Road Bike Wheels: Are Deeper Wheels Really Faster? The Perfect Depth?

After years of riding the Roval CLX carbon road bike wheels on my Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7, I've switched the to the Enve 4.5 wheelset and now the Reserve 40/44 wheelset. Guess what? The speed difference almost goes unnoticed. It has caused me to ask, "What is the perfect, all-around wheel depth? How does width play a factor in the performance and speed of a wheelset?" I'm here to find out.

Gear I’m Riding and Into ↓↓↓
Favorite Road Tires: Pirelli Race TLR https://amzn.to/49jhn7i
Classic Tires: Continental GP5000 S TR https://amzn.to/3ZdCD9Q
Gravel Tires: Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M https://amzn.to/4ghsTCj
Sealant: Orange Sealed https://amzn.to/3ZjIOt9
Road Race Bike: Specialized Tarmac SL8 https://geni.us/dD4d
Gravel Bike: Specialized Crux https://geni.us/USRdxh
MTB Bike: Epic 8 https://geni.us/1APpjc
OSPW: CeramicSpeed OSPW RS https://amzn.to/4eVD8v6
All-Around Helmet: Kask Protone Icon https://amzn.to/4f0y093
Road Helmet: Specialized Evade 3 https://geni.us/ReXn7
Road Shoes: Specialized Torch https://geni.us/ALhUC
Gravel/MTB Shoes: Recon Lace https://geni.us/tzba
Computer: Wahoo ELMNT Bolt https://amzn.to/45VERgm
Saddle: Pro Stealth https://amzn.to/3sVd9S7
Chain Lube: CeramicSpeed UFO Drip https://amzn.to/3B19Opd
Road Wheels: Enve SES 4.5 https://geni.us/yy3ao
Gravel Wheels: Reserve 40|44 https://geni.us/1iKt6Z
Valves: Fillmore Valves https://geni.us/uQQTZ6

Nutrition ↓↓↓
Everyday Workout Drink Mix: https://amzn.to/3VpgrZo
Everyday Recovery Protein: https://amzn.to/41bJqU9
Everyday Oats: https://amzn.to/3CTW0x4
Creatine Monohydrate: https://amzn.to/4gfyhpF

Camera Equipment ↓↓↓
Camera: Sony A7RV https://amzn.to/3BdfPPs
Lens: Sony 16-35 f/2.8 GMII https://amzn.to/49oGBBk
Microphone: DJI Mic 2 https://amzn.to/4g2ik6r
Tripod: Mactrem https://amzn.to/49oGBBk
*Some of these are affiliate links with a small commission.




Instagram: @outdoorbros_

00:00 Introduction
00:28 Real-World Perspective
00:48 Everyday Athlete Perspective
01:35 New Tarmac SL7, Shifting Opinions
02:35 "Don't You Miss Your Deep Carbon Wheels?"
03:03 The Intangible Benefits of a More Shallow Wheelset
03:23 Is Aero Everything?
03:54 Favorite Depth? Let Me Know