HED Jet RC9 Pro Disc Brake Tubeless Wheelset

The HED Jet RC9 Pro Disc Brake Tubeless Wheelset is HED's deepest road wheel — a 90mm aero wheelset built for time trials, triathlon, and road races where sustained flat speed is the priority. HED has been designing and building aero wheels in Roseville, Minnesota since 1984, and the Jet RC9 Pro puts four decades of that work into a handbuilt, disc-brake-specific package at a price that's genuinely unusual for American-made carbon/alloy deep-section wheels.

The rims use HED's hybrid construction: an alloy rim bed bonded to a carbon aero fairing. HED developed its Plus rim technology in 2014, widening the outer rim profile to 25mm and the internal width to 21mm before wide rims became an industry standard. The wider base supports modern tire sizing and provides a more stable bead platform than the narrow profiles it replaced. The carbon fairing delivers the 90mm aero depth and a clean finish; the alloy rim base handles impact and provides a durable, consistent surface for tubeless mounting. Tubeless tape is applied at the factory and valve extenders are included, so the wheels are ready to set up tubeless straight out of the box.

90mm Depth: Purpose-Built for Flat Speed

At 90mm, the RC9 sits at the deep end of HED's road lineup, and that depth serves a specific purpose. On flat TT courses, triathlon bike legs, flat criteriums, and roads where sustained high speed is the whole game, a 90mm rim returns real aerodynamic advantage over shallower profiles. The tradeoff is handling: deep rims are more reactive to crosswinds, and riders transitioning from a 50 or 60mm wheel will notice the difference in variable conditions. On predictable courses and in calm weather, the RC9 Pro's aero gain is meaningful — it earns its depth.

The wheelset comes in at 1,955g as a pair — 912g front, 1,043g rear. Full-carbon deep wheels typically come in lighter, but HED's hybrid construction makes a durability argument worth considering. The alloy rim base absorbs hard strikes more forgivingly than a pure carbon structure, and it doesn't carry the same delamination risk if a stone hits at the wrong angle during a fast descent. For a TT or triathlon bike that lives on smooth race courses, that tradeoff is easy to accept. The 80 psi maximum tire pressure is set to protect the tubeless bead seal and the carbon fairing — stay within it.

Hub, Brake, and Build

Front and rear wheels are built for 12mm thru-axle with Centerlock disc rotor mounts. Centerlock uses a splined lockring interface to seat the rotor — the same system used across Shimano's higher-end hub lineup — and keeps rotor installation consistent and easy to service. The rear hub ships with your choice of Shimano HG freehub body for 11-speed systems or SRAM XDR for 12-speed road and Eagle drivetrains. Both wheels use 24 bladed steel spokes — stiff, durable, and practical without the cost or fragility of a carbon spoke alternative.

Every Jet RC9 Pro is handbuilt at HED's facility in Roseville, Minnesota. Domestic production at this price point is rare — most wheels in this category are built overseas — and the consistency of an in-house build shows in spoke tension, wheel true, and overall fit and finish. HED builds to order, which can mean a few days of lead time, but what arrives is a ready-to-ride wheelset with tubeless tape installed and valve extenders in the box. For a rider putting together a dedicated TT or triathlon setup, or building an aero road bike where flat performance comes first, the RC9 Pro is a compelling choice that doesn't require a trip to Europe for the price tag.