Test Zipp Super-9 lenticular wheel

When every watt counts and seconds are stolen from the stopwatch, the Zipp Super-9 arrives with brutal clarity: yes, a disc wheel can drop below the symbolic 1000g mark while still accommodating 28mm tires at low pressure. And no, it doesn't turn your time trial or triathlon bike into a jackhammer. After a test Having tested it in training and racing, here is our opinion on what this wheel really changes when riding at an average speed of 45 km/h.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©3bikes.fr

With this new Super-9 launched in spring 2024, Zipp hasn't reinvented the disc wheel, but simply made it more mature. Since 1988, the American brand has been spinning solid wheels, but This latest version marks a definitive break with the old dogma that the harder and stiffer a wheel of this type was, the faster it was..

The Super-9 Tubeless for disc brakes was born from the TSE philosophy (Total System Efficiencywhich refuses to separate aerodynamics, weight, rolling qualities, and comfort. The result? A hookless rim with an internal width of 23 mm and an external width of 30,4 mm, requiring a minimum tire width of 28 mm inflated to a maximum of 4,5-5 bar. Forget the old 8 bar tires that crushed your back on the slightest imperfection in the road surface and caused you to lose traction when standing up to pedal.

An integrated pressure sensor

At the heart of the system is the ZR1 hub with ceramic bearings and a 66-point engagement freehub body that delivers exceptional responsiveness. The specific carbon laminate increases the wheel's lateral stiffness compared to the previous generation while also reducing weight. On the scales, the wheel weighs 999 g, with integrated TyreWiz (the Quarq pressure sensor that helps avoid errors). At €2750, the Super-9 costs the price of a high-end wheel.No (pleasant) surprises there. But thankfully, the finish is top-notch, with a lenticular shape perfectly designed in a wind tunnel and parallel sidewalls starting from the hub and tapering inwards where they meet the rim bed. The surface features dimples to control airflow. A common feature at Zipp.

=> SEE AS ​​WELL : Buy the Zipp Super-9 for €2099 instead of €2750

Faced with the competition, the Super-9 plays in the big leagues but refuses to pay the price of weightThe Roval 321 remains very slightly lighter (36g less with a montag(26-inch tire and latex inner tube) and €250 cheaper, but its 19mm internal channel limits it to narrow tires and high pressures. The ENVE SES Disc (1225g) offers impeccable finishing but costs €750 more for an additional 200g. The HED Vanquish Pro RCD comes in second at 1135g, but its DT 240 hub is a step behind in responsiveness. Only the Princeton CarbonWorks Blur V4 or the Wheelscience dare to go lighter, at the cost of a less reassuring warranty and uncertain availability.

In short: if you already ride a Cervelo P5, a Canyon Speedmax, or a latest-generation Trek Speed ​​Concept, the Zipp Super-9 is the only lenticular lens that won't make you regret the... 858 NSW the day when the route is degrading.

Fast, but comfortable

On routeThe magic happens from the very first kilometers. The lightweight approach dispels the myth of punitive inertia. Exiting a corner at 48 km/h, the acceleration is as brisk as with an 858, but once underway, inertia takes over like a high-speed train. On a hilly course, the difference with just two wheels with 50-60 mm deep rims is measured in tens of seconds. If you're aiming for a personal best in a long-distance triathlon, every watt saved arrives untouched in the marathon portion. And if, as with our testAs the man of the day, you're playing for a (Para)lympic time trial title, you can never blame your montagSuper-9 at the rear and 858 NSW at the front. Torsional rigidity transforms out-of-the-saddle transitions into catapults: No flex, no loss, just a brutal transmission that lowers the lap time even further..

On the aerodynamic front, Zipp isn't communicating any supposed power savings compared to the previous version of the Super-9, but insists that it's just as aerodynamic, while still accepting a 28mm tire without penalty. In real-world conditions, The main benefit comes from lower rolling resistance., hard to believe when you come from the old school but which proves surprising when tested with an inflation pressure around 4,5 bar.

Comfort? Absolutely. The vibrations that usually travel up to the neck on a classic disc wheel disappear. The rim absorbs bumps like a spoked wheel. This allows triathletes to arrive at T2 with legs that feel almost brand new.

And then there's the silence. Almost absolute.Where most lenticular wheels scream their presence with every rotation and even more so with every gear change, the Super-9 glides by without a murmur. Almost no whoosh-whoosh Rhythmic, no annoying whistling at 50 km/h. Only the wind on your helmet reminds you that you're riding at an indecent speed. Over 20 km of test With time, this silence becomes addictive: nothing disturbs concentration anymore, just the sound of your breathing and the ticking of the counter climbing.

New philosophy

Verdict? The Zipp Super-9 isn't just a lenticular wheel. It's the end of a compromise.For the triathlete who refuses to choose between pure speed and fresh legs for the marathon, for the time trial runner who wants to break 50 minutes over 40km without sacrificing comfort on routeIn reality, it sets a new benchmark. At €2750, it's expensive. But when you cross the finish line 42 seconds ahead and with the feeling of having driven on velvet, you understand that the real price is what your rivals are paying, those who haven't yet grasped that smoother is definitely faster ( » “More fluid, it’s definitely faster”).

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