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303 Firecrest® Carbon Clincher
Zipp Firecrest® Firecrest®

Making the industry’s
fastest wheels
even faster.

In the past two years, the 303 has emerged as one of the most formidable wheels in the pro peloton, with wins in the Tour de France, Paris-Roubaix, the Tour of Flanders and more. Its speed, light weight, and utter reliability have been proven in pro cycling’s most demanding races.

In 2010, the 303 made history by becoming the first carbon wheelset to win cycling’s two most famous Cobbled Classics, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. Its wider rim provided extra durability, and improved aerodynamics. That wider rim also led to the development of our revolutionary Firecrest® platform, and now the revolution has come full circle.

The 303 has been completely redesigned with Firecrest® shaping. The Carbon Clincher preserves the aerodynamic advantages of its tubular brother, while adding the convenience of a clincher tire. And at just 1,475 g, it’s light enough to climb up the steepest gradients with ease.

All of the hallmark characteristics of the 303 have improved with the Firecrest Carbon Clincher. The Firecrest shaping optimizes the aerodynamic profile of both the front half and the back half of the wheel. In addition, Firecrest moves the center of pressure of the wheel backwards, giving the 45 mm-deep rim the crosswind stability a box-section rim. At the same time, the 26.4 mm-wide brake track (at center) allows the clincher tire to take on a wider, more stable shape without compromising rolling resistance. It’s faster, simpler, and more stable. Or as Zipp technical director Josh Poertner puts it, Firecrest is “lightning in a bottle.”

The new wheels retain all the small details that make Zipp wheels what they are. Exposed spoke nipples sit in the aerodynamic shadow of the rims, keeping serviceability simple without compromising speed. And our signature ABLC™ rim dimples squeeze every last second of performance possible. To complete the package, Zipp has refined its venerable 88/188 hubset, reshaping the hub body and pushing the non-drive-side flange and bearing out by 7.5 mm on the rear hub to increase overall stiffness and strength. The wheelsets come with two decal options, the stealthy Beyond Black or the distinctive Classic White decals. Both decal options feature black anodized hubs, black spokes and black nipples. 

Zipp wheels for model year 2013, which began shipping in October 2012, are compatible with cassettes of up to 11-speed to work with all modern drivetrains.

This wheelset is not tubeless compatible.

Use 20mm rim tape with this wheelset.

Product note:

The wide profile of the 303 Firecrest is crucial to Zipp’s revolutionary Firecrest technology used to create wheels with superior aerodynamics as well as improved stability and handling.

The rear 303 Firecrest, however, may present some fitment issues for a small number of road and triathlon frames. The clearance between the chainstay and the rim may not be adequate to avoid contact between each other when ridden under load.

We urge customers who plan on riding the 303 Firecrest to test the wheel within the frame in which they intend to ride it, under normal riding and road conditions, before purchasing. Clearance within individual frames of the same size, from the same manufacturer, may vary. That is why it is imperative that you test the wheel in your frame, or in the frame that you are considering purchasing.

Customers who run into this fitment issue may select any other spoked wheel within the Zipp lineup as an alternative,including the 404 Firecrest with its narrower aero-width profile.

Below is a list of known frames that may present this issue. This list will be updated if this fitment issue is discovered elsewhere.

  • Specialized Tarmac SL4
  • Specialized S-Works McLaren Venge

MSRP:

