About The 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.

What you get

  • Wheel Size - 700c
  • Rim Material - Carbon
  • Hub/Brake Compatibility - Center-Lock Disc
Zipp 404 S Carbon Front Road Bicycle Wheel

Zipp

Zipp 404 S Carbon Front Road Bicycle Wheel

Regular price $630.00 USD
Sale price $630.00 USD Regular price $630.00 USD

Specifications

Hub/Brake Compatibility

Center-Lock Disc

Wheel Size

700c

ISO Diameter

622 / Road / 29"

Valve

Presta

Rim Material

Carbon

Front Axle

12mm Thru x 100mm

Tire Type

Tubeless Ready

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the bike packaged and how long does delivery take?

All bikes are securely packaged to ensure that damage doesn't occur during shipping. All parts of the bike are padded and if needed, zip tied to minimize or eliminate movement inside the box. Once a bike is handed to the shipping company (usually Fedex or UPS), depending on your location, delivery will range from 1 day to 8 days. If you do choose the option for Professional Assembly or White Glove Delivery, this can add anywhere from 2 days to 5 days to the lead time.

Can I finance the purchase of my new bike?

Yes.  Simply select the Shop Pay Installments option which will allow you to buy now and pay later.  Shop Pay Installments is powered by Affirm.  If you would like to determine your spending limit, simply download the Shop app or the Affirm app on your smartphone and after you create an account on one of these apps, the app will let you know what is your spending limit.

Can I return the bike if it doesn't suit my needs?

Our return process is as follows. The customer is responsible for the return label ($150). Once the returned bike arrives at our warehouse, our team will inspect it and make sure it is in new condition and undamaged. Once we verify, we will process the return and issue a refund to the original payment method on file. To clarify the amount refunded, it would just be the amount of the bike (and tax if applicable) less the $150 shipping label that we provided, but the original shipping is not refunded. So if the original bike cost $4,500 and shipping was $150 (so you paid $4,650), you would be refunded $4,350 (the $4,500 less $150 for the return label) assuming the bike was returned in new and un-used condition and within the 30 day return period.

What does the warranty of my new bike or product cover and what is the warranty period?

Depending on the bike or any product, different companies have different warranty policies.  If you do ever have an issue with your bike or any product, simply email us at online@victorybicyclestudio.com and we will assist with any warranty issues and clarify the warranty for the affected product.

Can I have my bike serviced at any bike shop?

Typically, to avoid any issues with your warranty, you should bring your bike to a certified mechanic or bike store for that bike (i.e. if you have a Trek bicycle, you should bring the bike to be serviced to a local bike store that is an authorized Trek dealer).  If you need assistance, simply email us at online@victorybicyclestudio.com and we can direct you to a certified dealer of your bike.

Do you ship bikes internationally?

We unfortunately do not ship bikes outside of the 48 contiguous states of the United States. We do recommend for international customers to open (or use a current account) account with a freight forwarding company. If you use a freight forwarding company located in the U.S., make sure to put your billing address for a dedicated credit card as the same address as the freight forwarder so that you don't have any credit card or payment method issues).

Once you do this, simply place an order with us and we can ship to the U.S. address as long as the credit card doesn't get rejected. Once the freight forwarder has the box/order/shipment, you would instruct them to then ship to you in your home country and they would charge you their own shipping charge to ship to your international address.

Do you offer free shipping?

We do offer free shipping on non-bike orders over $100. We do not offer free shipping for bicycles unless it is a one time promotion. Generally, bike shipping will cost $150 and that covers just the shipping of the bike with no assembly. If you were to bring that bike to your local mechanic or bike store, you would pay them their assembly fee. If you choose our Professional Assembly option for $200, our service technicians would assemble the bike before shipping and then re-pack the bike safely for transit. When you receive the bike you would attach the front wheel, attach the seatpost/saddle, and raise the handlebars and clamp them. Those three items do have to be detached to minimize or eliminate the chance of damage in transit.

How much does shipping cost?

For orders of parts, accessories, apparel, etc. on orders under $100, shipping is a flat rate of $9.99. Regular bike shipping without assembly is $150, bike shipping with Professional Assembly is an additional $200 (so $350 in total which includes the $150 of regular shipping). Our White Glove Delivery option is $699 and that will cover the assembly of the bike and our White Glove Delivery partner delivering your dream bike to your front door, ready to ride!

How can I track my order?

When you place your online order, you will receive an instantaneous email update with your order number and order details, and shortly after, you will receive a follow up order email with the tracking number for your order.  If you still need assistance with your order, feel free to email us at online@victorybicyclestudio.com and we will respond asap.

What happens if my package arrives damaged?

If your package arrives damaged, email online@victorybicyclestudio.com with pictures of all angles of the box and pictures of the damaged product and we will work with you to either send a new replacement asap and coordinate return (or re-imburse you for labor or costs incurred to fix the issue at your local bike store).

Are pedals included with the bike?

If you do not see pedals in the bullet point product specs on the product page, the bike does not come equipped with pedals.  Many manufacturers do not spec bikes with pedals, so they are often purchased separately.

If I only pay the $150 for bike shipping, can I assemble the bike on my own?

Victory Bicycle Studio highly recommends that you bring your bike to your local certified bike store for the brand of the bike that you purchased. If you do attempt to assemble the bike and damage occurs, this may result in your warranty not being honored. For that reason, we do highly recommend to select our Professional Assembly option for $299.