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38mm or 50mm carbon wheels: which is better?

by shawn wick 28 Dec 2023 0 Comments

How do you decide on 38mm or 50mm carbon wheels?

If you're not familiar with rim depth, simply put, it's the thickness of the rim. When you look at the wheels, at first glance the difference between the two is very small. But many factors can affect ride quality: the stiffness of the wheel, the number of spokes, spoke tension, air pressure, weight and the right skill level.

When choosing your aero wheels, you need to consider the conditions in which you ride. For people who live in a region with a lot of slopes, a 38mm carbon rim might be a better choice. The wheel is lighter and feels much livelier than a 50mm deep wheelset. Suppose you usually drive a lot of straight roads and cover as many kilometers as possible; then the 50 mm rim is the better choice. The rim is much stiffer and can maintain speed better. Keep in mind that the 50mm rim is more difficult to handle in crosswinds.

38mm disc wheels

AERO 38 Disc

Another question you need to ask yourself is why you want to upgrade your wheelset.

Do you want to win a race or just have more fun driving? If you do a lot of criterium or racing and this is the only wheelset you will be using, you need to think about the usability of your wheelset. Here too, it is important to take wind changes, tire changes, etc. into account. Some choose the 38mm version because it is handier and can be used in more conditions. In the long run, you get more bang for your buck. On the other hand, you can also think about the tactics in your race. Do you rely on your strengths or compensate for your weaknesses?

50mm disc wheels

AERO 50 Disc

Does a climber take the flatter wheels to avoid hurting people while climbing, or does he take the deeper tread wheels to compensate on the flatter sections? My opinion on this is simple: get the deeper bowl wheels and go aero. If you want to be ready for race day, buy a 50mm wheelset and grab an additional 38mm front wheel. If it is too windy or you don't feel confident with the 50mm wheel, you can simply install the 38mm wheel.

Unfortunately, we cannot give you a specific answer as to what wheel depth you need. Every person is different, and you have to figure out what you need from your wheelset.

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