Vision has revamped its more affordable SC range of carbon fiber wheels, which now offer technology seeped from the brand’s premium Metron wheels at a more budget-friendly price point. The new rim profiles also update the new SC45 and SC60 wheels for wider tires while retaining the curved rim profile.
Vision’s premium range of wheels, Metron, is a favorite within the WorldTour, with Bahrain-Victorious, EF Education-EasyPost and Astana Qazaqstan using them. A culmination of the brand’s expertise in wheel design, they also come with a WorldTour price tag that puts them firmly in the premium category.
The new SC45 and SC60 range shares many traits with Metron wheels to offer an aerodynamically optimized wheel axle at a much lower price point, with the new wheels retailing for £1,069/$1,331/€1,249.
The rims themselves are built around a 21mm internal rim width, with the brand stating that this width “achieves maximum performance with tubeless tires ranging from 28-32mm”. This brings them up to speed with the wider tires that both pros and amateurs are now running.
Through the development of the new SC45 and SC60, Vision says: “Our engineers conducted extensive on-road and laboratory testing to refine the construction of the entire wheel system, which now results in significantly higher stability, performance and durability. “
Vision designed the new SC range of wheels with the intended end user in mind. Unlike the Metron range used by WorldTour teams, recreational riders don’t have the support of a professional mechanic who can strip and rebuild their wheels when needed. As a result, the Vision tests the performance of the wheels, as the axles fall apart due to excessive use.
“Often this type of wheel is used with little maintenance, which is why we tested performance degradation due to overuse, resulting in improvements to each component part and the connection between the parts.”
Vision markets these wheels as “perfect both as training wheels and as a starting point for new riders who want a significant upgrade to their bike.”
Aerodynamic optimization
While this may be the brand’s budget offering, performance hasn’t been neglected. The new SC45 axle was shown through the brand’s own testing to offer an 8% drop in drag (depending on yaw angle and tire size) over the existing SC40 axle. Vision says this allows riders to fit wider tires without any aerodynamic penalty.
The press release issued by the brand claims that “the SC45 with 28mm rubber is as fast or faster than the SC40 with 25mm rubber.” The same claim is true for the new SC60 axle, which offers a 4% drag drop ( depending on yaw angle and tire size), according to the test.
The wider stance of the new SC45 rim not only allows riders to fit wider tires, but is claimed to significantly increase the wheel’s crosswind stability by 21%. For the SC60, this figure is 15%. Both wheels have achieved this increase in stability in the same way by moving the lateral pressure behind and below the hub.
Specifications and availability
Vision SC45
- 45mm rim depth with hooked rim profile
- Carbon fiber rim construction
- Rotor assembly with center lock
- 1.590 grams per pair
- Price: £1,069/$1,331/€1,249
- 60mm rim depth with hooked rim profile
- Carbon fiber rim construction
- Rotor assembly with center lock
- 1690 grams per pair
- Price: £1,069/$1,331/€1,249
What do you think of the new SC45 and SC60 wheels from Vision? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. To keep up with everything happening in the world of bike technology, be sure to head over to our dedicated tech news page.
