[Closed] Which Hunt Carbon wheels?

You'll notice more difference by switching to faster tyres than spending £££ to save 200g.

I like the gp4000’s though - I don’t think I’ve had a single puncture since I’ve had them - and they feel faster / grip better than the tyres that came on the bike.

This is probably more a vanity purchase than anything else as I couldn’t think what else to ask for - for my 40th birthday!

Edit - I’d be keeping the 4seasons wheels for the minging winter commuting and keeping the new ones for nicer weather. Guess I could run faster tyres on the carbon wheels and leave the gp4000’s where they are.

I have Hunt 40/50s that I ‘upgraded’ from ali DT Swiss rims and 240 hubs.

I’ve not really noticed any difference in performance- tyre change was from GP4000 to GP5000 on the new wheels and they do sit better on the slightly wider rims.

The Hunts are nice, look good, the hub is slightly too loud for my preference but ‘okay’.

I’d buy them again as they look ‘nice’ and are significantly cheaper than Enve.

Saving 1-200gm for that £££ I wouldn't.

TBH it seems like the £400 alu wheels at 1488g are the standout in their line?

Can you get any Hunt wheels at the minute ?

I’m not 40 until December so there’s no panic on lack of stock.

I’ve got the circa £330 wheels that were £300 when I got them. The £400 aero alloy ones were about 100g lighter I think but at the time I couldn’t justify getting those over the cheaper ones.

Do you ride more on the flat or the hills? Or if both, which is more important to you?

I'd probably get the 30s or the mixed depth ones myself.

Hmmmn, my riding is quite mixed. I’m on the outskirts of Bristol so there are some hills, but it’s hardly the alps.

I’d say it’s mostly under 8% hills at a guess.

I'd go for the deeper section purely as when you stand up and crank it out you get this amazing whoosh whoosh noise from the deeper rim profiles 😉

Tbh this sounds worth the money:

I’d go for the deeper section purely as when you stand up and crank it out you get this amazing whoosh whoosh noise from the deeper rim profiles 😉

They also look cool as ****.

Only reason I bought my Zipp 404s!

I'd forget the Hunts and get some direct from China with much nicer hubs and better spokes. Farsports and Light Bicycle are both very well regarded. I've got a set of 30mm deep carbon rims with DT Swiss hubs and CX Rays on the way now for my winter bike. Just over £600 including postage and import tax pre paid.

Or have a look at what some UK wheelbuilders can offer for the same money. Someone like Mark from Spokesman, DCR or the Cycle Clinic.

I have the 4050 and I’m pretty happy with my choice.

Who knows if they’re actually faster, but I’m going faster than I used to! Front is noticeably affected by windy days/gateways in hedges (I ride hands off far less than with other wheels), so I’m glad I got the 40 front.

The hub is loud, but it’s fine.

GP5000 tubeless, very comfy.

I like my wheels!

What mrb123 said. Why be a sucker and pay more just for a Hunt logo? At least when you buy Zipps you're getting a proprietary resin system and a carbon weave they choose, not just off the shelf Far East stuff.

Maybe because it’s easy, there’s a U.K. based warranty and decent backup? If I buy from the Far East there are time zone and distance issues etc.

I can also probably buy wheels now with a couple of different end cap types so if I ever upgrade my caad12 frame to one with bolt through the wheels would still fit.

I went for JRA Mahi Mahis, wide than the equivalent Hunts and a but more customisable. Been very happy with them.

It's wierd how you get a couple of Hunt dissers turning up on every 'which wheels' thread. I wonder where they buy their borax etc for smelting their own aluminium etc... Kit is just badged up ally isn't it. Why not do it direct yourself?

I understand why buying direct from China may not be for everyone.

In which case, ask someone like Spokesman wheels to quote you for their carbon rims with Pillar spokes and Novatec/Bitex hubs (I.e. basically what the Hunts are) and see the difference.

I went for JRA Mahi Mahis

TBF these look good too.

I paid more got Hunt for the U.K. backup too.

I can't be the only person who read the title as "Witch Hunt" carbon wheels, can I?

