Why R25?

Carbon road wheels are more accessible than they've ever been. At any price point there are more choices, from more brands, than was possible a few years ago. They're all black and round, but they vary dramatically in ride-feel and durability.

We built the R25 because we wanted to compete at that price with something we'd actually stake our name on. Not built-down to a price, but built with a leaner brief: The same build standards. The same workshop. Fewer decisions, lower cost.

The configuration is locked: 25mm internal width, 45mm depth, Dial R-SL hubs, and laser-etched decals. That's a combination that covers the most riders in the most conditions. We made the spec calls so you don't have to — and removing that optionality is how we get to $2,500.

What doesn't change: spoke lengths measured precisely and rolled for each wheel, tension set right, the same people and technology building your wheels, the same people answering your questions before and after purchase. And the same lifetime guarantee, because we build the R25 to the same standard we'd want to sign our name to.

The R25 specification

We build the R25 in one configuration: 25mm internal width, 45mm depth.

The 25mm internal width is the modern road standard - it gives your tyre's casing the support it needs, opens up lower pressures, and works across a wide range of tyre sizes from 28mm upward. It's what we'd spec for most riders on most modern bikes.

At 45mm, the rim depth sits between a dedicated climbing wheel and a full aero deep section. It's aerodynamically effective at road racing speeds, manageable in crosswinds, and versatile enough to be your one-wheelset answer.

This combination covers the majority of what we build at Wheelworks. We've made it the only option because for most riders, it's the right one.

R25 or SL Carbon?

While the SL Carbon gives you every configuration option we offer, the R25 gives you a refined, carefully chosen configuration and a price that reflects it.

Same workshop. Same builders. Same lifetime guarantee. Less time choosing.

**Worth knowing:** the R25 uses a single carbon layup, which means a maximum supported rider weight of 100kg. Above that - or if you want full control over rim spec, hub choice, and decal colours - the SL Carbon is built for that.

For riders under 100kg who want a well-built carbon road wheelset at a price that makes sense: the R25.

Hub: Dial R-SL

The R25 comes with the Dial R-SL hub.

It runs quality bearings, solid engagement, and alloy freehub bodies - built to be maintained rather than replaced when something eventually needs attention.

For the full technical breakdown on the Dial R-SL - engagement, bearing spec, freehub compatibility, and service - head to the deep dive.

Dial R-SL Deep Dive | Wheelworks

Spoke options

We build the R25 with either Alpina steel spokes or CarboLite carbon spokes.

The blades steel option is stiff, durable, and what we'd recommend for most riders. The CarboLite option is significantly lighter - a meaningful weight saving for riders who want it, at an additional $250.

We'll confirm the right choice for your riding and build after purchase.

Lifetime guarantee

The R25 carries the same coverage as every wheelset we build.

We back our work with a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, plus our lifetime guarantee against impact damage and broken spokes under normal riding conditions.

A well-built, well-looked-after wheelset shouldn't regularly break spokes, lose tension, or fall badly out of true. If something we control goes wrong with your R25, we'll put it right. That doesn't change at any price point.

For full details on coverage, please refer to the Wheelworks Lifetime Guarantee

Rims: 25mm internal width

The 25mm reflects the modern standard for road rims, giving superior casing support and allowing lower tyre pressures across a wider range of tyre sizes from 28mm upward. It's the right choice for most riders on newer bikes.

Rims: Laser-etched decals

The R25 uses laser-etched graphics rather than the printed and coloured decals on the SL Carbon.

They're clean, permanent, and stripped back - no colour options, no configuration, just a sharp and consistent finish that wears well over time. One less thing to decide.

Rims:  Hooked bead and tubeless-ready

All R25 rims use a hooked bead and arrive fully tubeless-ready with depth-matched valves, pre-taped and set up to take sealant straight out of the box.

Prefer tubes? That works perfectly too.

Maximum tyre pressure: 100 psi.

Rims: 3‑axis spoke nipple drilling

A big contributor to broken spokes is forcing them to bend awkwardly between hub and rim. To avoid that, we drill spoke holes in the R25 rims at carefully calculated angles in three dimensions.

This lets the nipple sit in line with the spoke in both side‑to‑side and front‑to‑back directions. Combined with spoke lengths measured to tight tolerances, this reduces stress at the nipple and helps prevent fatigue‑related spoke failures over time.

Our choice of hubs complements this by using angled flanges that point towards the rim, further smoothing the spoke path and increasing long‑term reliability.

Wheelset Weight

Max rider weight

The R25 is designed for riders up to 100kg.

ebike use

The R25 is not designed for e-road use.

What's in the box

• Ready to ride: Your new Wheelworks arrive pre-taped and fitted with high-flow tubeless valves - straight out of the box.
• Free tracked delivery: Courier delivery is free of charge throughout New Zealand and Australia.
• Packaging we're proud of: Your wheels ship in a custom-made cardboard box, produced in-house on our CNC. Made from 68–71% recycled material, sourced from sustainably managed forests in Kawerau and Tokoroa. No single-use plastic, no styrofoam. Designed for multiple uses and fully recyclable.

Production, COO, and EOL

We’re transparent about where our components come from:  rims are manufactured to our specifications by a specialist carbon partner in mainland China.

At the moment there’s no practical large‑scale recycling stream for carbon rims, but our experience is that a well‑designed carbon rim will outlast multiple aluminium rims used in the same way.

Aluminium hub shells, stainless steel spokes, and brass nipples can be recycled at most metal recyclers once they’ve finally done their duty.

If you ever retire your Wheelworks wheelset and aren’t sure what to do with it, get in touch and we’ll help with the best options at the time.

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