Zipp 202 NSW Carbon Disc Tubeless Ready Clincher Front Wheel

The Zipp 202 NSW Carbon Disc Front Wheel is a 35mm-deep hookless carbon front wheel weighing 520g — the lightest and shallowest wheel in Zipp's NSW range. It is sold as a single front wheel for disc-brake road bikes running tubeless tires, and it is built for low weight and quick handling rather than deep-section aerodynamics.

Understand what you are buying here: this wheel costs more than deeper Zipp wheels while offering less rim depth. The money goes into weight and rolling quality — a 520g front wheel, a ZR1 SL hubset on custom hybrid ceramic bearings, and lightweight Alpina Hyperlite spokes in a 20-hole 2-cross build. The payoff is acceleration and climbing response, plus a front end that changes direction quickly and stays calm in wind, since a 35mm rim gives crosswinds very little to push against. The 23mm internal width is matched to 28 to 32c tires in a hookless Tubeless Straight Side (TSS) rim.

Who It's For

• Riders who prioritize climbing and acceleration over aero depth — hilly terrain, punchy road racing, spirited riding
• Riders who want a calm front end in wind and are happy to give up deep-section speed to get it
• Riders running 28 to 32c tubeless tires
• Consider something else if: you want flat-road aero advantage (a 40mm or 58mm wheel is the better buy, often for less money), your combined rider, bike, and gear weight approaches the 253lb / 115kg system weight limit, you want tires wider than 32c, or you need pressure above 73psi

What to Look For

• Decide whether you are buying weight or aero. At 35mm this is a climbing wheel at a premium price. If your riding is mostly flat and fast, a deeper wheel returns more for the money.
• Tire range is tight. 28 to 32c ISO/TSS-compatible tubeless tires only, with a 73psi / 5.0bar ceiling. This is a road wheel, with no all-road headroom.
• Check the system weight limit. 253lb / 115kg covers rider, bike, and everything you carry — a real consideration on a low-spoke-count, lightweight build.

Key Features

Rim: 35mm-deep hookless carbon in a Tubeless Straight Side (TSS) construction, 23mm internal and 27.5mm maximum outside width, symmetrical profile. The shallow depth is the point — it is what keeps the wheel at 520g and keeps steering neutral when the wind picks up.

Hub and bearings: ZR1 SL hubset, engineered in Germany, on custom hybrid ceramic bearings (61803 and 61803/61903) chosen for low friction and corrosion resistance. This is the higher-tier hub in Zipp's range and a large part of what separates NSW from the S and Firecrest tiers.

Spokes and build: Alpina Hyperlite spokes, 20 holes, 2-cross. A low spoke count in a light lacing pattern is where much of the weight saving comes from, and it is also why the system weight limit matters.

Brake interface and tires: Center Lock disc, and 700c ISO/TSS-compatible tubeless tires from 28 to 32c, run with sealant or a tube.

Finish: UD fiber with Impress graphics, applied into the rim surface rather than as adhesive decals that can lift at the edges. Spoke lengths are 280/284mm drive side and 282mm non-drive side. Backed by a lifetime warranty.

Rider Intent Summary

• Biggest strengths: 520g at 35mm depth, hybrid ceramic bearings in a ZR1 SL hub, Alpina Hyperlite 20-hole build, Impress graphics, and a lifetime warranty.
• Tradeoffs: The least aerodynamic wheel in the NSW line at the highest price per millimetre of depth, with a 28 to 32c tire range, a 73psi ceiling, and a 253lb / 115kg system weight limit.
• What makes it different: It is Zipp's answer to weight rather than drag — top-tier NSW hardware in the shallowest rim they offer.

Victory's Take

At Victory Bicycle Studio we recommend the 202 NSW to riders who climb a lot and want the lightest quality wheel we stock, not to riders chasing flat-road speed — tell us where you actually ride and we will be straight with you about whether the weight saving is worth the premium over a deeper wheel.

Specifications

• Size - 700c
• Rim construction - Carbon, Hookless / Tubeless Straight Side (TSS)
• Tire compatibility - ISO/TSS compatible tubeless tires (28-32c), tube or sealant
• Rim depth - 35mm
• Brake compatibility - Disc (Center Lock)
• Rim - inside width - 23mm
• Max outside width - 27.5mm
• Rim profile - Symmetrical
• Rim finish - UD fiber, Impress technology
• Hub - ZR1 SL
• Spokes - Alpina Hyperlite, 20-hole, 2-cross
• Bearings - Custom Hybrid Ceramic - 61803, 61803/61903
• Max tire pressure - 73psi / 5.0bar
• Max recommended system weight - 253lbs / 115kg
• Spoke Length DS - 280mm, 284mm
• Spoke Length NDS - 282mm
• Weight - 520g (approximate)
• Warranty - Lifetime