ICAN AERO 40 II Carbon Road Wheels: Full Review
When a rider tests wheels, he looks for more than speed. He looks for how a wheel behaves under pressure — in corners, in crosswinds, on the climbs, and over rough roads. That's exactly what Jason of Cycling Unboxed put the ICAN AERO 40 II wheelset through in his latest wheel review. Here's what he found.
What Are the ICAN AERO40 II Wheels?
The AERO 40 II is the second version of ICAN's shallow-depth carbon road wheelset. At just 40mm depth, it's the shallow option in the ICAN aero lineup — designed for a balance of lightweight climbing performance and everyday versatility.
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Handling
Handling is where the review gets honest — and it's a mixed result. On smooth roads, Jason was impressed:"They're very easy to tip the front of the bike in and get a really precise line around the corner. And I find when they're on the corner, they're very stable, when the road is smooth."
Jason describes the feel as "tippy but precise" — light to turn in, with an accurate line through corners. However, that impression changes on imperfect roads:"When I'm going around a corner and I hit a bump... the wheels jump a little bit. They kind of buck you just a tiny bit, and it effectively destabilizes you."
This behavior comes down to spoke tension. Despite using steel spokes — which normally ride softer and more comfortably — these respond more like carbon spokes, which Jason attributes to high tension. It's an honest trade-off: precise and lively, but firm.
Wind StabilityÂ
Wind stability is a clear highlight. Despite gusty conditions, Jason couldn't fault the AERO40 II:"I can't feel anything on the crosswinds."
That's in part thanks to the revised rim profile. The AERO40 II moves from a V-shape to a UV-shape — a more rounded top and more pointed bottom, designed to resist crosswind buffeting: "That's meant to make it more stable in the crosswinds. And I have to say, I think it's worked."The shallow 40mm depth also helps — less surface area for the wind to catch.
Speed
On speed, Jason is refreshingly honest about what wheels can and can't do:"If you've got the same depth rim, most wheels are within about at maximum 3 to 4 watts of each other. Can the human body discern between 3 to 4 watts? No, not at all."
In normal riding, Jason found the AERO40 II just as fast as virtually every other wheels he rides. The only noticeable difference came at very high speeds — on long descents above 60 km/h, where the shallower 40mm depth is a couple of km/h slower than the 50mm/55mm wheels he usually rides. But that's the physics of rim depth, not a flaw in this wheel.
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Responsiveness
Responsiveness is where the AERO40 II shines. The combination of ultra-lightweight construction (sub-1,200g) and stiff spokes makes the wheels incredibly reactive: "This bike just feels like it picks up immediately. So reactive to when you push those pedals — and it's a really nice, fun sensation, to be honest."
Comfort
Comfort is the category that holds the AERO40 II back, especially on the rough, shale-based roads where Jason rides. The stiffness that makes the wheels so responsive also makes them firm:"These aren't the most comfortable wheels in the world — or they're not comfortable at all, really, because of that stiffness, because of that tension in the spokes."On bumps, small rises, or dips, the bike **"bucks"** a little, which Jason notices on rides over 50 km. That firmness shows up as extra vibration through the hands and saddle.
Jason is a heavier, taller rider (90 kg), which amplifies the feel of stiffness on rough roads.
Weight
The weight is genuinely impressive. The AERO40 II comes in at under 1,200 g: "They're fabulously light. They're under 1,200 g. I think I clocked them on my scales at 1,199 g — 1 g under." Jason could feel the lightness immediately — super fun on climbs, nimble in the turns, and it makes the bike feel more exciting overall.
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Cost & Value
At ~£588 shipped to the UK (including shipping and taxes), Jason was genuinely impressed by the value:"That weight for that price is insane. Insane. That's amazing, to be honest." Sub-1,200g wheels with this performance at that price point is a standout combination.
Rim Widths
The rim widths are where Jason's personal preference comes into play. The AERO40 II uses a 21mm internal / 29mm external width — a fairly narrow setup by 2026 standards, best paired with a 28mm tire for aerodynamic efficiency. For Jason, this was too narrow: "Being limited to 28 is way too narrow. You know, it might be okay if you're quite a lightweight rider. I am not. I'm tall, I'm 90 kilos." On the UK's rough roads, wider tires (30mm–32mm) would help absorb more road buzz. Jason notes this is a preference shaped by his size and terrain — and that wider rims would also have helped compensate for the wheels' stiffness.
Final Thoughts
Jason's honest conclusion is that the AERO40 II is a great wheelset let down by stiffness and comfort on rough roads:"Super responsive, super light, super fun on the climbs. When the road is smooth, they actually handle really, really well. Got a lovely light turning feel." The price is also quite attractive – weighing less than 1200 grams, it sells for approximately £588 in the UK warehouse.
And the final verdict is clear about where these wheels thrive: "If you live somewhere where you're in mountains and your roads are perfectly smooth, they would actually be a fantastic wheelset. They're really good for climbing, and they're really good for descending when the roads are smooth."