HED Jet RC9 Performance Rim Brake Tubeless Wheelset

The HED Jet RC9 Performance Rim Brake Tubeless Wheelset sits at the top of a lineage that genuinely changed how road wheels are built. In 2007, when the industry was still running 17mm internal rims and 23mm tires as the default, Steve Hed introduced the Jet Plus — a 21mm wide rim design that felt almost radical at the time and now reads as the obvious right call. Every major wheel company eventually followed. The RC9 carries that legacy forward in a 90mm deep rim brake package built for maximum aerodynamic performance on flat courses and long solo efforts.

At 90mm, the Jet RC9 is the deepest option in the Jet RC Performance lineup. Where the RC4 at 38mm is the climbing wheel and the RC6 at 60mm is the all-around aero option, the RC9 is purpose-built for scenarios where aerodynamics are the dominant variable: time trials, triathlon, flat criteriums, and road races on open, exposed terrain. The depth creates a sustained aero advantage at speed, and the 21mm internal / 25mm external rim width amplifies that advantage by allowing modern tires to seat correctly and present an optimized tire-to-rim interface to the wind. The RC9 runs 18 spokes up front and 24 in the rear — enough structure for a 90mm rim under load while keeping rotating weight reasonable.

What separates the RC Performance series from a lot of deep carbon aero competition is the decision to retain an alloy brake track. Carbon brake tracks have been a recurring issue on rim brake wheelsets: heat buildup on extended descents, inconsistent modulation in wet conditions, delamination concerns at altitude. HED's solution with the Jet RC Performance line is a carbon aero fairing bonded to an anodized alloy braking surface. You get the aerodynamic depth of a full carbon rim with brake behavior that holds to aluminum standards — predictable, powerful, and unaffected by wet roads or heat load. For riders who want to stay on rim brakes, whether by preference, frame compatibility, or category rules, this hybrid construction is the specification that actually makes practical sense.

The tubeless compatibility adds meaningful range to the RC9's capabilities. Running tubeless on a 90mm wheelset removes the tube from the equation on long solo efforts and race days alike: lower rolling resistance casing, improved puncture resistance, and the ability to run slightly lower pressure for better road compliance without changing the aero profile. The 21mm internal width accommodates tire sizes from 25mm through current 30mm-plus options, giving you room to tune the setup to the course. Hookless-bead tires are not required — the RC Performance rim runs standard hooked construction, compatible with the full range of current road clinchers and tubeless tires.

The set weighs 1,885 grams — 838g front, 1,047g rear — which is competitive for a rim brake wheelset at this depth. The heavier rear carries 24 bladed steel spokes to absorb drive and braking forces, while the lighter 18-spoke front keeps the steering responsive. Bladed spokes behave better aerodynamically than round spokes at this rim depth and resist twisting during tensioning. The hub is HED's own construction, available with either a Shimano HG or SRAM XDR freehub body to cover current drivetrain standards.

Every Jet RC Performance wheelset is handbuilt at HED's facility in Roseville, Minnesota — the same operation where Steve Hed developed the wide rim technology that reset the road wheel category almost two decades ago. The RC9 Rim Brake ships in black anodized finish. For riders committed to rim braking who want a genuine deep-section aero wheelset without compromising on braking performance, the Jet RC9 Performance is the direct answer.