ENVE G SES 4.5 Carbon Rear Gravel Bike Wheel

The Enve G SES 4.5 rear wheel is built for gravel riders who want aerodynamic gain without giving up climbing feel or nimble handling. It pairs a 55mm-deep, 30mm internal width carbon rim with Enve's INNERDRIVE Premium Straight-Pull hub; the complete G SES 4.5 wheelset comes in at 1,565 grams, a weight that keeps the wheel responsive on punchy climbs and technical terrain while still capturing real aerodynamic benefit at the tire volumes gravel riders run today.

This rear wheel uses a Wide Hookless Bead design pulled from Enve's M Series mountain wheels, giving the rim a wider, blunt leading edge that dissipates impact energy and resists pinch flats from hidden rocks and ruts. The rim alone weighs 450 grams; the rear INNERDRIVE hub adds 217 grams. It's built to Rear 12x142 spacing with a Centerlock disc brake interface (lockrings not included) and a 700c wheelsize.

Who It's For

•        Gravel racers and fast group riders who want aerodynamic gain across mixed terrain without the added weight of Enve's more aero-focused G SES 6.7.

•        Riders running wide, high-volume gravel tires who want rim width matched to tire volume for cleaner airflow.

•        Anyone building or upgrading a 700c gravel bike with 12x142 rear spacing and Centerlock disc brakes.

•        Riders who prioritize outright aerodynamics over weight and handling should look at the G SES 6.7 instead.

This listing is for the rear wheel only — a front wheel is needed to complete the set.

What to Look For

•        Confirm your frame's rear spacing (12x142 thru-axle) and Centerlock disc brake mounts before buying; lockrings are sold separately.

•        Check tire width against the rim's 30mm internal width — wider rims are tuned for the higher-volume tires now common in gravel racing.

Weigh weight and handling (G SES 4.5) against maximum aerodynamic efficiency (G SES 6.7) based on your riding priorities.

Key Features

INNERDRIVE Premium Hub System: a 100% Enve-designed, oversized 42mm ratchet drive system positioned inboard and over the bearings, reducing axle stress for less bearing drag and longer bearing life. An automatic Perfect Preload system keeps hub engagement consistent without manual adjustment, and the hub is built for low-maintenance, easy serviceability. The rear hub weighs 217 grams.

Wide Hookless Bead Rim: the 55mm-deep, 30mm internal width rim borrows bead technology from Enve's M Series mountain wheels. The wider, blunt leading edge dissipates impact energy and improves pinch-flat resistance on rough gravel. Rim weight is 450 grams.

Rim Width Tuned to Tire Volume: as gravel tire widths have grown, rim width has grown with them to maintain clean airflow across the rim sidewall — the intent behind this wheel's aerodynamic gains at the tire sizes gravel riders actually use.

Build Spec: Rear 12x142 spacing, Centerlock disc brake interface (lockrings not included), 700c, straight-pull spoke build at 273mm.

Rider Intent Summary

•        Biggest strength: A 55mm-deep, 30mm internal width rim tuned to modern high-volume gravel tires, paired with a hub system built for long bearing life and low maintenance.

•        Tradeoff: Prioritizes weight and handling over the outright aerodynamic efficiency of Enve's G SES 6.7.

•        What makes it different: Wide Hookless Bead technology adapted from Enve's mountain wheel line, aimed at pinch-flat resistance at gravel racing speeds.

Victory's Take

We like the G SES 4.5 for riders who want aero benefit without a wheel that feels dead on a climb — it's what we point gravel racers toward when they're running wide tires and don't want to choose between speed and handling. If outright aero is the only priority, we'd steer them to the G SES 6.7 instead.