One Wheel for All Purposes
The 404's heritage as Zipp's icon of speed extends back decades, and its future is even brighter. At 58mm deep, the 404 Firecrest Tubeless is ideal for road races, time trial and triathlon, and gran fondos. The wheelset's 23mm internal width is perfect for running wider tubeless tyres at reduced air pressure. That is a vital component of Total System Efficiency, or TSE, an approach to speed on ever-changing roads and riding conditions. Specifically, TSE focuses on overcoming specific barriers to speed: wind resistance, gravity, rolling resistance, and vibration losses.
Aerodynamic Efficiency
Zipp's ABLC Sawtooth Technology uses an intricate dimpling pattern to improve aero efficiency. Zipp's use of hookless (straight side) rims in the 404 Firecrest is integral to Making You Faster. With hookless, the transition between the tyre and the rim is more seamless and aero. Zipp's hookless rims have more efficient resin distribution, which means lighter, stronger wheels.
Numbers
Outdoor testing commissioned by Zipp revealed the real-world gains of Zipp TSE. A bike and rider system weighing 85kg (187lbs) on the new 404 Firecrest with 25mm tyres required 286 watts to maintain a speed of 40kph. That's a 4-watt savings compared with the previous model 404 Firecrest.
Hub
At the centre of the 404 Firecrest Tubeless disc-brake wheel is a versatile and durable hubset, the German-engineered ZR1 DB. If you had to choose just one wheel for road riding and racing, the 404 Firecrest Tubeless Disc brake is a savvy and speedy choice.