If you had to choose just one wheel, the 404 Firecrest Tubular should be your choice. With the depth and shape proven in all conditions, it’s the all-around performer and the standard by which all other wheels are measured. The 58mm rim profile is a classic in Zipp®’s arsenal that dates back to the early 1990s. A favorite of pro athletes, the 404 Tubular has won many Grand Tour stages, ITU triathlons and Ironman® titles.
At the center of the 404 Firecrest Tubular is Zipp’s 77/177 hubset with best-in-class durability and improved bearing protection with no pre-load adjustment needed. The result is improved stiffness, durability, simplicity and versatility.
- Optimized flange geometry and spoke hole attachment pattern with Sapim® CX Sprint spokes to optimize torsional and lateral stiffness and robustness.
- Includes newly designed quick-release skewers with a wider more ergonomic handle to provide more leverage for opening and closing. When closed, lever contours neatly with the frame.
- New robust hub platform with distinctive graphics.
- For those looking for a wider gear range, or tackling especially extreme terrain, an XDR driver body for 177 is sold separately and easily installed to allow for more cassette options including a 10-42. The hubset is designed to swap driver bodies without re-dishing the wheel.
Precision-engineered hubs along with Firecrest technology create something special. The 404 Firecrest Tubular weighs 1,505 grams per set, providing best-in-class performance at a light weight, making it perfect for hilly courses as well.
Firecrest technology, with rims that maintain a near-constant width almost all the way to the spoke bed, is the first aero profile that effectively controls airflow around the back half of the wheel. Firecrest wheels offer stable, predictable handling at every wind angle by moving the center of pressure – the focal point of side forces on the rim – to its optimal location near the steering axis. A wider rim and proprietary resin system and manufacturing process increases lateral stiffness for sprinting and cornering yet offers greater vertical compliance for more control, comfort, and durability on rough surfaces.