Based on you already having 4 Seasons I'd say get 50 Aero Discs, nice separation between the two sets then. 50's are still lightweight for hills you have there.

I've had Aero 50 Discs since April, only ridden them 250km so far but like them & they feel good as a nice weather wheelset for me + 32mm GP5000 TL tyres.

I like clicky freehubs but even for me the deep carbon rim & my chunky carbon gravel bike frame make the Hunts incredibly noisy when freewheeling. I also have a set of DT Swiss Dicut 21mm shallow height disc wheels for the bike & these provide a nice contrast to the Hunts - I always turn to the DT Swiss wheels if there's going to be breezy crosswinds, just makes the bike less grabby.

there’s a U.K. based warranty and decent backup?

Not really sure why you'd need warranty and backup with a pair of known quantity wheels from Lightbicycle (for example). The hubs, rims and spokes are all tried and tested products, so any issue you encounter with the wheels is likely to be user error.

Someone in our club just posted that the new Hunt Carbon rims are hookless. Although it says nothing about it in the instructions on the web, or in the packaging, written in little black letters on the sidewall of GP5000TL tyres it says "mount only on hooked rims". So not only were Conti very late to the tubeless party, they've managed to design a tyre that's incompatible with modern rims.

boblo - I only turn up to 'diss' on threads specifically about Hunt wheels. To be fair I have an irrational hatred of all the boutique wheel manufacturers that slap a sticker on and make a few hundred quid though, not just Hunt 😉

I've got the 50s - done 12 months on them, including ig mountain days. they're light and strang and fast, and cheaper than most.

I wonder where they buy their borax etc for smelting their own aluminium etc…

You meant Bauxite didn't you...

cookeaa
Subscriber
I wonder where they buy their borax etc for smelting their own aluminium etc…

You meant Bauxite didn’t you…

Indeed I do... Shit, I'll need to start that batch all over again... 😉

My issue with Hunts is their lack of UK QC. I had two sets of wheels from them (4 seasons then 3650) both of which needed to be returned.

4 seasons were dented on the brake track and where mount to tyre, look to have been dropped, so sent them back.

Hunt did a deal on 3650 carbon wheel set, I asked for the wheels to be inspected, they arrived with the rear wheel out of true and with deformation of the carbon around the valve hole.

A firm that has items built for them, sent the UK for them to send straight out to a consumer without opening the box isn't going to see those issues. I don't think there is much wrong with the products themselves, pretty standard parts, but assembly procedures and QC appear to be an issue in my limited experience.

I’ve had the 4seasons discs from them (although via a local lbs ordering them in) and they came in perfect condition - until I smashed one into the biggest pothole I’ve never seen).

Maybe I’d ask the lbs to get any carbon Hunt wheel in for me - I’d imagine they’d give them a quick check over for me before collection (I bought my road bike and wheels from them) - and they could deal with any dramas.

It doesn’t seem great that Hunt don’t even check the product in the U.K. before sending out though.

To be fair I have an irrational hatred of all the boutique wheel manufacturers that slap a sticker on and make a few hundred quid though, not just Hunt 😉

Quite a profitable business too..

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/08583700/filing-history

After the issues with the first set I specifically asked for the 3650s to be inspected before being sent, which I doubt they were (no signs of the box being opened). When dealing with Hunt it was unusual to speak to the same person more than once. I can't say if they intending on checking them before sending or not, but it could well have been Mr X promised it and Mrs Y dealt with sending out.

They also shipped a replacement wheelset to a very honest guy in Scotland who had got their Hunt order earlier in the week (they called me using my mobile number stuck on the side of the box).

The whole setup sounds like very profitable chaos, and although their customer service ends up with action it isn't good in the traditional sense and the issues shouldn't happen. I give them the benefit of the doubt and consider myself unlucky.

If buying through LBS is an option do that!

I’d go with the 50’s or 40/50’s depending on your aesthetic preference.

For the record, I have the 50’s and would buy them again. I had a warranty issue with failing spokes but Hunt customer service was excellent. The mark of a good company is how they deal with problems. I personally can’t be arsed dealing with a Chinese company if things go wrong. Plus in times like these we should be supporting British business.