{"product_id":"zipp-404-s-disc-brake-wheelset-6202","title":"Zipp 404 S Disc Brake Wheelset","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eZipp 404 S Disc Brake Wheelset\u003c\/strong\u003e is Zipp's 50mm carbon tubeless road wheelset from the S series — the accessible entry to Zipp's carbon wheel lineup, built to deliver measurable speed over alloy without the premium required to step into Firecrest-tier technology. The design philosophy behind the S series is practical: take the key engineering lessons from Zipp's race-proven Firecrest development, apply them to a more attainable construction, and produce a wheelset that performs well on real roads with real tires. At $1,300 for a 50mm carbon tubeless pair, the 404 S is aimed at riders who want Zipp carbon performance — the weight, the aero benefit, the brand's hub quality — without the costs associated with the NSW or Firecrest lineup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003eThe 50mm rim depth is the 404 S's defining characteristic. A wheel in this depth range starts earning its aero advantage at the speeds where road racing and fast group riding happen — the benefit is most pronounced above 35km\/h, where drag forces become a meaningful portion of total resistance. At 50mm the 404 S sits deeper than the 303 S (45mm) and is clearly aimed at road racing and fast training rather than mixed-terrain or gravel versatility. The max tire width of 28–39mm reflects that positioning: this is a road wheel that can run 32mm tubeless at reduced pressure for a more compliant race experience, but it's not built for gravel tires beyond that range.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003eThe rim construction is hookless carbon, which is now standard across Zipp's S and Firecrest lines. A hookless rim has a flat bed where the tire bead seats, rather than the traditional hook that mechanically retained the bead on older rim designs. Combined with tubeless-only compatibility, this construction works specifically because a properly mounted tubeless tire at appropriate pressure creates the retention required. The result is a rim that can be wider and lighter for a given depth, and the 404 S's 23mm internal width is designed to optimize the profile of 28–32mm tires. When a wide rim supports a tire that measures slightly narrower than the rim, the tire adopts a more rounded cross-section — which reduces aerodynamic drag at the tire-rim transition. Maximum recommended tire pressure is 73psi, which is consistent with hookless tubeless rims across the industry and well within the range where road tires perform best.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3\u003eZipp 76\/176 Hubs\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003eThe 404 S runs Zipp's 76 front and 176 rear disc hubs with 36 points of engagement — a meaningful hub spec detail at this price point. Points of engagement (PoE) describes how finely the freehub ratchets: 36 PoE means the freehub engages every 10 degrees of rotation when pedaling begins, which produces a notably quick pickup compared to entry-level hubs that may engage at 24 or fewer points. The practical effect is more immediate power transfer when accelerating out of corners or surges during group riding. Hub bearings are cartridge steel. The disc interface is Centerlock, which accepts Centerlock rotors directly and accepts 6-bolt rotors with an adapter. Axle compatibility is 12x100mm thru axle (front) and 12x142mm thru axle (rear). Both HG11 (Shimano\/SRAM 11-speed) and XDR driver body options are available, covering the full range of current road drivetrain standards including SRAM's 12-speed road systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3\u003eWeight, Spoke Count, and Build\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003eThe 404 S weighs 1565g as a pair — front and rear — with a 20-spoke front and 20-spoke rear lacing pattern. That spoke count is light for a road wheel, which keeps the rotational weight low and contributes to the overall weight target. For context, a comparable alloy wheelset at this price point typically runs 1700–1900g; the 404 S's carbon rim construction saves meaningful rotational mass that is most perceptible during accelerations and climbing. Zipp backs the 404 S with a lifetime warranty covering product issues while riding, which is worth noting given the investment represented by a carbon wheelset. The warranty covers original purchasers only.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003eThe 404 S is available in Dark Grey and White, with rim graphics consistent with current Zipp cosmetics. As a tubeless-only wheelset, installation requires tubeless-compatible tires, valves, and sealant — none of which are included. Riders converting from clincher setups should budget for those components as part of the build.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003eFor a road rider looking to make their first meaningful upgrade into carbon wheels — or building a race-day wheelset on a budget that stops well short of Firecrest pricing — the Zipp 404 S delivers the 50mm depth and Zipp hub quality that defines the category, with the S series construction keeping the price accessible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Zipp","offers":[{"title":"Dark Grey \/ HG11 (Shimano \/ SRAM 11s)","offer_id":45456314990636,"sku":"00.1918.803.000-WS","price":1300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dark Grey \/ XDR Driver","offer_id":45456315023404,"sku":"00.1918.803.001-WS","price":1300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"White \/ HG11 (Shimano \/ SRAM 11s)","offer_id":45456315056172,"sku":"00.1918.803.003-WS","price":1300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"White \/ XDR Driver","offer_id":45456315088940,"sku":"00.1918.803.004-WS","price":1300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0608\/7684\/9196\/files\/ZIPP-404-S-WHEELSET-2026-DARK-GREY_82787508-2707-40e2-8228-cdb139cbf450.jpg?v=1776272825","url":"https:\/\/racycles.com\/products\/zipp-404-s-disc-brake-wheelset-6202","provider":"RA Cycles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}