Zipp 404 Firecrest Disc Tubeless Wheelset

The Zipp 404 Firecrest Disc Tubeless Wheelset carries one of the most recognized names in road racing — the 404 has been Zipp's standard-bearer for aero performance for decades, and this generation is the most capable version yet. At 58mm deep with a full carbon hookless rim, this is a wheelset built around committed aerodynamic performance: for road races, criteriums, time trials, triathlons, and any situation where sustained speed on the road is the primary objective. Zipp dropped nearly 400 grams from the previous generation to arrive here, and the result is a wheel that pairs the depth riders have always wanted from the 404 with a weight that doesn't penalize you for choosing it.

The 58mm rim depth is the defining characteristic of the 404 Firecrest, and it's not a number Zipp arrived at arbitrarily. Deep-section rims generate meaningful aerodynamic advantage at road racing speeds — the deeper the rim, the more the wheel acts like an airfoil rather than a blunt object moving through the air. At 58mm, the 404 sits in a range where that aero benefit is real and consistent on flat and rolling roads, without pushing into the handling sensitivity of 80mm-plus depths that become liabilities in crosswind conditions. The rim uses Zipp's ABLC Sawtooth dimple design — an intricate pattern across the rim surface that manages airflow boundary layers, contributing to both reduced drag and improved stability as yaw angle increases. The UD carbon fiber finish and Zipp's TSE (Total System Efficiency) manufacturing approach govern the layup geometry throughout the rim wall, with the goal of reducing wind resistance, rolling resistance, vibration losses, and weight simultaneously rather than trading one against another.

The rim is hookless — a construction approach that Zipp uses across the Firecrest line. Hookless rims allow for more efficient resin distribution during the carbon manufacturing process, producing a rim that is lighter and stronger for a given wall thickness than a hooked equivalent. The transition between rim and tire is also more seamless aerodynamically, which reduces turbulence at the tire-rim interface at speed. The internal width is 23mm, optimized for tubeless tires in the 28-35mm range — a tire volume that supports lower pressures for improved rolling efficiency and vibration absorption while staying within the aerodynamic profile the rim was designed around. Maximum tire pressure is 73psi / 5.0 bar, and the wheelset requires tubeless-compatible tires. Zipp's optimized tubeless bead design allows for tool-free tire installation and removal without an air compressor. Brake interface is Centerlock disc, and the lockring ships with the wheels.

At the center of the wheelset is the ZR1 DB hub — Zipp's German-engineered hub designed specifically for the Firecrest disc line. The ZR1 features 66 points of engagement, which translates to fast and consistent drive response when you're accelerating out of corners or onto the gas after a descent. The hub uses an improved seal design for better durability against contamination in wet and variable conditions, and runs on cartridge steel bearings. The hub shell is designed to minimize weight while maintaining the stiffness required to handle the lateral loads of road racing. The result is a hub that functions reliably under hard use without requiring frequent servicing.

The wheelset ships with 12mm thru-axle end caps — 100mm front, 142mm rear — covering the standard disc road frame axle specifications. Driver body options are SRAM XDR and SRAM/Shimano Road; Campagnolo compatibility is available separately. The hookless rim and tubeless-only construction are worth confirming against your current tire setup before purchasing, particularly if you're coming from a hooked rim with clincher tires. The maximum recommended system weight (rider, bike, and gear combined) is 253 lbs / 115 kg.

Zipp backs the 404 Firecrest with a lifetime warranty for product issues while riding. At $2,150, this wheelset represents the 404's long-standing position as Zipp's most versatile aero option — deep enough to be fast on the road, light enough to be useful over varied terrain, and durable enough to hold up through training seasons and races. If you're building a road race or triathlon setup and want the wheel Zipp has spent decades refining into a benchmark, the 404 Firecrest Disc Tubeless is the logical choice.