There’s a sure expectation if you hear “carbon spokes.” Often it’s adopted by a five-figure bike construct and a wheelset value that makes your mechanic whistle. Elite Wheels has been steadily chipping away at that assumption, and the Drive 36D II Disc Brake Carbon Spoke wheelset is their newest swing at delivering high-end tech with out WorldTour-level pricing.
Drive 36D II Disc Brake Carbon Spoke Wheelset – $1299US
At a claimed weight beneath 1300 grams, 36mm depth, ceramic bearings, and a ratchet hub system, that is positioned squarely within the trendy all-rounder candy spot — mild sufficient for the climbs, deep sufficient for the flats, and vast sufficient for right this moment’s 28–30mm rubber. On paper, it ticks a whole lot of very present bins. On the street? Let’s discover out.
First Impressions: Trendy, Clear, Quick-Trying
The 36D II carries a up to date silhouette: a 36mm U/V-shaped rim profile, 23mm inside width, and a 31mm exterior width designed round wider tires. Mounted with 28s, the tire profile is fantastically flush — no lightbulb impact, no awkward transition. Simply clean traces and the promise of fresh airflow. I mounted my check set with 30mm Continental Grand Prix 5000AS tires, and that flush aero match was nearly as smooth because the 28s.
The end is inconspicuous — not dripping in loud branding — which makes them have a look at house on something from a stealth climbing rig to a race-ready aero bike.
And sure, the carbon spokes look cool and can depart the specified impression of envy out of your driving companions.
However first – let’s take a look at the packaging…
The wheels ship direct to you, so safe packaging is vital to guard the products inside. The opposite factor I search for with packaging is simply how environmentally pleasant it seems to be. As an apart – I’m always bewildered and sometimes disgusted by how a lot overpackaging I discover – particularly shopping for bulk items at Costco. So my tolerance for an excessive amount of wasted packing materials is getting decrease with every package deal that arrives.
Cardboard (recyclable), a couple of small items of styrofoam to make sure the wheels don’t transfer contained in the field, and skinny poly-foam sleeves round every wheel. General, I’m feeling like there’s not a whole lot of wasted packing materials used.
The Carbon Spoke Story: Stiff The place It Issues
Elite makes use of 4.5mm carbon aero spokes, and in contrast to some early bonded carbon-spoke techniques, these are designed to be serviceable. That issues. Unique tech is nice — till one thing goes unsuitable.
Out on the street, the very first thing I observed was the lateral stiffness. Out-of-saddle efforts really feel direct. There’s no imprecise wind-up sensation underneath torque. While you punch it, the wheels reply instantly. Sprinters and punchy climbers will admire that crisp engagement.
Are they brutally harsh? No. The broader rim mattress and trendy tire pairing clean issues out, particularly when you’re working tubeless at sane pressures – I run 40psi with the 30s, 45 with 28s – to swimsuit my 140lb weight. However these are efficiency wheels first — not gravel plush.
End high quality is great, together with pre-taped rims which can be top-notch.
Climbing: Weight Nonetheless Issues
Elite claims a 1260 grams for the mixed wheelset weight, whereas mine got here in at an excellent 1300g – earlier than I added the tires, sealant, and cogset. However neglect the discrepancy – 1300 grams for each wheels is spectacular.
On longer climbs, the Drive 36D II feels vigorous and keen. There’s that intangible sensation of lowered rotational mass — the bike simply feels a contact extra “on its toes.” Accelerations mid-climb don’t really feel labored, and the wheels don’t resist when cadence rises.
They don’t scream “featherweight climber’s wheel,” however they don’t need to. They sit in that all-rounders’ candy spot: mild sufficient to matter, aero sufficient to hold velocity when you crest.
Aerodynamics & Crosswinds: The All-Rounder Steadiness
A 36mm rim is never dramatic in crosswinds, and the 36D II behaves predictably. These wheels changed a set of 45 mm deep REHI’s, which had been much more proof against cross winds. The rounded profile retains steering inputs manageable, making these a robust choice for riders who need one wheelset for all the things.
Whereas I didn’t discover the flat-speed benefit of a devoted 50mm deep part rim, I additionally received’t hesitate to journey these in blended terrain, mountainous fondos, or quick technical rides or races.
For a lot of riders, this depth is the real-world candy spot.
Hubs & Engagement: Quietly Environment friendly
The 50T ratchet hub affords fast engagement with out feeling overly buzzy. Energy switch feels speedy, notably when transitioning from coasting to sprinting.
To raised clarify this Kinetic hub, I’ll let the Elite web site take it from right here:
Elite Sez: Conical Ratchet Mechanism Defined
1. Star Ratchet As an alternative of Pawls
Conventional hubs typically use a number of small pawls that interact little enamel across the freehub physique. The Kinetic hub replaces this with a star (ratchet) mechanism — a hoop of enamel that immediately engages an identical ring within the hub. This star design means all engagement factors share the load without delay, which tends to be harder and extra constant than pawl techniques.
