Zipp 353 NSW Carbon Tubeless Clincher Disc Brake Rear Bicycle Wheel

The Zipp 353 NSW Carbon Tubeless Disc Brake Rear Wheel is a 40mm hookless carbon rear wheel with Zipp's Sawtooth rim profile, built around 30mm tires and weighing 675g. It is sold as a single rear wheel with a SRAM XDR driver body, for disc-brake road bikes running tubeless tires.

The rim shape is the reason to choose this wheel over a conventional aero rim. Instead of a constant depth, the Sawtooth profile uses an undulating rim depth with Hyperfoil nodes and a HexFin ABLC dimple pattern, which Zipp designs to deliver low drag and crosswind stability at the same time rather than trading one against the other. Underneath that, the 25mm internal rim width is matched to 29 to 35c tires, the ZR1 SL hubset runs custom hybrid ceramic bearings, and graphics are applied with Zipp's Impress process rather than adhesive decals.

Who It's For

• Riders on SRAM XDR cassettes — this is the XDR driver version, not HG
• Road riders who want aero benefit without crosswind nervousness, which is the specific problem the Sawtooth profile addresses
• Riders running 29 to 35c tubeless tires on a modern endurance or all-road build
• Riders on SRAM AXS who want to add the Zipp AXS Wheel Sensor for tire pressure monitoring
• Consider something else if: you run Shimano or SRAM HG cassettes (that is a different version of this wheel), your combined rider, bike, and gear weight approaches the 253lb / 115kg system weight limit, you want tires wider than 35c, or you need pressure above 73psi

What to Look For

• Confirm your driver body before ordering. XDR and HG are not interchangeable, and the cassette you already own decides which version you need. Campagnolo requires a driver body sold separately.
• Check the system weight limit. 253lb / 115kg covers rider, bike, and everything you carry. It is a hard spec, and it is lower than several less expensive wheels.
• Tire range is narrower than the rim width suggests. Optimized for 30mm and rated 29 to 35c, with ISO/TSS-compatible tubeless tires only and a 73psi ceiling. This is a road wheel, not a gravel wheel.

Key Features

Rim: 40mm Sawtooth carbon, hookless, 25mm internal width, 30mm maximum outside width. The undulating depth with Hyperfoil nodes and HexFin ABLC dimples is what separates this rim from a smooth-profile aero wheel, and crosswind behavior is where a rider notices it.

Hub and driver: ZR1 SL hubset on custom hybrid ceramic bearings (61803 and 61803/61903), with a SRAM XDR driver. Hybrid ceramic bearings reduce rolling friction and are part of why a 40mm rear wheel lands at 675g.

Brake interface: Center Lock disc, with the lockring included.

Tire compatibility: 700c, ISO/TSS-compatible tubeless tires, 29 to 35c, run with sealant or a tube. Zipp cites TSE for improved efficiency and reduced rolling resistance.

Finish and connectivity: UD fiber with Impress graphics, applied into the surface rather than as stickers that can lift at the edges. Spoke lengths are 274/276mm drive side and 276/278mm non-drive side. Backed by a lifetime warranty.

Rider Intent Summary

• Biggest strengths: 675g at 40mm depth, Sawtooth crosswind stability, hybrid ceramic bearings in a ZR1 SL hub, Impress graphics, and a lifetime warranty.
• Tradeoffs: A 253lb / 115kg system weight limit, a 29 to 35c tire range, a 73psi ceiling, ISO/TSS tire restrictions, and driver-body-specific fitment.
• What makes it different: The undulating Sawtooth rim depth — the aero gain here is designed not to cost you stability in a crosswind.

Victory's Take

At Victory Bicycle Studio we recommend the 353 NSW to riders who ride exposed, windy roads and do not want to fight the front end to get an aero advantage — pair it with the matching front wheel, and confirm your cassette type and system weight with us before ordering.

Specifications

• Size - 700c
• Rim construction - Carbon – Hookless
• Tire compatibility - ISO/TSS compatible tubeless tires (29-35c), tube or sealant
• Rim depth - 40mm (Sawtooth undulating profile)
• Brake compatibility - Disc (Center Lock), lockring included
• Rim - inside width - 25mm
• Max outside width - 30mm
• Rim finish - UD fiber, Impress technology
• Hub - ZR1 SL
• Driver body type - SRAM XDR
• Bearings - Custom Hybrid Ceramic - 61803, 61803/61903
• Max tire pressure - 73psi / 5.0bar
• Max recommended system weight - 253lbs / 115kg
• Spoke Length DS - 274mm, 276mm
• Spoke Length NDS - 276mm, 278mm
• Weight - 675g (approximate; tape and valves not included in weight)
• Warranty - Lifetime