These wheels are easy to overlook going by the spec sheet alone, but these wheels are much better than the specs would suggest. They are super responsive and more comfortable than I expected, certainly not to the level of something with a 25mm internal width, but they handle rough pavement surprisingly well. The stiffness is really impressive, I'm able to put out about 1000 watts in short bursts and I don't notice any lateral flex or spoke deformation at all. They hold air better than any wheels I've previously used, I think that is partly due to the GP5K AS TR tires, but Shimano definitely made this wheel the right way. These are probably the most stable wheels in crosswinds that I've ridden and they hold speed nicely as well. Shimano might have a more modern design in the works at this point, but these wheels are still really solid performance wise and the ride feel is amazing, they feel fast even at lower speeds which makes them a lot of fun to ride. When they are on sale it is a great value.
Vision Metron wheels are used by the pro peloton. This 40mm depth version is the predecessor to the Metron SL 45, which I've been lusting after for the past few months. However, considering I wanted to upgrade the (aluminum) DT Swiss R460 wheelset that came stock on my 2018 Ridley Carbon X-Trail, I was super stoked to see this 40mm Metron wheelset on sale for an incredible $845. Sign me up. The unboxing told the story I wanted to hear. Wheelbag? Check. QR skewers and adapters (in case you need these)? Check. Tubeless valves and tape? Check. The wheels themselves were wrapped in a fabric protective case, and then inside a plastic bag, and then safely ensconced in a side-by-side cardboard and foam board carrier inside the sturdy cardboard shipping carton. Everything arrived to my address in Texas in perfect condition. These wheels will save me almost 16 ounces of rolling weight on my Ridley, and I can hardly wait to test them out. Oh, one last thing: my Ridley wheels were setup with 6-bolt disc brakes vs. centerlock, which is what these new Metron wheels feature too. So, it saved me even more time and money. Truly a 5 star product and deal.
For some reason, the "classic" tan wall of these tires were much, much harder to mount on my Roval wheels than the same exact tire I bought last year that was in a different color (black). Makes no sense to me either.
Black tires, mounted both in 45 minutes. These classic tan wall tires? Took me a day and a half. Not joking.
But the tires are excellent once mounted, extremely durable and puncture proof and the rolling resistance is right up there with the very best I've used in that regard (GP5000).
1) For all their many virtues, Conti GP5000s make a roadside flat a crisis: "Will I be able to get this OFF the rim and then get it back ON before I freeze to death?".
2) I'm not sold on tubeless. I run TPU tubes year-round and average one flat every two years riding 3-5k miles a year. I replace tires frequently enough that they are never worn or degraded and ride on familiar roads, paved trails. IMHO, tubeless is just too complicated with little discernable advantage.
3) I HATE wrestling tubeless tires onto carbon wheels!
I gave these Goodyears a try and they immediately won me over --they are EASY to install. Next, with a little soapy water sprayed along the bead and 80 PSI they popped into place and ran true. The ride is the equivalent to the Vittoria Corsa N.EXT -- which is to say: very good training tire.
I prefer Vittoria Corsa Pro or Veloflex for race tires, but they don't wear as long and are a bit more delicate for daily riding on public roads, so I reserve those for specific rides.
Overall, the Goodyear Eagle F1 R tube type is an excellent tire -- especially for higher mileage volume where the possibility of a flat far from home is higher and you need to be able to remove and remount in short order.