Front wheel $1,227 / €1,138
Rear wheel  $1,498 / €1,387
Set Weight 1475g
Max recommended rider weight 250lbs
Front Wheel
Weight 675g
Hub Used 88
Rim Depth 45mm
Brake Track Width (center) 26.40mm
Max Width 28.50mm
Clincher Bead Width 17.25mm
Spoke Count 18
Spoke Pattern Radial
Spoke Length 258mm
Max Tire Pressure 125psi
Max Tire Pressure 8.62bars
Track Adaptable Yes
Dimpled Surface Yes
Ceramic Bearing Aftermarket
External Nipples Yes
Rear Wheel
Weight 800g
Hub Used 188
Rim Depth 45mm
Brake Track Width (center) 26.40mm
Max Width 28.50mm
Clincher Bead Width 17.25mm
Spoke Count 24
Spoke Length Non-Drive 258mm
Spoke Pattern Non-Drive Cross
Spoke Pattern Drive Radial
Spoke Length Drive 246mm
Max Tire Pressure 125psi
Max Tire Pressure 8.62 bars
11-speed compatible hub Yes
Track Adaptable No
Dimpled Surface Yes
Ceramic Bearing Aftermarket
External Nipples Yes
Zipp called leader in carbon clinchers  January 2013 [pdf]

Great Britain's Cycling Plus magazine reports Zipp at forefront of testing and developing carbon clinchers.

220 Triathlon praises 303 Firecrest  August 2012 [pdf]

In an article that includes comments from Zipp development engineer Michael Hall, UK magazine 220 Triathlon praises the 303 Firecrest. The magazine writes, "The Firecrest 303s make riding faster easier. Unlike most aero wheels they do so without compromising comfort or controllability." 

Cycle Sport magazine touts 303 Firecrest  July 2012 [pdf]

Cycle Sport magazine's Window Shop feature includes a summary of the 303 Firecrest wheelset. 

Five stars for 303 Firecrest Carbon Clincher  May 2012 [pdf]

The UK's Cycling Plus magazine rated the Zipp 303 Firecrest Carbon Clincher five stars, its highest possible mark. Click to read full review.

Cycling Weekly sees all around versatility  April 2012 [pdf]

The UK's Cycling Weekly trumpets the 303 Firecrest Carbon Clincher's aero attributes and proven toughness. Click to read full item. versatility.

BikeRadar gives five stars to 303 Firecrest  April 2012

BikeRadar.com called the Zipp 303 Firecrest "the 303 Firecrest is the best all-round road wheelset we've tested." Full review here

Road Reviews 303 Firecrest Carbon Clincher  April 2012 [pdf]

"Road: The Journal of Road Cycling and Culture" concluded that the 303 Firecrest Carbon Clincher wheels "clearly have a special feel to them." Click on PDF to read the complete review. 

Long Distance Runner  March 2012 [pdf]

Germany's RoadBike Magazine  reviewed Zipp®'s 303 Firecrest® Carbon Clincher.

Click PDF for original article in German.  


Lighter, More Aero, Easier to Handle  March 2012 [pdf]

UK magazine Triathlon Plus reviewed the 303 Firecrest® Carbon Clincher and asked, is this the ultimate all-around wheelset?

Long Distance Runner  February 2012 [pdf]

Germany's RoadBike Magazine  reviewed Zipp®'s 303 Firecrest® Carbon Clincher.

Click PDF for English highlights of German article.  

 

Road Tested  February 2012 [pdf]

The UK magazine Pro Cycling called the 303 Firecrest® Carbon Clincher one of the very best and fastest all-around wheelsets available. 

 

 

303 Firecrest called most versatile wheel set around  January 2012 [pdf]

Triathlon & Multi Sports magazine of Australia reviews the Firecrest® 303 Zipp®'s answer to the any wheel questions: "The 303s are still the standard of what a great all-round aero wheel set should be."

303 Firecrest Carbon Clincher review  January 2012

Spain's Ciclismo a Fondo magazine reviewed the 303 Firecrest Carbon Clincher wheelset. Click to right for article; see English translation below.

Ciclismo a Fondo – Sergio Palomar (Jan 2012)

Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels

Last year they have revolutionized the Aerodynamic wheelset concept with their Firecrest rim design for the 808 and 404 high depth rim models. We have been surprised by the Carbon Clincher models due to their very good handling which also offers a light wheelset without requesting a Tubular set on a day to day basis. Now, the most versatile model of the Zipp range, benefits from the same advantages. With a 45mm profile, the 303s behave as some “conventional” higher depth rim profiles wheelsets thanks to their Firecrest design which considers not only the front of the wheel as a wind impact zone but also the interior of the rim. Regarding the tire it stays “inside” the main width of the rim which generates collateral effects and plays a major role in the riding comfort. This is due to the fact that the tire is more open and is acting such as there is more air which spreads the impacts on a bigger rim surface. To end with the technical aspects, we need to mention that Zipp redesign their hubs in order to insure stiffness by moving the non-driveside bearing outward by 7.5mm and canting the non-driveside flange which aline the spokes and provides a better stability to the wheel.


