Vision aim to ‘bring technology derived from the Metron to a highly accessible price’ with new SC45 and SC60 wheels

Vision has updated its more affordable SC range of carbon fibre wheels, which now offer trickled-down tech from the brand's premium Metron wheels at a more budget-friendly price point. New rim profiles also bring the new SC45 and SC60 wheels bang up to date for wider tyres whilst maintaining a hooked rim profile.

Vision's premium wheelset range, the Metron, is a firm favourite within the WorldTour with the likes of Bahrain-Victorious, EF Education-EasyPost and Astana Qazaqstan using them. A culmination of the brand's expertise in the field of wheel design, they also come with a WorldTour price tag that firmly puts them in the premium category.

• Read more: How are carbon fibre wheels designed and tested?

The new SC45 and SC60 range shares many traits with the Metron wheels to offer an aerodynamically optimised wheelset at a far lower price, with the new wheels retailing for £1,069/$1,331/€1,249.

© Vision

The new SC range hits a more budget oriented price point than the Metron range

The rims themselves are built around a 21mm internal rim width with the brand stating that this width “achieves maximum efficiency with tubeless tyres ranging from 28-32mm". This brings them up to date with the wider tyres that both pro riders and amateurs are now running.

Through the development of the new SC45 and SC60 Vision says: “Our engineers have conducted in-depth tests on the road and in the laboratory to refine the construction of the entire wheel system, which now results in significantly higher stability, performance and longevity.”

Vision has designed the new SC range of wheels with the intended end user in mind. Unlike the Metron range used by the WorldTour teams, leisure riders do not have the backup of a professional mechanic who can strip and rebuild their wheels whenever is required. As a result, Vision has tested the wheels' performance as the wheelsets decay due to overuse.

• Read more: Vision releases new Metron 5D Evo integrated bar and stem

“Often, this type of wheel is used with little maintenance in mind, which is why we have conducted testing on the performance decay due to over-usage, resulting in improvements to every component part and the coupling between parts.”

Vision is marketing these wheels as, “perfect both as training wheels and as a starting point for new riders wanting a significant upgrade to their bike".

Aerodynamic optimisation

Although these might be the brand's budget offering, performance has not been overlooked. The new SC45 wheelset has been shown through the brand's own testing to offer an 8% drop in drag (depending on yaw angle and tyre size) from the existing SC40 wheelset. Vision says that this allows riders to fit wider tyres without any aerodynamic penalty.

In the press release issued by the brand, it claims that “the SC45 with a 28mm tyre is as fast or faster than the SC40 with a 25mm tyre.” The same statement is true for the new SC60 wheelset which offers a 4% drop in drag (depending on yaw angle and tyre size), according to its test.

• Read more: Do wider tyres on your bike make you faster?

The wider stance of the new SC45 rim not only allows riders to fit wider tyres, but it is claimed to significantly increase the wheel's stability in crosswinds by 21%. For the SC60, this figure sits at 15%. Both wheels have achieved this increase in stability in the same way by moving the side force pressure behind and below the hub.

Specs and availability

Vision SC45

© Vision

• 45mm rim depth with hooked rim profile
• Carbon fibre rim construction
• Center-lock rotor mount
• 1,590 grams per pair
• Price: £1,069/$1,331/€1,249

© Vision

• 60mm rim depth with hooked rim profile
• Carbon fibre rim construction
• Center-lock rotor mount
• 1,690 grams per pair
• Price: £1,069/$1,331/€1,249

What do you think of the new SC45 and SC60 wheels from Vision? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. To keep up to date with all the goings on in the world of bike tech make sure to head over to our dedicated tech news page.

Vision

Vision is a cycling component company owned by Taiwanese cycling manufacturer Full Speed Ahead (FSA). Vision produces a range of high-end cycling and triathlon products with a strong focus on aerodynamic gains.