designed.

ZR1 SL Hub and Build Spec

The 858 NSW is built on Zipp's ZR1 SL hub with custom hybrid ceramic bearings — the same premium hub platform across the NSW lineup. Sixty-six points of engagement deliver immediate power pickup, and the hub ships with a 12×100mm thru-axle front end cap. Disc braking uses a Centerlock interface with the lockring included. The front wheel weighs approximately 716g — reasonable for a carbon disc rim at this depth — and Zipp backs the 858 NSW with a lifetime warranty.

Who This Wheel Is For

The 858 NSW front wheel is purpose-built for courses where velocity is the priority and crosswinds are a manageable variable rather than a defining feature of the day. Triathletes racing long flat courses and TT specialists building race-day wheel sets are its natural home. Road racers who spend extended time in breakaways or high-speed criterium fields will find it effective. Riders racing in reliably gusty conditions or on mixed terrain may want to weigh the 353 NSW's 35–40mm Sawtooth profile as an alternative — the shallower rim is faster in anything beyond a moderate crosswind. The 858 NSW front stands as the starting point for the fastest aero setup Zipp makes for road and triathlon.