ROAD DISC WHEELSETS · SIDE BY SIDE

Zipp 303 Firecrest vs Zipp 404 Firecrest

The Zipp 303 Firecrest is 151 g lighter (1,408 g vs 1,559 g claimed per pair); the Zipp 404 Firecrest costs €141 less (€1,379 vs €1,520) at our October 2026 price check. The rim depth is 40 mm on the 303 Firecrest and 58 mm on the 404 Firecrest, the internal width is 25 mm on the 303 Firecrest and 23 mm on the 404 Firecrest and the listed tyre range is 30–44 mm on the 303 Firecrest and 28–35 mm on the 404 Firecrest.

Zipp303 Firecrest

Zipp404 Firecrest

SEE THE DIFFERENCE

Both on the same bike.

Drag the handle to switch between the 303 Firecrest (left) and the 404 Firecrest (right) on a Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 8 AXS. Black tyres shown for context.

303 Firecrest 404 Firecrest

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SIDE BY SIDE

Specifications.

Rows with different values are highlighted. Weights are manufacturer claims per pair.

Zipp 303 Firecrest and Zipp 404 Firecrest specifications
Specification	Zipp 303 Firecrest	Zipp 404 Firecrest
Claimed pair weight	1,408 g	1,559 g
Price per pair	€1,520	€1,379
Price checked	October 2026	October 2026
MSRP	€1,994	€1,899
Rim depth · front	40 mm	58 mm
Rim depth · rear	40 mm	58 mm
Internal width · front	25 mm	23 mm
Internal width · rear	25 mm	23 mm
External width · front	30 mm	28 mm
External width · rear	30 mm	28 mm
Listed tyre range	30–44 mm	28–35 mm
Rim type	Hookless	Hookless
Spokes · front / rear	24 / 24 · Steel	24 / 24 · Steel
Bearings	Steel	Steel
Warranty	Lifetime; conditions apply	Lifetime; conditions apply
Crash replacement	Free replacement Conditions ↗	Free replacement Conditions ↗

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

What the differences mean.

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 303 Firecrest is 151 g lighter per pair (1,408 g vs 1,559 g, manufacturer claims).

303 Firecrest1,408 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: aerodynamics, weight and crosswinds

Rim depth: 40 mm on the 303 Firecrest, 58 mm on the 404 Firecrest.

Cross-sections drawn to scale from the catalogue values for outer width, internal width and depth. 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

Internal rim width: how the tyre sits

Internal rim width: 25 mm on the 303 Firecrest, 23 mm on the 404 Firecrest.

303 Firecrest · internal25 mm

303 Firecrest · external30 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

Listed tyre range: what it allows

Zipp approves tyres from 30 mm for the 303 Firecrest. The 44 mm maximum is derived from Zipp's tyre pressure chart; Zipp states no explicit maximum width. Zipp approves tyres from 28 mm to 35 mm for the 404 Firecrest.

303 Firecrest30–44 mm

404 Firecrest28–35 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

WHICH ONE FITS

Choose by what matters to you.

Derived from the specifications above. This is not a performance rating.

Choose the Zipp 303 Firecrest if…

Low weight matters to you: 1,408 g, 151 g less than the 404 Firecrest
You want the shallower rim: 40 mm against 58 mm
You plan to run tyres wider than 35 mm: Zipp's tyre pressure chart goes up to 44 mm

Full 303 Firecrest profile →

Choose the Zipp 404 Firecrest if…

You want to spend less: €1,379, €141 below the 303 Firecrest
You want the deeper rim: 58 mm against 40 mm
You run tyres narrower than 30 mm: approved from 28 mm

Full 404 Firecrest profile →

Common questions.

How much lighter is the Zipp 303 Firecrest than the Zipp 404 Firecrest?

151 g. The Zipp 303 Firecrest has a claimed pair weight of 1,408 g, the Zipp 404 Firecrest 1,559 g. Both figures are manufacturer claims.

Which has the wider tyre range?

The Zipp 303 Firecrest. Zipp approves tyres from 30 mm for the 303 Firecrest. The 44 mm maximum is derived from Zipp's tyre pressure chart; Zipp states no explicit maximum width. 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 Zipp 303 Firecrest and the Zipp 404 Firecrest?

€141 at our October 2026 price check: the Zipp 303 Firecrest cost €1,520 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?

Both. Use tyres the manufacturer approves for hookless rims and respect the pressure limits.

Your next step.

Zipp 303 Firecrest Check my Fit → Product profile Zipp product page ↗

Zipp 404 Firecrest Check my Fit → Product profile Zipp product page ↗

Sources & data notes.

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.

Zipp 303 Firecrest: manufacturer product page
Zipp 404 Firecrest: manufacturer product page
Show My Bike product records: Zipp 303 Firecrest and Zipp 404 Firecrest