To improve bike performance, you should always consider the type of wheels your bike is using first. The wheelset is arguably the most critical component of your bike.
Having good and high-quality wheels can turn even entry-level bikes lighter and faster than they originally would have been. The most common materials used for bike wheels are carbon fiber and aluminum.
When choosing the best type of wheels for your bike, you also need to consider other factors such as the terrain you usually ride your bike on, your budget, the type of bike riding you do and your personal preference.
Let’s go over the differences between carbon fiber and aluminum wheelsets and their advantages and disadvantages to help you decide which would fit your bike better.
Part 1. Carbon Fiber Wheels
This wheel type is commonly used for high-end, high-performance road and mountain bikes. You’ll notice that most professional racing bikes use carbon fiber for their wheels.
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Carbon fiber is an extremely rigid, lightweight and strong material, which explains why it’s the most common choice for high-performance wheels. It’s great for improving the bike’s acceleration and handling.
Carbon fiber wheels aren’t all made equally. Some of them have variations in how the wheels and the carbon fiber were made. These variations could range from the type of resin used to the fiber density used to how manufacturers molded and heated the material.
The differences in how carbon wheels were manufactured affect their weight, stiffness, and durability. But, generally, they share the same advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
Stiffness
The stiffness of carbon wheels can be an advantage and disadvantage, depending on your riding needs. Still, generally, it is seen as an advantage. A stiffer wheel results in sharper steering and a more responsive bike.
Looks
Although this aspect is generally subjective, it’s undeniable that the different surface finish techniques used in the construction of carbon fiber result in some great-looking wheels.
Speed and acceleration
Carbon fiber wheels tend to be lighter, making them spin faster, thus contributing to the speed and acceleration of the bike.
Better aerodynamics
The rims of carbon fiber wheels can be easily turned into high-tech aerodynamic shapes. This gives professional racers a huge advantage in triathlon, road and time trial racing.
Can maintain their shape longer
It’s a lot more difficult to bend carbon than with alloy. Thus, they’re less likely to lose their shape even when frequently used on aggressive terrain.
Strength-to-weight ratio
Rotating weight matters a lot on a bike. With lighter carbon fiber wheels, their power transfer and acceleration are much more immediate, making the bike feel significantly snappier.
Efficiency
Riding wheels that are lighter and stiffer take up much less energy and stamina.
Good overall quality
Carbon wheels just have a better overall quality because of their ability to achieve a good balance between rigidity, performance, and weight.
Disadvantages
Cost
With the high-quality performance, they’re able to provide, it’s no surprise that carbon wheels are more expensive than aluminium wheels.
Less durability
Rims made up of carbon fiber are brittle. It can be easy to crack them if you’re not careful.
It cannot be repaired
Once your carbon rim breaks, you won’t be able to repair it. Instead, it would help if you replaced it, which only adds to your expenses.
Overheating
When you’re riding your bike through a long descent, the carbon rims can easily overheat and stop working as well as they should.
Less eco-friendly
Carbon fiber wheels are not as environmentally friendly because you can’t recycle carbon fiber.
Part 2. Aluminum Wheels
On the other hand, aluminum is the bike wheel material that is most commonly used. Besides a few high-end bikes, all bikes are manufactured with aluminum rims.
Aluminium is a lightweight, durable, stiff and affordable material, which is why manufacturers tend to use them a lot. However, aluminum, on its own, isn't enough to use as material for bike wheels. This is why it's alloyed with other metallic elements like zinc, silicon, and magnesium.
Alloys can also vary in characteristics. Some are stiffer, while others are lighter and offer more resilience. These variations in the different alloys can affect the wheel's weight, the rim's durability, and the ride's overall quality.
But just like carbon fiber wheels, they share the same advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
Durability
Compared to carbon fiber wheels, aluminum wheels do not easily break. They can take harder impact forces and still not sustain any damage.
Cheaper and more affordable
Even the highest quality aluminum wheels are much more affordable than carbon fiber wheels. They usually cost about less than half as much as carbon fiber.
Better ride quality
The metal alloy has material flex that’s inherent to it. It’s what allows aluminum rims to offer a more compliant and comfortable ride compared to the stiffness of carbon fiber. They’re also able to absorb any shocks or vibrations.
Easily repairable
When your aluminum wheels get bent out of shape, returning them to their original shape is fairly easy. Finding a replacement for your alloy rim is much easier than finding one for carbon fiber.
Reliability
Aluminum rims are less likely to break and fail while in the middle of a ride. They also dissipate heat better, meaning they’re less likely to overheat than their carbon fiber counterparts.
Disadvantages
Heavier
Because aluminum wheels are denser and require more material, they weigh more than their carbon fiber counterparts. This results in them also being a lot slower.
Flexibility
Although its flexibility can be advantageous, it’s also very disadvantageous because it makes the wheels less responsive to what the rider wants. They also end up deforming on impact, which can be annoying when constantly bending them back into shape.
Less efficient
The extra weight and flexibility of aluminum wheels make riding them less efficient. You would need more energy and stamina compared to using bikes with carbon fiber wheels.
Final Thoughts
Using carbon fiber and aluminum bike wheels has both upsides and downsides. Aluminium is better for bike riders who lean more toward casual and recreational riding. At the same time, carbon fiber is better for those who engage in competitive riding.
