The Elitewheels Drive 50D II is 34 g lighter (1,300 g vs 1,334 g claimed per pair) and €222 cheaper (€1,277 vs €1,499) at our October 2026 price check. The rim depth is 50 mm on the Drive 50D II and 46 mm front / 54 mm rear on the HYPER 3 D45 and the listed tyre range is 28–45 mm on the Drive 50D II and 25–47 mm on the HYPER 3 D45. Both share the internal width (23 mm).
General context for the specifications where these two differ. Numbers in superscript link to the sources below each topic. How much each point matters depends on your riding, tyres and bike.
Weight: what the grams mean
The Drive 50D II is 34 g lighter per pair (1,300 g vs 1,334 g, manufacturer claims).
Drive 50D II1,300 g
HYPER 3 D451,334 g
On a steady climb only total weight counts: a gram in the wheels costs the same as a gram in the frame or a bottle.1 A common rule of thumb is about 2 seconds per 100 metres of climbing for every kilogram, so 150 g works out at roughly 3 seconds on a 1,000 m climb.2
Rim weight matters somewhat more when you accelerate, because the rim spins as well as moves forward; physically that effect is at most about twice that of frame weight, and only while speeding up.1 Claimed weights are measured differently from brand to brand: some include rim tape and valves, others do not, and tolerances of around ±30 g are common.3 Independent weighing usually lands close to the claim once tape and valves are accounted for.4
Rim depth: 50 mm on the Drive 50D II, 46 mm front / 54 mm rear on the HYPER 3 D45.
Cross-sections drawn to scale from the catalogue values for outer width, internal width and depth; hooked rims show the bead hook. Simplified shape, not the manufacturer's exact profile.
Deeper rims generally reduce aerodynamic drag, which pays off most at higher speeds on flat or rolling roads, but they tend to weigh more and can be more affected by gusty crosswinds. In a BikeRadar comparison, 60 mm aero wheels were about a second per kilometre faster on the flat but slower on steep climbs than a considerably lighter set.1
How a wheel behaves in crosswinds depends on the rim shape as well as its depth,3 which is why TOUR measures steering torque in the wind tunnel, not just drag.2 Shallower rims are generally easier to handle in gusts, something lighter riders and riders on exposed roads tend to notice first.1
The HYPER 3 D45 (46 mm front / 54 mm rear) uses different rim depths front and rear.
Some wheelsets use a different rim depth front and rear, and brands disagree on the direction. Roval's Rapide CLX II paired a shallower front with a deeper rear to favour stability.1 The newer Rapide III uses a slightly deeper front than rear, and Roval argues most of the aero benefit comes from the front wheel.2 Zipp's 454 NSW rim itself varies in depth along its circumference.3
Treat a split depth as a design choice of the brand rather than an advantage in itself. If crosswinds concern you, the front rim depth is the figure to look at.
Elitewheels approves tyres from 28 mm to 45 mm for the Drive 50D II. Winspace approves tyres from 25 mm to 47 mm for the HYPER 3 D45.
Drive 50D II28–45 mm
HYPER 3 D4525–47 mm
An approved tyre range is the span of tyre widths a manufacturer permits for a rim, based on the ETRTO/ISO tables for tyre and rim combinations.2 Not every brand publishes one: some give a recommendation only, or no maximum. The lower end is the narrowest tyre that fits that internal width safely; the upper end shows how far you can go towards wider, lower-pressure tyres for comfort and grip on rough roads or gravel, provided your frame has the clearance.4
In TOUR's tests, wider tyres at a pressure matched to their width roll about as easily as narrower ones on smooth surfaces and add comfort and grip on real roads, while a tyre much wider than the rim costs some aerodynamic drag.1 Pressure calculators such as Zipp's take the rim's internal width into account as well as the tyre.3
Spoke count front/rear: 21/24 on the Drive 50D II, 20/21 on the HYPER 3 D45.
Drive 50D II 21 front / 24 rear · carbonHYPER 3 D45 20 front / 21 rear · carbon
Fewer spokes save weight and can reduce drag slightly,1 but each spoke then carries more load and a broken spoke is more likely to leave the wheel unrideable.3 Wheels with low spoke counts usually state a maximum system weight;2 compare it with your own weight plus bike and luggage rather than judging by spoke count alone.
Warranty: 3 years on the Drive 50D II, 2 years on the HYPER 3 D45; crash replacement is listed only for the Drive 50D II.
Drive 50D II3 years · crash replacement yes
HYPER 3 D452 years · crash replacement no
A warranty covers manufacturing defects; damage from a crash or impact is usually excluded.4 Crash replacement programmes cover that case, either free of charge or as a discount on a replacement. Hunt's H_Care is one example;2 Roval repairs or replaces crash damage free for two years on US purchases and at a discount of 20–35 % elsewhere, for up to five years.3 Some brands, Zipp among them, also include riding damage in their lifetime warranty.1
Terms differ widely: many programmes apply only to the original owner, need registration within a deadline and proof of purchase, may charge shipping or fees, and depend on the region you bought in.23 Check the current conditions on the manufacturer's page before relying on them.
How much lighter is the Elitewheels Drive 50D II than the Winspace HYPER 3 D45?
34 g. The Elitewheels Drive 50D II has a claimed pair weight of 1,300 g, the Winspace HYPER 3 D45 1,334 g. Both figures are manufacturer claims.
Which has the wider tyre range?
The Winspace HYPER 3 D45. Elitewheels approves tyres from 28 mm to 45 mm for the Drive 50D II. Winspace approves tyres from 25 mm to 47 mm for the HYPER 3 D45. Check the manufacturer's guidance for your exact tyre and pressure.
What is the price difference between the Elitewheels Drive 50D II and the Winspace HYPER 3 D45?
€222 at our October 2026 price check: the Elitewheels Drive 50D II cost €1,277 and the Winspace HYPER 3 D45 €1,499 per pair. Prices change; check the current offer with the retailer or manufacturer.
All values come from the Show My Bike catalogue, the same records used on the product pages. Prices checked October 2026. Some model-specific details were reviewed against the manufacturer pages. Manufacturer claims are identified as such. No independent product test is claimed, and no winner is declared.
