ENVE adds Foundation AR40 Wheelset at sub $US 1,500 Price Point

ENVE foundation ar40 review — ENVE Foundation AR40

Foundation represents the highest quality wheelset on the market at the sub US$ 1500 price point.
Foundation is designed to be a premium ENVE experience in terms of ride quality, aerodynamics, and reliability. – ENVE Composites

ENVE technologies, simplified:

Less complex carbon laminates
Matched rim shapes front to rear
Reliability and manufacturing efficiencies prioritized over lightweight

Gateway to Premium and PRO SES, G Series, M Series wheel product lines

Foundation wheelsets feature Foundation grade hub which includes:

Innerdrive ratchet system
Interchangeable components with Premium hub offering
High performance steel bearings with the same seal strategy and components as Premium Hub’s stainless-steel bearings

Introducing the AR40

The AR40 is the latest addition to the Foundation lineup. Featuring an aerodynamically optimized 40 mm rim depth front and rear, with a 25mm internal rim width, the AR40 is designed to deliver ultimate versatility for the road rider and racer looking for performance on and off-road. Borrowing from SES rim design knowledge, the AR40 is aerodynamically tuned for 29 mm – 30 mm tires and delivers drag reduction that punches above its depth and price point.

Gravel Rated

While designed primarily for on-road performance, the AR40 has been tested and qualified to ENVE’s gravel standards to ensure safety and speed for gravel riding and racing applications. The wide range of capabilities make the AR40 a perfect upgrade to any modern road bike, all-road bike, or gravel racing bike.

AR40 Rim Specifications

425g Rim Weight (+/-3%)
1500g Wheelset Weight (+/-3%)
Patented Molded Spoke Hole technology
Internal spoke holes
Tubeless Compatible
25mm Internal Width
40mm Depth
3.6mm Hook Width – Wide Hookless Bead

AERODYNAMICS

WIND TUNNEL TESTED, REAL-WORLD PROVEN

Like our SES wheel family, the Foundation Collection and the AR40 has been tested at the Mercedes-Benz Formula One Wind Tunnel to deliver best-in-class real world aero performance.

Like all ENVE’s rims, the AR40 was developed in-frame and tested at multiple speeds, 20 mph/32 kph and 30 mph/48 kph. This testing, while more time consuming and costly, ensures that the AR40 delivers a performance advantage to riders of all abilities.

Why Hookless?

The tubeless tire and system are the benchmark for performance. The benefits of road tubeless are as follows:

Hookless/Straight-Sidewall Design

Tubeless performance depends on the tire maintaining a light press-fit with the rim on the bead seat diameter. ENVE chooses a hookless tubeless rim profile as it allows the rim’s critical tolerance at the bead seat diameter to be both consistent and accurate. In short, hookless is chosen to deliver a safer and more reliable tubeless system.

Tubeless Tires are the Pinnacle of Road Tire Technology

When it comes to tire technology, R&D budgets are being spent on premium tubeless tire designs. The tires of today are not the tires of even two years ago. The modern performance tire is tubeless, and it is designed for use on TSS type, aka hookless rim designs. Regardless of whether you decide to run them with or without and innertube, a premium tubeless tire is the fastest tire.

INNERDRIVE ™ HUBS

INNERDRIVE™ represents the pinnacle of bicycle drive mechanisms. Oversized steel ratchets are positioned inboard and over the bearings reducing stress on the axle and bearings while ensuring positive and reliable engagement.