A Premium Wide Gravel Front Wheel Without the Premium Price

The Zipp 303 XPLR S Front Wheel is a 700c carbon gravel wheel that borrows key innovations from Zipp's premium wide gravel platform and delivers them at an accessible price point for gravel riders who want real performance gains without a flagship budget. The 303 XPLR S is specifically designed around Zipp's Total System Efficiency approach applied to the challenges of gravel - addressing the specific ways that gravel terrain creates resistance and vibration that slows riders down and fatigues them faster than smooth road surfaces.

This is the front wheel only with 12mm thru-axle at 100mm front spacing and centerlock disc interface. The matching rear wheel is available separately.

Critical Compatibility Warning: The 303 XPLR S uses a hookless rim construction and is designed for Zipp approved compatible tyres only. The maximum tyre pressure is 50 PSI - significantly lower than standard road tyre pressures. Running non-approved tyres or exceeding 50 PSI on a hookless rim can result in tyre failure. Confirm your tyre is on Zipp's approved compatibility list before purchase and installation. Do not use standard clincher tyres at road tyre pressures on this wheel.

• UD Carbon fiber construction tubeless and hookless rim construction: 32mm width and 54mm depth profile
• Wide and deep profile integrates seamlessly with gravel tires to increase aerodynamic efficiency
• CX-Ray spokes with aluminum nipples carbon steel cartridge bearings
• Applies Zipp’s Total System Efficiency to high-performance gravel
• Zipp 76D hubs with sealed cartridge - carbon Steel bearings
• Designed for Zipp approved compatible tires only
• Max tire pressure 50 psi with the ability to run pressures under 30 psi

32mm Internal Width, 54mm Depth, and Total System Efficiency

The rim uses UD Carbon fibre construction with a hookless tubeless profile at 32mm internal width and 54mm depth - a combination that defines the 303 XPLR S's approach to gravel performance. The 32mm internal width is exceptionally wide for a 700c wheel - designed to support gravel tyre widths in the 38mm to 50mm range at the lower pressures that gravel tubeless riding demands, allowing the tyre to form a rounder, more supported cross-section without squirm at pressures the wheel is rated down to below 30 PSI.

Zipp's Total System Efficiency is the design philosophy applied to the 303 XPLR S - a framework that considers the wheel not in isolation but as part of a complete system with the tyre. The wide hookless rim profile creates a seamless transition between the tyre sidewall and the rim's outer surface, reducing the aerodynamic disruption at the tyre-to-rim junction that standard rim profiles create with wider gravel tyres. The 54mm depth adds aerodynamic efficiency on fast gravel road sections while the wide rim volume reduces surface vibration transmission to the rider by allowing lower tyre pressures that absorb trail irregularities rather than transmitting them.

Zipp 76D Hub, CX-Ray Spokes, and Front Wheel Character

The front wheel uses Zipp's 76D hub with sealed cartridge carbon steel bearings - a hub specification designed for gravel's combination of varied conditions, exposure to mud and water, and the hub loads of long days in the saddle on rough surfaces. CX-Ray spokes with aluminium nipples are laced 24 holes - Sapim's CX-Ray is one of the most widely respected bladed spoke specifications in the wheelset category, providing aerodynamic profile and high fatigue resistance.

For a gravel front wheel at 54mm depth, the 303 XPLR S's Total System Efficiency approach reduces the crosswind sensitivity that a 54mm depth would impose on a standard narrow rim - the wide profile's aerodynamic integration with wide gravel tyres improving stability at speed in the crosswind conditions that exposed gravel routes regularly involve.

FAQs

What is the maximum tyre pressure for the 303 XPLR S?

The maximum tyre pressure is 50 PSI. The wheel can also be run at pressures below 30 PSI for maximum traction and vibration absorption on rough gravel. Do not exceed 50 PSI and do not use non-approved tyres on this hookless rim.

What tyres are compatible with the 303 XPLR S?

The 303 XPLR S is designed for Zipp approved compatible tyres only. Confirm your specific tyre is on Zipp's approved compatibility list before purchase. Non-approved tyres on a hookless rim at any pressure can result in tyre failure.

Is this a front or rear wheel?

This listing is for the front wheel only with 12mm thru-axle at 100mm front spacing and centerlock disc interface. The matching rear wheel is available separately.

What is Total System Efficiency?

Total System Efficiency is Zipp's design philosophy that considers the wheel and tyre together as an integrated aerodynamic and performance system. For the 303 XPLR S, this means the wide hookless rim profile is specifically shaped to create a seamless aerodynamic transition with approved wide gravel tyres, reducing drag at the tyre-to-rim junction and maximising the performance of the tyre-wheel system as a unit.

What internal width is the 303 XPLR S rim and why does it matter for gravel?

The 32mm internal width supports wide gravel tyres at lower pressures without tyre squirm - allowing the tyre to form a round, supported cross-section below 30 PSI for maximum traction and vibration absorption on rough gravel surfaces.

Specs: