Wheelset preview · tyre shown for context

ROAD DISC WHEELSET · TECHNICAL PROFILE

Zipp 353 NSW

Name: Zipp 353 NSW
Brand: Zipp
Price: 2295 EUR

Light, with a mid-depth rim profile.

Steel spokes · Ceramic bearings

1,310 g / pair 40 mm depth Hookless · 700C

€2,295 MSRP €3,900

View at Zipp ↗︎ Per pair · Price checked October 2026

See on a bike ↗

Does it suit my riding? Check my Fit →

01 / UNDERSTAND THE WHEELSET

The specs, translated.

Three ways to understand its construction before deciding whether it fits your riding.

Weight

Light

1,310 g claimed / pair

1,000 g1,800 g

It falls in our second weight band. Use the pair weight to compare how much each option adds to your complete bike.

How this class is defined

Very light: up to 1,300 g
Light: above 1,300 to 1,450 g
Mid-weight: above 1,450 to 1,600 g
Heavier: above 1,600 g

These editorial bands are not an industry standard or a performance rating.

Pair weight alone does not establish stiffness, acceleration or climbing time.

Rim profile

Mid-depth

40 mm front / rear

Front40 mm

Rear40 mm

Front and rear share the same depth. Depth describes the rim shape; it is not a measured aero result.

How this class is defined

Shallow: below 35 mm
Mid-depth: 35 to below 50 mm
Deep: 50 to below 65 mm
Very deep: 65 mm and above

Each rim is classified separately using the unrounded dimension. A category boundary does not create a sudden change in performance.

Tyre platform

Hookless

25 / 25 mm internal width

30–35 mmcatalogue tyre range

Hookless-approved tyres required

The catalogue records a 30–35 mm tyre range. Match your exact tyre and pressure to the manufacturer's rim guidance. Use tyres explicitly approved for hookless rims.

What this means for your tyres

Assess front and rear tyres separately. Confirm the exact tyre, pressure limits and fitted frame clearance before buying. The listed range is not approval for your complete bike. Open the Zipp product page ↗

Technical classes describe properties. They do not depend on your budget or riding profile, and they are not a personal Fit score.

The character of this wheelset

A light pair with equal front and rear rim depths, steel spokes and ceramic bearings. Compare its 40 mm front rim and 25 mm internal width with the alternatives below, then check your tyres and total system weight before making a buying decision.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

In our catalogue.

Where the 353 NSW sits among the 127 road disc wheelsets in the Show My Bike catalogue. Each dot is one wheelset. Positions describe specifications; they are not a rating.

Weight

At 1,310 g, it is lighter than 85 of the 126 other wheelsets with a confirmed weight in our catalogue. Among the 47 mid-depth wheelsets with a confirmed weight, it is in the middle of the group, 18th from the lightest.

Price

At €2,295, it is less expensive than 38 of the 126 other wheelsets in our catalogue. Among the 47 mid-depth wheelsets, it is in the middle of the group, 36th from the least expensive.

Widest listed tyre

Its listed range goes up to 35 mm. Of the 126 other wheelsets, 85 list a wider maximum tyre and 14 a narrower one.

Rim-depth groups use the average of front and rear depth: shallow-rim below 35 mm, mid-depth 35 to below 50 mm, deep-rim 50 to below 65 mm, very deep-rim 65 mm and above. Weights are manufacturer claims; wheelsets with an unverified weight are left out of the weight comparison. Prices from our October 2026 price check.

03 / WHAT IT MEANS

What the specs mean.

General context for the 353 NSW's key specifications. Numbers in superscript link to the sources below each topic. How much each point matters depends on your riding, tyres and bike.

Internal rim width: how the tyre sits

The 353 NSW has an internal rim width of 25 mm and an external width of 30 mm.

internal25 mm

external30 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 to 35 mm for this rim.

353 NSW30–35 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

Hookless and hooked rims

The 353 NSW uses a hookless rim.

353 NSW Hookless: straight walls

Simplified sidewall cross-section.

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.

Carbon or steel spokes

The 353 NSW uses 20 steel spokes front and rear.

Close-up of the Zipp 353 NSW hub and spokes — **353 NSW** 20 front / 20 rear · steel

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.

Ceramic or steel bearings

The 353 NSW uses ceramic hub 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

04 / PUT THE DESIGN IN CONTEXT

What about aero and crosswinds?

Start with the rim dimensions, then look at the evidence behind the complete wheel-and-tyre setup.

Rim geometry

The shape behind the profile

The 353 NSW has 40 mm front and rear, with an external front width of 30 mm. These dimensions describe its shape; they do not establish a measured speed advantage.

Explore the Zipp design ↗

Your riding conditions

Crosswind handling

The front rim is 40 mm deep. For exposed roads, compare the front-wheel design and evidence for your tyre setup. Depth alone cannot predict how confident you will feel in gusts.

