Shimano Ultegra WH-R8170 C50 review

Fifty millimetres of hooked carbon rim, tubeless ready, at roughly half what the top tier costs.

The verdict: Fifty millimetres is the depth most riders should buy: deep enough that the aerodynamic gain is real at road speeds, shallow enough that a crosswind on an exposed descent does not become a handling problem. Buy it if you want a genuinely fast wheelset from a manufacturer with a global service network. Skip it if you ride mountains or coastal roads in wind, where a shallower rim is safer and barely slower.

Best All Round Carbon Wheelset

Shimano Ultegra WH-R8170 C50 Carbon Road Wheelset, tubeless

~$1,570

A 700c carbon road wheelset with a 50mm hooked rim, tubeless ready, from Shimano's Ultegra tier.

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Specifications

Spec	Detail
Rim material	Carbon
Wheel size	700c
Rim type	Hooked
Rim depth	50mm
Tyre system	Tubeless
Tier	Shimano Ultegra

Specifications above come from Shimano's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

A hooked rim rather than hookless means the wheelset takes a far wider range of tyres, including high pressure clinchers, which hookless rims restrict for safety reasons.
Fifty millimetres is the depth where aerodynamic gain and crosswind handling balance for most riders on most roads.
Shimano's global service network means a damaged hub or a broken spoke is a repair rather than an ordeal, which is not true of every carbon wheel brand.
Ultegra sits close enough to Dura-Ace in performance that the price gap is mostly about weight, which for most riders is the least important variable.

Where it falls short

Fifteen hundred and seventy dollars is a lot of money for aerodynamic gains measured in a few watts at typical road speeds, and the honest gain scales with how fast you go.
Fifty millimetres in a strong crosswind is noticeable, particularly for lighter riders on exposed roads, and no marketing changes that.
Carbon rims and disc brakes together mean braking is not a rim issue any more, and a carbon rim is still more expensive to replace after an impact.
Tubeless setup is fiddly the first time, and a wheelset like this deserves proper tubeless tyres rather than tubes, which adds cost.

What owners report

Published owner reports describe a fast, stiff and well made wheelset, and Shimano's build quality and hub durability draw consistent praise. Riders coming from aluminium wheels describe a clear difference in how the bike holds speed.

The recurring caution is crosswind behaviour, which is a property of rim depth rather than a fault. Reports from lighter riders and from those on exposed coastal or mountain roads more often suggest a shallower rim, which is sensible advice.

Who it suits

Riders on rolling or flat terrain who want to hold speed with less effort.
Anyone wanting carbon wheels from a brand with a global service network.
Riders who want a hooked rim so tyre choice stays open.

Who should skip it

Light riders on exposed windy roads, where a shallower rim is safer.
Pure climbers, for whom rim depth adds weight and little benefit.
Riders whose bike would gain more from better tyres, which is the cheapest speed available.

Alternatives worth considering

More Speed per Dollar

Wahoo KICKR V6 Smart Indoor Trainer

~$849

Half the price, and consistent structured training produces more speed than any wheelset does. If the goal is to ride faster rather than to own faster wheels, this is the honest recommendation.

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The Cheapest Real Gain

Favero Assioma Duo Power Meter Pedal

~$521

A third of the price, and it tells you where your training is actually going. Riders who buy a power meter before deep wheels generally improve faster.

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Gift idea: the Ultegra C50 wheelset is one of the picks in our Gifts for Cyclists guide. See also Gifts for Runners, gifts under $50 and the gift finder.

Common questions

Is 50mm the right rim depth?

For most riders on most roads, yes. Shallower rims handle crosswinds better and are slightly lighter; deeper rims are faster in a straight line at higher speeds. Fifty millimetres is where the two curves cross for typical road speeds, which is why it is the most common depth sold.

Hooked or hookless rims?

Hooked rims take a far wider range of tyres and pressures. Hookless rims are lighter and impose tyre width and pressure limits for safety. This wheelset is hooked, which means fewer restrictions on what you can fit and is a genuine practical advantage.

How much faster are carbon wheels?

At typical road speeds the aerodynamic saving over a shallow aluminium wheel is real and modest, and it grows with speed. Tyre choice and pressure often produce a comparable saving for a fraction of the money. Our drafting power calculator shows how much larger the aerodynamic effects around you are.

Are they safe in crosswinds?

Fifty millimetres is manageable for most riders and is noticeable in gusts, particularly for lighter riders on exposed roads. If your regular routes are windy and open, a shallower rim is the more comfortable choice and you will lose very little.

Should I buy wheels or a power meter?

A power meter, almost always, if you do not have one. Wheels make you slightly faster for the same effort; a power meter makes your training more effective, and that produces a bigger change over a season. Our power to weight ratio calculator shows what actually moves the needle on a climb.

Keep reading

This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.