2. Conical Machining for Extra Floor Space
What makes the Elite Kinetic hub distinctive is that its ratchets are machined in a conical form fairly than flat plates. The conical geometry will increase the floor engagement space between the enamel — so as a substitute of tiny contact factors, you get a broader interface that:
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Spreads forces over extra steel
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Reduces localized put on
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Improves longevity underneath excessive masses
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Can really feel extra strong underneath energy switch
In easy phrases: bigger, tapered contact surfaces resist put on higher than skinny flat enamel.
Elite spec’s S&S ceramic bearings from the Dutch-based model, and whereas the marginal beneficial properties debate is limitless, these spin freely and really feel clean. Lengthy-term sturdiness would be the actual check, however out of the field, they roll clear and quick.
Sound-wise? I’ll allow you to be the decide – however these are neither the loudest nor the quietest spinning free-hub sound I’ve skilled..
LISTEN: Click on this hyperlink to listen to the spinning free-hub sound.
Tubeless Setup & Tire Pairing
The 23mm inside width is constructed round trendy rubber. The rim form is aimed toward each 28mm tires and 30mm to present further consolation with out compromising the rim profile.
Tubeless setup is simple. The bead seats securely, and as soon as inflated, pressures maintain effectively. Riders who’ve totally embraced lower-pressure street setups will admire how secure the tire feels underneath load.
How They Examine
On this value vary, you’re typically selecting between:
- Barely heavier alloy wheels from legacy manufacturers
- Deep-section carbon from direct-to-consumer manufacturers
- Or premium-brand carbon at a big price leap
The Drive 36D II stands out by combining mild weight, carbon spokes, ceramic bearings, and trendy rim dimensions in a single package deal. That spec checklist usually prices significantly extra.
The tradeoff? Elite is slowly constructing long-term model belief in markets dominated by big-name producers, and like most Asian manufacturers, you received’t see the promoting as a result of they depend on evaluations from credible sources to unfold the phrase. You additionally received’t be paying further for flashy adverts and movies.
That is the second set of wheels I’ve reviewed for Elite, (see my G45 gravel wheels evaluate right here), and I proceed to be impressed by the construct high quality, end, efficiency and most significantly value. And thus far I’ve had zero mechanical points with both of the wheelsets.
Some riders will hesitate. Others will see the worth equation and leap in.
Execs
- Wonderful weight for a 36mm disc wheelset
- Noticeable lateral stiffness from carbon spokes
- Trendy rim width optimized for 28–30mm tires
- Aggressive value for the spec
- Serviceable carbon spoke design
Cons
- Model cachet nonetheless rising in comparison with legacy gamers
- Carbon spokes could intimidate traditionalists
- Not as aero as deeper race-day choices
Who Are These For?
- Racers wanting one wheelset that may climb, dash, and survive crosswinds
- Weight-conscious riders with out the urge for food for boutique pricing
- Fans constructing a high-performance bike on a practical price range
If you happen to’re searching for a single, do-it-all efficiency wheelset that doesn’t drain the tools fund, the Drive 36D II deserves a glance.
PEZ Verdict
The Elite Drive 36D II hits a compelling performance-to-price ratio. It delivers trendy width, low weight, actual stiffness, and the simple cool issue of carbon spokes — with out pushing into premium-brand pricing territory.
Is it a WorldTour halo product? No.
Is it a authentic high-performance wheelset for critical riders? Completely.
In right this moment’s wheel market, that mixture makes it greater than fascinating — it makes it aggressive.
Consideration PEZ-Followers: If you happen to buy a set of wheels from ELITE – use the CODE “PEZ15” on the checkout to avoid wasting an additional 15% OFF the value.
⚙️ PEZ Score Field
Weight: ★★★★☆
Gentle and vigorous at 1300g as examined — glorious for a 36mm disc wheelset.
Stiffness: ★★★★☆
Carbon spokes ship crisp acceleration and strong lateral response.
Aerodynamics: ★★★☆☆
Balanced all-round depth — quick, however not a pure aero weapon.
Trip High quality: ★★★★☆
Trendy rim width and tubeless setup hold issues clean with out dulling responsiveness.
Worth: ★★★★★
Excessive-end options (carbon spokes, ceramic bearings, ratchet hub) at a really aggressive value.
General: ★★★★☆
Observe: In case you have different experiences with gear or one thing so as to add, drop us a line. We don’t declare to know all the things (we simply suggest it at instances). Give us a pat on the again when you just like the evaluations or name us out when you really feel the necessity!
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