After testing them during few hundred kilometers, we can give you more praises. They have the right rim depth: the inertia does not influence too much and makes it easy to accelerate. As for the lack of lateral stiffness, which has been noticed for similar rims, sincerely we haven’t felt that in any circumstance. Due to the Firecrest rim width combined with the new brake pads; these stay very close to the frame, be careful if you have a thin space to insert your wheel, but for us the wheel never rubbed the frame even during heavy brake.


The pleasant riding feeling comes from the vertical compliance as we explained above, a higher pressure of the tire and a more efficient design which allows the vertical deformation of the wheel face to holes. Their effectiveness on rough roads is pretty quickly perceived compared to other wheelsets with the same rim profile.
Another critical point about carbon wheels is the braking performance. Zipp solves it in an exceptional manner. The 303s are supplied with a specific set of brake pads, Tangent Platinum Pro, developed with SwissStop. We could enjoy the strong braking quality as soon as we began to press the lever. Finally, we cannot forget the aero theme, in which the Firecrest concept brings a really advantage. We went out once with a very strong wind and could noticed how stable they are. If you plan to upgrade the quality of your bike and have few grams less, no doubt, these 303s have powerful arguments to be part of your equipment, including your everyday wheels.

Firecrest

With the new proprietary Firecrest rim shape in our 202, 303, 404 and 808 Firecrest wheels, Zipp wheels make a bigger difference in more ways than ever. Not only is Firecrest more aerodynamic than any other rim design, it improves handling in crosswinds and overall ride quality.

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Carbon Clincher

Our superior Carbon Clincher technology is the culmination of two years of intensive prototyping and testing. We worked with our composites supplier to develop an exclusive heat-resistant resin based on the materials used in motorsports brake systems. This proprietary technology improves heat management so substantially that all Zipp Carbon Clinchers pass stringent CEN safety standards.

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ABLC™  (Aerodynamic Boundary Layer Control)

Advanced Boundary Layer Control (ABLC) refers to the patented and instantly recognizable dimpled pattern found on all of our carbon rims. ABLC smoothes airflow across the rim's surface and is tailored to every model from the 202 to the Super-9 Disc. The third-generation of ABLC has up to four times more dimples than before.

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VCLC™  (Visco-Elastic Constrained Layer Control)

Visco-Elastic Constrained Layer Control (VCLC) uses a vibration-absorbing material sandwiched between layers of rigid carbon laminate in the rim. When the wheel receives an impact from the road, much of the shock is absorbed by the VCLC system, delivering a 10% reduction in vibration.

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88/188 Hub Technology

Every aspect of our 88 and 188 hubs sets a new benchmark. The standard steel bearings are the roundest in the industry. The 17mm axle is the stiffest of any road hub we've tested. The wire EDM-cut hub internals are the most precise. When it comes to precision and performance, there's really no comparison.

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Wire EDM

Electron Discharge Machining allows us to cut the materials for our rear hub drive internals after they’ve been hardened through heat treating, negating the warping and imprecision caused by the heat-treating process.

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Steel Bearings

Zipp is the only company specifying Swiss made highly specialized ball bearing cartridges. Working with a family owned Swiss bearing manufacturer, Zipp is able to attain a superior level of bearing smoothness and long life. Zipp ball bearings are specified to 10 millionths of an inch tolerance, guaranteeing that they are at least 2.5 times rounder and better matched than most company’s “high precision” balls, and more than five times tighter than most “precision” balls.

Read More on Zipp hub technology

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