The ENVE SES 4.5 Pro is 264 g lighter (1,295 g vs 1,559 g claimed per pair); the Zipp 404 Firecrest costs €1,768 less (€1,379 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 58 mm on the 404 Firecrest and the internal width is 23.5 mm on the SES 4.5 Pro and 23 mm on the 404 Firecrest. Both share the listed tyre range (28–35 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 SES 4.5 Pro is 264 g lighter per pair (1,295 g vs 1,559 g, manufacturer claims).
SES 4.5 Pro1,295 g
404 Firecrest1,559 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: 49 mm front / 55 mm rear on the SES 4.5 Pro, 58 mm on the 404 Firecrest.
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) 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.
Internal rim width: 23.5 mm on the SES 4.5 Pro, 23 mm on the 404 Firecrest.
SES 4.5 Pro · internal23.5 mm
SES 4.5 Pro · external30.8 mm
404 Firecrest · internal23 mm
404 Firecrest · external28 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
The 404 Firecrest uses a hookless rim, the SES 4.5 Pro a hooked rim.
SES 4.5 Pro Hooked: lip grips the bead404 Firecrest Hookless: straight walls
Simplified sidewall cross-sections.
A hooked rim has a small lip on each sidewall that grips the tyre bead; a hookless rim has straight inner walls.1 Under the ETRTO/ISO standards, road tyres on hookless rims must not be inflated above 5 bar (72.5 psi),2 there are minimum tyre widths for each rim width, for example 29 mm on a 25 mm internal rim,5 and most wheel makers publish lists of approved tyres.3
Manufacturers cite precision, strength and lower weight for hookless rims; independent coverage describes the weight saving as modest. Hooked rims accept a wider choice of tyres and higher pressures.4 Both work within the standards: check the rim maker's tyre list and the pressure you like to ride before choosing tyres.
The SES 4.5 Pro uses ceramic hub bearings, the 404 Firecrest steel bearings.
Ceramic hub bearings are a common premium option. CeramicSpeed quotes watt savings for upgrading hubs, bottom bracket and pulleys together.1 In independent Friction Facts tests of bottom brackets, the best steel and the best ceramic units were only hundredths of a watt apart, and seals and grease mattered more than the ball material.2
The lowest-friction setups tend to use lighter seals and grease, which protect less against rain and grit and need more frequent servicing.3 How long any bearing lasts depends mainly on seals, grease, hub design and maintenance.4
How much lighter is the ENVE SES 4.5 Pro than the Zipp 404 Firecrest?
264 g. The ENVE SES 4.5 Pro has a claimed pair weight of 1,295 g, the Zipp 404 Firecrest 1,559 g. Both figures are manufacturer claims.
Do both take the same tyre widths?
Yes, the range is 28–35 mm for both. 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. Zipp approves tyres from 28 mm to 35 mm for the 404 Firecrest. 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 Zipp 404 Firecrest?
€1,768 at our October 2026 price check: the ENVE SES 4.5 Pro cost €3,147 and the Zipp 404 Firecrest €1,379 per pair. Prices change; check the current offer with the retailer or manufacturer.
Which of the two has hookless rims?
The Zipp 404 Firecrest uses hookless rims, the ENVE SES 4.5 Pro hooked rims. On hookless rims, use tyres the manufacturer approves for hookless use.
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.
