Princeton Peak 4550 EVO II Disc Brake Wheelset w/Tactic TR01 V2 Hubs

Princeton Peak 4550 EVO II Disc Brake Wheelset w/Tactic TR01 V2 Hubs is Princeton CarbonWorks' lightweight, all-terrain carbon wheelset, built for riders who want a wheel that climbs efficiently without falling apart on fast, technical descents. Princeton CarbonWorks markets the Peak 4550 EVO II under the line "exceptional handling, ultra lightweight, king of the mountain," and the numbers back up the climbing focus: this build weighs 1200g with the Tactic TR01 V2 hubs installed, the lightest hub option Princeton offers for this rim. A 22mm internal and 32mm external rim width put it in step with current tubeless-focused wheel design, on a wheelset intended to work as well in the valleys and flats as it does on a climb.

The Peak 4550 EVO II carries over the rim improvements Princeton introduced on its Wake 6560 EVO II, including a rim weight reduced to 390g. Princeton builds the rim bed hooked and hole-less rather than hookless, a deliberate choice the brand says keeps tire pressure unrestricted and works with clincher, tubed, or tubeless tires without needing rim tape. Princeton has been vocal that it considers hooked rims the safer, faster choice for road riding and racing compared to hookless designs, particularly around tire pressure limits — a position worth knowing if you're comparing this wheelset against hookless competitors. Every rim is pre-balanced to match Princeton's included tubeless valves, and the wheelset is rated to pass 120J in impact testing, Princeton's benchmark for real-world durability rather than just lab-only strength numbers.

Spec-wise, this build runs Centerlock disc brakes on a 12x100mm front / 12x142mm rear thru-axle setup, compatible with either clincher or tubeless tires. Alpina Hyperlite spokes and Sapim SecureLock alloy nipples handle the build across the lineup, and the Tactic TR01 V2 hub is the lightest of the six hub options Princeton offers on this rim — a meaningful choice for a rider prioritizing weight over the added durability or ceramic bearings of pricier hub options like Chris King or DT Swiss. This listing is available with HG11 (Shimano/SRAM 11-speed), SRAM XDR, or Campagnolo freehub bodies, so the wheelset can be matched to whatever drivetrain is already on the bike.

Where a wheelset like this earns its keep is in how it rides once the road stops being flat. Princeton designed the Peak 4550 EVO II to feel light and responsive out of the saddle on a climb, then stay composed and predictable once the road tips back down — a wheel that doesn't ask a rider to choose between climbing speed and descending confidence. That balance is the point of the "Peak" name in Princeton's lineup: it's built as an all-around climbing wheel rather than a pure aero wheel or a pure lightweight hillclimb special, which is why Princeton positions it as fast in the valleys and flats too, not just on the way up.

The Peak 4550 EVO II ships with tubeless valves and a padded wheel bag included, and this listing offers it across nine colorways, from Matte Black and Gloss White to Gloss Chameleon and Gloss Cobalt. At $4,100 to $4,500 depending on freehub body, it sits at the upper end of the carbon wheel market, but the combination of a sub-1200g weight, a hooked tubeless-ready rim, and a hub selection built around real durability tradeoffs makes the case for riders who put in serious climbing miles and want a wheelset that won't need babysitting when the descent gets fast.