Test Sonic Ultra 35/40 wheels

Born in 2007 in Belgium, the Sonic wheel brand is now part of the Dagg group, creator of the Girs brand in particular. The latest Ultra 35/40 are very high-end, modern and versatile wheels, which bring together all the latest technologies in the field with carbon rims and spokes, ceramic bearings and a wave-shaped profile from 35 to 40 mm, for a very competitive price and weight. Dynamic wheels that we were able to tester for nearly 1400 km.

About Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©3bikes.fr

Sonic offers two ranges of carbon wheels, both mounted on Girs bikes and available separately: the Hyper in 35, 45 and 55 (from 1480 to 1600 g per pair, for a price of €1350) and the Ultra with wave-shaped rims in 35/40 and 50/58 (from 1260 to 1380 g per pair, for a price of €2200). These are decidedly more modern with a profile height that varies and is designed to ensure more stability with crosswinds, an internal rim width of 21 mm ideal for 28 mm section tires, thin carbon profiled spokes grouped in threes for weight and rigidity, and ceramic bearings for fluidity and durability.

On paper, The Sonic Ultra 35/40 therefore offer very high performance, comparable to the very high-end models already reconnaked on the market. Starting with a low weight that can transform the behavior of a mid-range bike, often supplied with wheels around 1600 g. Concretely, this is a gain of 340 g on the complete wheels (with the same discs and the same cassette) on the bike that I am using at the moment with Shimano Ultegra C50 wheels, which brings dynamism and liveliness during each recovery or on steep slopestage. But that would be an advantagetagand uninteresting with wheels that are too flexible laterally. This is not the case with the Sonic Ultra, which maintain a very taut behavior without however being too stiff, or even too brittle. In short, wheels that are very pleasant to use whatever the conditions, even on routes not very hilly.

The question of aerodynamics

We know how much the characteristics of a pair of wheels can arouse interest among most cyclists looking for performance. The different models are often compared according to their aerodynamic performances, with sometimes notable differences in the wind tunnel, at high speeds. But these differences must be put into perspective compared to the greater gains that can be obtained on the position of the cyclist, on his clothing and on the frame itself. As a result, High rim wheels are far from the best investment, apart from what they bring to the aesthetics of the bike, of course. On varied courses exposed to the wind, with frequent changes of direction and variations in terrain, they can even prove to be handicapping in terms of piloting.tage, and therefore comfort.

We don't have any data on the aerodynamic performance of the Sonic Ultra compared to the competition, and therefore the 35/40, an average height normally not sought after by those who like to ride at high speed on the flat. However, I have not noticed any significant difference in performance on my usual courses on routes cleared with the favorable wind compared to now almost classic 50 mm high wheels. Thanks to their internal width of 21 mm (and an external width of 28 mm), they are ideal when mounted with the Michelin Power Cup 700×28 tubeless tires of the bike. test, with sidewalls that perfectly extend those of the tires, which limits aerodynamic disturbances as much as possible. The Sonic Ultra 35/40 of course offer a little less inertia and are slightly less lively once the cruising speed has stabilized than higher wheels, but we are nevertheless very far from the behavior of flat-rimmed wheels, which often seem to crash beyond 40 km/h.

And since the wind rarely always blows in the same direction as the route, the Ultra 35/40 take the lead againtagand in terms of stability when the gusts take you from the side. The bike is easier to control, which ultimately brings more serenity and less fatigue at the end of the ride.

An exemplary finish

The glossy varnish applied to the rims enhances the look of any bike. It is here free of the slightest reproach. Under the varnish, the brand logo is discreet, but sufficient to stand out depending on the angle from which one is standing. Aesthetically more classic, the hubs show direct-pull spoke flanges, which take up the 3G technology of Campagnolo wheels, reconnaked for their solidity and general balance. Grouped in threes at the rims and their lowest height (21 spokes at the front and rear), they are in fact connected to the hubs with two spokes on the transmission side and one spoke on the disc side for the rear wheel, and two spokes on the disc side and one spoke on the opposite side for the front wheel.

Thin, profiled carbon spokes are tensioned evenly on both sides of each wheel, which provides rigidity and responsiveness, while eliminating the feeling of longitudinal stiffness that can be found with certain wheels with steel spokes.

The Taiwanese-sourced ceramic bearings are smooth and fluid, whether handling them by hand or when the wheels spin once mounted on the bike.. After 1400 km, they have shown no signs of weakness, whether in terms of fluidity or play. It is difficult to estimate their durability at this stage, but they already far exceed the level of basic ceramic bearings that can be found on Chinese sites for next to nothing.

Sharp accelerations

On route, The Sonic Ultra 35/40 are lively and responsive to the slightest change of pace. Unlike some very (too?) light models found on the market, lateral rigidity is not lacking, and the rims do not seem to weave between the fork or the rear bases during nervous accelerations, whether with a flexible development or by pedaling more forcefully.

By riding hard on the flat, sprinting hard from a relatively low speed, or picking up speed after a tight turn, The bike equipped with these wheels never seems to come apartThe same is true on climbs, where their light weight works wonders as soon as you stand on the pedals.

More The Sonic Ultra never seems too stiff, whether laterally or longitudinally. The montage in tubeless tires with an average inflation pressure (here a little less than 5 bar for 28 tires with a total weight of the cyclist + bike of 67 kg, in order to maintain a good compromise between performance, comfort and grip) is undoubtedly not unrelated to this.

The cyclist's holy grail?

Finally, I really enjoyed riding these light and dynamic wheels, which are however a little more muscular than pure climber wheels.. Their 35/40 mm profile presents an excellent compromise in terms of stability and handling, while remaining quite efficient at high speed. In the Sonic range, the Ultra 50/58 with higher rims will surely more easily appeal to pure rollers or triathletes, or even competitors who now mostly race at around 45 km/h on average. But that is no longer my case.

And even if the Sonic brand is not the first one that comes to mind when considering investing in a nice pair of versatile wheels, the services offered here should make us seriously reconsider the question.

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