The ENVE SES 4.5 Pro is 10 g lighter (1,295 g vs 1,305 g claimed per pair); the Roval Rapide CLX III costs €348 less (€2,799 vs €3,147) at our October 2026 price check. The rim depth is 49 mm front / 55 mm rear on the SES 4.5 Pro and 51 mm front / 48 mm rear on the Rapide CLX III, the internal width is 23.5 mm on the SES 4.5 Pro and 21 mm on the Rapide CLX III and the listed tyre range is 28–35 mm on the SES 4.5 Pro and 24–38 mm on the Rapide CLX III.
Drag the handle to switch between the SES 4.5 Pro (left) and the Rapide CLX III (right) on a Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 8 AXS. Black tyres shown for context.
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.
Rim depth: aerodynamics, weight and crosswinds
Rim depth: 49 mm front / 55 mm rear on the SES 4.5 Pro, 51 mm front / 48 mm rear on the Rapide CLX III.
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 SES 4.5 Pro (49 mm front / 55 mm rear) and the Rapide CLX III (51 mm front / 48 mm rear) use 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.
Internal rim width: 23.5 mm on the SES 4.5 Pro, 21 mm on the Rapide CLX III.
SES 4.5 Pro · internal23.5 mm
SES 4.5 Pro · external30.8 mm
Rapide CLX III · internal (front)21 mm
Rapide CLX III · external (front)35 mm
A wider internal rim spreads the tyre beads further apart, so the same tyre mounts wider and with more air volume: roughly 0.4 mm of tyre width per extra millimetre of rim width.1 A tyre labelled 28 mm can measure around 30 mm on a 21 mm rim,2 so check frame clearance against the measured width, not the printed one.4
Typical road rims have moved from about 19 mm internal width around 2020 to 21–25 mm, together with wider tyres. A wider rim also raises the narrowest tyre you may fit and, on hookless rims, comes with pressure limits.3 Brands usually shape the rim around a target tyre width for aerodynamics, so the fastest combination is not simply the widest tyre.5
ENVE approves tyres from 28 mm for the SES 4.5 Pro and publishes no maximum. The 35 mm in our catalogue is a Show My Bike assumption, not a manufacturer figure. Roval approves tyres from 24 mm to 38 mm for the Rapide CLX III.
SES 4.5 Pro28–35 mm
Rapide CLX III24–38 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
The SES 4.5 Pro uses steel spokes, the Rapide CLX III carbon spokes (24/24 vs 18/24 front/rear).
SES 4.5 Pro 24 front / 24 rear · steelRapide CLX III 18 front / 24 rear · carbon
A carbon spoke weighs roughly half as much as a premium steel bladed spoke,1 and brands state that carbon is stiffer for its weight.2 That is why carbon-spoke versions often use fewer spokes and weigh less: Hunt's Limitless Ti_UD uses 15/18 carbon spokes against 20/24 steel spokes on the standard Limitless.3 Some reviewers describe a more direct feel when sprinting; that is a riding impression, not a measurement.5
Steel spokes such as DT Swiss Aerolite or Sapim CX-Ray are standard parts that most workshops can source and replace.4 Carbon spokes are more sensitive to side impacts, for example from a derailleur or debris, and may need brand-specific parts or tools;1 some brands include spare spokes or crash replacement to offset this.5 Visually, the lower spoke count and slim blades give carbon-spoke wheels a lighter, more open look.
How much lighter is the ENVE SES 4.5 Pro than the Roval Rapide CLX III?
10 g. The ENVE SES 4.5 Pro has a claimed pair weight of 1,295 g, the Roval Rapide CLX III 1,305 g. Both figures are manufacturer claims.
Which has the wider tyre range?
The Roval Rapide CLX III. ENVE approves tyres from 28 mm for the SES 4.5 Pro and publishes no maximum. The 35 mm in our catalogue is a Show My Bike assumption, not a manufacturer figure. Roval approves tyres from 24 mm to 38 mm for the Rapide CLX III. Check the manufacturer's guidance for your exact tyre and pressure.
What is the price difference between the ENVE SES 4.5 Pro and the Roval Rapide CLX III?
€348 at our October 2026 price check: the ENVE SES 4.5 Pro cost €3,147 and the Roval Rapide CLX III €2,799 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.