Rim depth in context

Cross-section 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

How this relates to Find My Fit

Show My Bike publishes no aero or crosswind rating on product pages. Find My Fit uses rim depth and width as a rough proxy when it ranks wheelsets for your riding; how that works is explained on How We Score.

No automatic comfort or durability rating is assigned from rim width, spoke material, bearing type or warranty length.

05 / CHECK THE DETAILS

Full specifications.

Steel spokes · Ceramic bearings. Front and rear dimensions are shown separately.

Weight & price
Claimed pair weight	1,310 g
Catalogue price	€2,295
MSRP	€3,900
Price snapshot	October 2026

Rim geometry
Property	Front	Rear
Rim depth	40 mm	40 mm
External width	30 mm	30 mm
Internal width	25 mm	25 mm
Spoke count	20	20

Tyres & setup
Wheel size / brakes	700C / disc
Rim construction	Hookless
Internal width	25 mm, both wheels
Listed tyre range	30–35 mm
Maximum system weight	115 kg

Construction & support
Spokes	Steel
Bearings	Ceramic
Warranty	Lifetime; conditions apply
Crash replacement	Lifetime Warranty covers riding damage incl. impacts for the original owner; other damage via the discounted Keep Rolling programme; claims through a dealer

Warranty and crash replacement cover different situations. Check eligibility, exclusions and any fees with Zipp. Read the programme conditions ↗

Before you decide.

How much does the Zipp 353 NSW weigh?

Zipp claims 1,310 g for the pair, which makes it lighter than 85 of the 126 other wheelsets with a confirmed weight in our catalogue. Claimed weights do not always include rim tape and valves.

What tyre width fits the Zipp 353 NSW?

Zipp approves tyres from 30 mm to 35 mm for this rim. The internal rim width is 25 mm. On wide rims, tyres usually measure wider than the size printed on them, so check your frame clearance as well.

What is the internal rim width of the Zipp 353 NSW?

25 mm. The external width is 30 mm.

Is the Zipp 353 NSW hookless?

Yes. It uses a hookless rim, so tyres must be approved for hookless use and must not be inflated above 5 bar (72.5 psi) under the ETRTO/ISO standards. Check Zipp's tyre compatibility list.

How much does the Zipp 353 NSW cost?

€2,295 per pair at our October 2026 price check; the manufacturer's recommended price is €3,900. Prices change, so check the current offer with the retailer or manufacturer.

Why call the 353 NSW "Light"?

Its 1,310 g claimed pair weight is between our 1,300 g and 1,450 g boundaries. The description concerns weight only. It is not a rating of stiffness, quality or suitability for a particular rider.

Are all the listed tyre widths equally aerodynamic?

A tyre range does not establish equal aerodynamic performance across that range. Zipp approves tyres from 30 mm to 35 mm for this rim. Check the tyre requirements for your own setup and the manufacturer's guidance on the best width for this rim.

Sources & data notes.

Price checked October 2026. Model-specific details reviewed 3 October 2026. Manufacturer claims are identified as such. No independent product test is claimed.

Zipp product page — specifications and configuration
Show My Bike product record — catalogue price and dimensions

Related wheelsets.

Compare these alternatives with the 353 NSW. The differences below refer to this wheelset, not a personal Fit ranking.

At a glance: the 353 NSW and similar wheelsets
Wheelset	Weight	Price	Rim depth	Internal width	Tyre range	Rim	Compare
This wheelsetZipp 353 NSW	1,310 g	€2,295	40 mm	25 mm	30–35 mm	Hookless
Zipp 454 NSW	1,400 g	€2,687	58 mm	23 mm	28–35 mm	Hookless	Compare in Explorer →
Zipp 808 Firecrest	1,635 g	€1,799	80 mm	23 mm	28–32 mm	Hookless	Compare in Explorer →
Scribe Élan Ultra 4	1,049 g	€2,299	36 mm	25 mm	28–35 mm	Hooked	Compare in Explorer →
Hunt 4AM Limitless Ti_UD	1,156 g	€2,299	49.5/47 mm	23 mm	28–50 mm	Hooked	Compare in Explorer →

Related comparisons.

Zipp 353 NSW vs Zipp 303 Firecrest

All comparisons with Zipp 353 NSW →

Understand it. Then picture it.

See the 353 NSW on a bike, or keep exploring the catalogue.

Open the Visualizer ↗ Wheelset Explorer

The specs, translated.

Light

Mid-depth

Hookless

The character of this wheelset

In our catalogue.

Weight

Price

Widest listed tyre

What the specs mean.

Internal rim width: how the tyre sits

Listed tyre range: what it allows

Hookless and hooked rims

Carbon or steel spokes

Ceramic or steel bearings

What about aero and crosswinds?

The shape behind the profile

Crosswind handling

Rim depth in context

Full specifications.

Before you decide.

Sources & data notes.

Related wheelsets.

454 NSW

808 Firecrest

Élan Ultra 4

4AM Limitless Ti_UD

Related comparisons.

Understand it. Then picture it.