HED Jet 180 Disc Brake Rear Wheel

The HED Jet 180 Disc Brake Rear Wheel exists for one purpose: getting you to the run as fast as possible. Built around the 180-kilometer bike leg that defines Ironman racing, HED designed this wheel with a singular mission — maximum aerodynamic performance from a rear wheel that doesn’t sacrifice real-world handling. The result is a deep-section carbon/alloy disc brake wheel that delivers elite triathlon speed in a package that’s hand-built in Minnesota and proven on the Kona Queen K.

HED has been building performance wheels since 1984, and the Jet 180 represents the company’s answer to a specific question: how do you make the fastest non-disc rear wheel possible without compromising the control that wind-swept triathlon courses demand? The answer is a 32.5mm fairing at its widest point — a profile that cuts cleanly through the air while maintaining composure when crosswinds hit. Mounted to a 12x142mm thru-axle and paired with a centerlock disc brake, the Jet 180 disc version gives you the stopping power and wheel stability that modern triathlon bikes are designed around.

The construction is equally purposeful. Bladed, straight-pull spokes transmit power cleanly and resist aerodynamic drag. The 21mm internal rim width supports modern tubeless tire setups, accepting clincher and tubeless configurations up to 80 psi. Three freehub options — Shimano HG11, SRAM XDR, and Campagnolo N3W — make the Jet 180 adaptable across the full spectrum of current high-performance groupsets. Each wheel is hand-built at HED’s facility in Roseville, Minnesota and backed by a 5-year warranty.

Design Benefits

1. Race-developed aero profile — The 32.5mm fairing width and deep-section carbon construction minimize aerodynamic drag over long distances without the crosswind unpredictability of a full disc wheel.
2. Tubeless-ready 21mm internal width — The wide profile supports modern 25–32c tires at lower pressures for better rolling efficiency, while the 80 psi maximum accommodates traditional clinchers.
3. Disc brake stability — Paired with a 12x142mm thru-axle and centerlock disc mount, the Jet 180 delivers consistent braking performance in all conditions and eliminates the wheel flex that can occur with rim brake systems.
4. Bladed straight-pull spokes — More aerodynamic than round-section spokes and more durable than j-bend designs, straight-pull construction removes the elbow failure point for long-term reliability across training and racing.
5. Universal drivetrain compatibility — Three freehub options (Shimano HG11, SRAM XDR, Campagnolo N3W) ensure the Jet 180 pairs with virtually every current high-performance groupset.
6. American hand-built quality — Each Jet 180 is assembled by HED’s team in Minnesota, where four decades of wheel-building expertise go into every spoke tension and every true.

Final Take

The HED Jet 180 Disc Brake Rear Wheel is built for triathletes who are serious about their bike split. At $1,900, it’s a meaningful investment — but one that buys a hand-built, disc-specific triathlon rear wheel with deep-section aerodynamics and race pedigree earned on the Kona course. If you’re building or upgrading a disc-brake triathlon bike and want a rear wheel that performs where the race is actually decided, the Jet 180 belongs in the conversation.