Assessment: Profile Design GMR carbon wheels are an reasonably priced highway & gravel choice

Obtainable in three rim depths, rim and disc brake choices, with tubeless readiness and strong builds, they begin at simply $1,299. And that’s with a two yr guarantee.

So, are they highway wheels? Gravel wheels? Triathlon wheels? Sure. Sure, they’re…

Profile GMR 50mm wheel tech options

From an aesthetic standpoint, Profile Design’s GMR wheels have a really stealthy matte black end. The gloss logos don’t stand out an excessive amount of, even within the solar as you’ll see on the highway using pictures under.

The knurled nut for the tubeless valve stems is a pleasant contact. They arrive pre-taped for tubeless with valves put in…able to rock, out of the field. In addition they include eight spare Sapim CX-Ray bladed spokes (2 every in every of the 4 lengths used), plus eight spare alloy nipples and washers.

Profile says their aerodynamic form is “actual world examined” versus wind tunnel examined. It has a primary aero form. Whereas I sometimes favor shallower rim depths than the 50mm model they despatched us for assessment (they needed to indicate off the flexibility of this depth for highway and gravel), these dealt with numerous circumstances fairly nicely. Extra on that under. Right here’s the precise rim profile shapes:

They’re extra rounded than their prior rim design, however persistently slope inward from the bead to the spoke mattress. This, in distinction with a number of the extra bulbous rims that get wider under the rim mattress earlier than rounding off, makes them what I might name “usually aero” reasonably than “particularly aero.”

Certainly, Profile Design doesn’t make any particular claims, simply that they’re extra aerodynamic and secure than their prior V-shaped wheel collection.

The rim mattress has a platform for tubeless tire beads to snap into…

…and a hook to maintain them there.

Inner width is claimed at 19mm, they usually measure precisely that (19.05mm on our calipers). Exterior width on the high of the rim was 26.24mm.

Profile’s disc brake wheels use a proprietary hub that they’ve designed to be stiff and powerful. They arrive with 12mm via axle caps and Heart Lock disc brake mounting.

The shells are machined aluminum and designed to create a really stiff wheel mixed with the straight pull bladed spokes.

Our check set weighed in lower than claimed weight. Entrance was 748g, rear 944g, for a mixed whole of 1,692g. That is on par with a number of high-end wheel manufacturers’ equally deep disc brake carbon wheels, besides these value quite a bit much less.

Profile GMR 50mm wheels assessment

So, in the event that they’re not designed to be probably the most aerodynamically optimized highway wheels on the market, what are they for? They’re modernly large for 25-30mm highway tubeless tires, however nonetheless a bit slim for gravel’s greatest treads. They’re quick, however not triathlon geek quick. They’re first rate in crosswinds, however not the quickest, most secure wheel I’ve ridden.

Seems, they’re only a good, reasonably priced all ’rounder. Throw them on any drop bar bike you personal they usually’ll get the job finished.

The GMR 50mm wheels roll easy and quick, and principally freed from drama. Sturdy crosswind gusts did have an effect on them greater than different wider, rounder rims I’ve ridden, however nothing that made me really feel unsafe. More often than not, I simply forgot they had been there and rode alongside as I might on wheels costing far more. There are noticeable aerodynamic variations, however I don’t suppose the fanatic rider these are priced for would discover.

I actually just like the matte end and subdued general look. It labored nicely on the Canyon Endurace and Kona Libre I examined them on. I can’t consider any bike paint scheme or colour it wouldn’t work with.

Maintain up, what about that equipment?

Bellwether is Profile Design’s sister firm and makes some nice biking kits, and this one isn’t any exception. It’s from their Breakaway Assortment, they usually have socks and gloves to match. The rear pockets are deep sufficient to swallow an iPhone Max and even my Sony A6000 DSLR. Or numerous snacks, all with out sagging or swaying below load.

For those who’re on the lookout for fashionable colour matching from tip to toe that’s additionally snug on the longest rides, test it out. OK, again to the wheels…

Driving on the gravel

For gravel, I mounted 700×40 Kenda Flintridge Professional tires. Even with the comparatively slender (for gravel) 19mm inside rim width, the tires ended up with an appropriately rounded form that held regular throughout cornering.

With aerodynamics mainly out the window for gravel, the rim profile issues lower than the general lateral stiffness of the wheels. That, and their capacity to roll rapidly and easily.

Luckily, the GMR wheels did all that completely high-quality after I obtained them on the crushed rocks. They held a line on skittish terrain. Trip high quality was good, not harsh, as will be the case with some deeper carbon rims, particularly when laced 3-cross with bladed spokes.

When a model tells you their product’s nice at all the things, it’s to be taken with a giant, chunky grain of sea salt. However when Profile mentioned these are good at highway, good at gravel, and good for the occasional triathlon, that’s plausible. And having ridden them, I’d agree, particularly for the worth.

For those who’re on the lookout for a strong pair of carbon fiber wheels for no matter sort of using your drop bar bikes could take you on, the GMR’s are price a glance.

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