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Cycling Weekly’s review found ENVE’s SES 4.5 Pro wheelset fast, responsive and notably stable in crosswinds across road and gravel bikes. The reviewer reported a 1,378-gram weight and strong ride performance, but the supplied report does not give the wheelset’s price or enough test data to independently verify ENVE’s aerodynamic claims.
Cycling Weekly has reviewed ENVE’s SES 4.5 Pro wheelset, reporting that the high-end wheels delivered responsive handling, improved riding speeds and unusual stability in crosswinds during testing on a road bike and a gravel bike. The review also records a weight of 1,378 grams, including valves, lock rings and rim tape, while noting that the wheelset’s premium performance comes with an equally high price; the supplied report does not state the price.
The SES 4.5 Pro is the top model in ENVE’s wheel range and is positioned as a versatile race wheelset, with a particular emphasis on climbing. It is not recommended for cobbles. The rim is 49 millimeters deep at the front and 55 millimeters at the rear, with a 23.5-millimeter internal width and an external width of 30.8 millimeters at the front and 30 millimeters at the rear. ENVE designed the profile around 28-millimeter tyres, a common choice in professional road racing.
The review says the new rim is 50 grams lighter than its predecessor. ENVE’s own testing found just 0.25 watts between the new SES 4.5 Pro and the previous SES 4.5, while claiming gains in weight savings at test speeds of 32 and 48 kilometers per hour. Those aerodynamic results were produced using an ENVE Melee frame and ENVE tyres, so they do not establish how the wheels perform with every bike and tyre combination.
For its riding assessment, Cycling Weekly’s reviewer used the wheels on a Tavelo Arow road bike and a Seka ExAero gravel bike, fitting Continental Archetype tyres. The reviewer reported higher average speeds than with shallower wheels and some other aero wheels, plus dependable handling in blustery conditions. The test also praised the wheels’ responsiveness, stiffness and hub engagement. The reviewer cautioned that a personal best on a climbing segment could not be attributed to the wheels alone.
What the Test Says About Handling
The review’s most useful finding for potential buyers is not simply that the SES 4.5 Pro is light or aero: it is the reported balance of deep-rim speed and crosswind control. Deep wheels can be difficult to manage in gusts, particularly on frames with wider tyre clearance. The reviewer said the ENVE wheels remained stable on a gravel bike in windy conditions, making handling a key part of the product’s appeal beyond road-race use.
That assessment remains one reviewer’s experience, not a controlled comparison across riders, routes or weather. It can help readers understand the wheelset’s character, but does not establish a guaranteed speed gain. The stated high price also matters: buyers will want to weigh the claimed aerodynamic benefits and refined handling against less costly options. The source material gives no price figure, so a direct value comparison is not possible here.
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A Pro-Focused Rim and Hub
ENVE developed the SES 4.5 Pro around demands it says came from the professional peloton. The design uses a hooked rim, which ENVE says offers added tyre security, though the extra carbon at the bead adds some weight. The wheelset retains 24 straight-pull alloy spokes per wheel, laced two-cross in a 1:1 pattern, rather than using carbon spokes.
The hubset is the Ultralight Pro Innerdrive, with ceramic bearings and a 42-millimeter ratchet. ENVE says the hub design cuts 60 grams compared with its standard Innerdrive hubs. A factory-set waved washer is intended to maintain bearing preload as the hub ages, but the reviewer did not have enough time with the wheels to assess that claim over the long term. The set is supplied with rim tape, tubeless valves and lock rings, and is offered with Shimano HG, SRAM XDR or Campagnolo N3W freehub options.
The review also notes the wheelset’s association with professional racing: it was the wheel choice of Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates–XRG during the 2025 season, according to the report. That racing use provides context for the product’s design brief, but it is not a substitute for evidence about performance or value for everyday riders.
“The wheels have proved rather transformative for both frames in terms of overall performance.”
— Cycling Weekly reviewer
Price and Long-Term Durability
The supplied review excerpt does not include the wheelset’s price, so its cost and value against competing models cannot be quantified here. ENVE’s aerodynamic comparisons are also based on a specified test setup using its own frame and tyres; the report does not provide enough detail to independently assess the testing protocol or replicate the results.
Long-term durability remains untested in the account provided. The reviewer says the wheels were not in their possession long enough to assess ENVE’s claim that the hub’s preload system adjusts over its lifespan. The reported speed and handling findings are subjective riding impressions, and the reviewer explicitly says the climbing-segment result cannot be credited to the wheels alone.
What Buyers Should Check
Readers considering the SES 4.5 Pro should check ENVE’s current price, warranty and compatibility information, then compare the wheelset with alternatives using the tyres and riding conditions they expect to use. The review supports a case for considering the wheels where crosswind stability and responsive handling matter, but it does not establish a universal speed advantage or long-term hub performance.
No further test results or follow-up findings are included in the supplied material. Any later assessment of durability, value or performance across different setups would need additional testing and clearly stated comparison conditions.
Key Questions
How much do the ENVE SES 4.5 Pro wheels weigh?
The reviewer measured the wheelset at 1,378 grams, including valves, lock rings and rim tape.
How did the wheels handle in crosswinds?
The reviewer reported that the wheels felt particularly stable in blustery conditions, including when mounted on a gravel bike. This is a riding impression from the test, not a guarantee for all riders or setups.
What tyres and bikes were used in the review?
The wheels were tested on a Tavelo Arow road bike and a Seka ExAero gravel bike, using Continental Archetype tyres.
What remains untested about the wheelset?
The reviewer did not have enough time to assess the hub’s long-term preload behavior or establish the wheelset’s durability over an extended period. The supplied report also does not state its price.
Source: cyclingweekly.com
