Zipp 404 S Carbon Front Road Bicycle Wheel

The Zipp 404 S Carbon Front Road Bicycle Wheel is a 50mm-deep carbon aero wheel built for road riders upgrading from stock alloy wheels who want measurable aerodynamic gains without paying for Zipp's top-tier NSW line. The rim borrows its shape from Zipp's WorldTour-level Firecrest profile, giving it a mid-depth design that's deep enough for aero benefit but shallow enough to stay stable and predictable in crosswinds — a common trade-off for riders who do most of their climbing and racing in variable conditions rather than flat time trials.

This wheel is the direct successor to the 303 S and slots into Zipp's S Collection alongside the 303 XPLR S (gravel) and 1ZERO HITOP S (XC MTB). Compared to the 303 S, Zipp specifies improvements to aerodynamics, hub performance, and price. At 1,585 grams for this front wheel, with UD carbon fiber construction and a hookless Tubeless Straight Side (TSS) design, it's built as a tubeless-only system — there's no tube-compatible fallback here.

Who It's For

• Road riders on disc-brake bikes looking to move up from alloy or entry-level carbon wheels

• Riders who want aero performance but ride routes with meaningful crosswind exposure, where a shallower 50mm depth is more manageable than a deeper aero wheel

• Riders already committed to (or willing to switch to) tubeless tires, since this rim is not tube-compatible

• Not a fit for rim-brake bikes — this wheel is Center-Lock disc only

What to Look For

• This listing is for the front wheel only — pair it with a 404 S rear wheel to complete the set

• Confirm your bike takes Center-Lock disc rotors and a 12mm thru-axle x 100mm front spacing before buying

• Because the rim is hookless, you'll need tubeless-ready tires; tubes are not supported

Key Features

The rim uses hookless Tubeless Straight Side (TSS) construction at 50mm deep with a 23mm inner width, a shape carried over from Zipp's Firecrest aero rims, engineered to balance aero efficiency with crosswind stability at this depth. Wheel-building relies on a 20-hole, 2-cross spoke pattern with Sapim CX-Sprint spokes, a lacing pattern chosen for lateral stiffness under hard efforts and out-of-saddle riding. Rolling performance comes from the Zipp 76 hub with stainless steel cartridge bearings, built for Center-Lock disc rotors and a 12x100mm front thru-axle. Tire compatibility is limited to tubeless tires only — no clincher-with-tube setups — which is a direct trade-off of the hookless rim design.

Rider Intent Summary

• Biggest strengths: Firecrest-derived aero shape at a shallower, crosswind-stable 50mm depth, with a claimed weight of 1,585 grams

• Tradeoffs: Tubeless-only compatibility with no tube fallback, and this listing covers the front wheel only

• What makes it different: Positioned as the aero-focused successor to the 303 S within Zipp's S Collection, combining Firecrest rim technology with the Zipp 76 hub at a lower price point than Zipp's NSW wheels

Victory's Take

We like the 404 S for riders who want genuine aero benefit without the crosswind penalty of a deeper rim or the price tag of Zipp's top-end wheels. At Victory Bicycle Studio, we'd recommend a proper tubeless tire setup and a bike fit check before installing it, since the hookless rim leaves no room for tubes as a backup.