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Zipp Firecrest Shootout: 303, 404, 808, Super-9   Bookmark and Share
images by Nick Salazar   •   May 16, 2012   •   hits 75,551

If there's one place triathletes need to pay more attention, it's the shallowest wheel in the Firecrest series, the 303. It's 13mm shallower than the 404, and a fair bit lighter, yet nearly as fast.
 
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It's an excellent time to be a triathlete looking for wheels, because the available technology is better than it's ever been. But the plethora of options also makes it a very daunting task. In this review, I take a very deep look at Zipp's full lineup for 2012, including the 303 Firecrest, 404 Firecrest, 808 Firecrest, and the Super-9 Disc. I'm breaking down what it is that makes each of these wheels unique, and present recommended wheelset combinations for different kinds of athletes. This is TriRig's most thorough review of Zipp product to date, and we believe it will be a useful resource for the curious athlete.


Zipp's lineup now represents a formidable collection that can equip just about any athlete with the ideal tools for their needs.

The 404/808 Carbon Clincher combo is perhaps the most versatile set for triathletes, marrying next-level aerodynamics with the ease of clinchers.

The Firecrest series is all made with unidirectional carbon that shines beautifully at the right angle.

The 404/808 set is my personal favorite for just about any occasion, and yes, I do ride them in training. Life's too short not to.

When the going gets tough, the tough ride discs. The 808/Super-9 Combo is about the fastest wheelset on the planet, but comes with the quirks of a disc.

I just love the construction of the Super-9, whose individual panels catch light in such an interesting way.

If there's one place triathletes need to pay more attention, it's the shallowest wheel in the Firecrest series, the 303. It's 13mm shallower than the 404, and a fair bit lighter, yet nearly as fast.

The 303 (right) gives up just a single watt compared to the 404 (left), making it a compelling choice for riders in windy or hilly environments. Personally, I love the snappy ride of the 303, and can see it replacing the 404 as the do-it-all choice for many athletes.

The 303, 404, and 808 Firecrest Carbon Clincher series. The circle is now complete.

There's nothing quite like a good set of hoops, and Zipp makes some of the best.

That's a whole lot of fancy carbon right there. And it's gorgeous.

The Super-9 Disc is a sight to behold, sporting the most intricate and eye-catching dimple pattern of any Zipp product.

At different angles, the Super-9 reflects light in different ways.

A closeup of the logo embossed right into the disc.

Of course, if you want to use a disc, you have to deal with the slight hassle of a pump adapter, which can sometimes be annoying.

New for 2012, Zipp is producing its own butyl tubes with aluminum valves to save weight.

Zipp's rim tape is one solid, semi-elastic loop that holds in place via tension, not adhesive. Best rim tape I've ever used.

As usual, Zipp's construction is gorgeous - the 3K weave in the tire bed is flawless.

Zipp makes their own hubset, the 88/188 pair, which is constantly being refined and improved.

Also new are these removeable valve core extensions. I'm still using the old style (still in production) that leaves the valve core where it is, and just extends it. That way I never have to screw/unscrew anything. Just throw the pump on and fill the tire.

Discs also come with the inconvenience of valve covers. Fortunately, Zipp supplies several to replace worn-out ones.

Wide rims make a better match for tires. This is the 404 matched with a 21mm Tangente.

The hubs, spokes, skewers, and other details have all been anodized in Zipp's new Beyond Black color scheme, which I realy like.

Zipp really thinks about all the details. You can see here that their Tangente tires sport their signature dimple pattern, and yes, the last row of dimples are actually tiny little Z logos. That's what I call good branding!





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