Rolf Prima took their affordable Black Rock XR carbon mountain bike wheelset concept and turned out an option for roadies. The new Ares3 LS uses a full carbon clincher rim laced to their TdF2.4 hubset for a $1,399 wheelset. And it’s handbuilt at their Eugene, Oregon, headquarters, too.
The Ares3 LS has a 32mm deep rim with a 19mm internal width measurement, with a tubeless-ready design. External width is 27mm.
So, how do they compare to the standard Ares 3 that retail for $2,399? For starters, the new LS version uses steel bearings instead of ceramic; the freehub body is steel, not titanium; it has a few more spokes; and it only comes in a QR rim brake version, not disc, among other minor differences. Weight difference is +150g…but they’re also $1,000 less, and are definitely an upgrade over many stock wheels. But, it’s the same high end carbon rim, just laced to a less expensive hubset…which is exactly what they did with the Black Rock XR set.
They claim it’s just 1,515g, making it competitive with similar options that are machine built overseas. And it comes with their 5-year warranty and lifetime crash replacement program.
The Rolf Prima Ares3 LS starts shipping in May 2018. Until then, check out our factory and headquarters tour! And if you want a more affordable disc brake option, the Ares3 ES is $1,749 and makes similar substitutions to bring the price down.
