Shared in the official announcement of Carbon-Ti becoming component supplier of UAE Team Emirates for UCI World Tour road racing, are some new prototype ultralight carbon-carrier centerlock disc brake rotors. With what looks like much of the same core floating carbon+steel tech as their 2nd-gen 6-bolt rotors, these gen3 centerlock rotors will finally be able to lighten up your lightest modern road, gravel, cross, and even XC wheels with center-lock hubs…
Update: Carbon-Ti has now officially launched the new X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 rotors. More info below…
Carbon-Ti X-Rotor Steel Carbon 3 centerlock rotors
![Carbon-Ti X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 prototype centerlock disc brake rotors, UAE Emirates, rear rotor](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Carbon-Ti-X-Rotor-SteelCarbon-3-prototype-centerlock-disc-brake-rotors_UAE-Team-Emirates-Colnago-V4Rs-bikes_rear-wheel-detail-800x600.jpg)
Long attracting the attention of mountain biking weight-weenies, Carbon-Ti has been making 6-bolt carbon rotors for many years. We’ve been openly hoping for a centerlock version for years, ever since we saw them update their lightweight X-Hub SP with a centerlock interface to save weight.
Now, thanks to a “new partnership for the 2023 cycling season” as “an official supplier of the UAE Team Emirates”, Carbon-Ti has teased a closer look at their next rotors and given us a glimpse at some of the other tech the team are racing.
Are they really Centerlock though?
![Carbon-Ti X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 prototype centerlock disc brake rotors, iPhone snap](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Carbon-Ti-X-Rotor-SteelCarbon-3-prototype-centerlock-disc-brake-rotors_UAE-Team-Emirates-Colnago-V4Rs-bikes_iphone-photo-800x533.jpg)
Carbon-Ti officially is referring to them as “new center lock X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 disc brake rotors, which will be released on the market soon”. But they clearly are still attached with a 6-pin carrier, a protective spacer, and an alloy lockring. Just now there is a reshaped carbon carrier that is continuous around the common 6-bolt interface, likely for safer compatibility with both 6-bolt & centerlock mounting.
What do we know?
![Carbon-Ti X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 prototype centerlock disc brake rotors, UAE Emirates, front wheel](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Carbon-Ti-X-Rotor-SteelCarbon-3-prototype-centerlock-disc-brake-rotors_UAE-Team-Emirates-Colnago-V4Rs-bikes_bikes-up-front-800x533.jpg)
The new rotors carry the same X-Rotor SteelCarbon name as their predecessor – confirming the same basic tech – just with a #3 added for this third generation making the switch to centerlock, or Center Lock as Carbon-Ti calls it. In reality, it seems that what makes these officially centerlock is the fact that Carbon-Ti will now make them available with an approved 6-bolt to centerlock adapter.
The new carbon carriers have a bit more material to them, suggesting they might weigh a couple of grams more than gen2. They also look to be more or less made from a similar 90° alternating carbon weave. But… all of the UAE Team Emirates rotors seem to have curiously been sanded after the carbon was finished, buffing the raised spots in the weave.
![Carbon-Ti X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 prototype centerlock disc brake rotors, UAE Emirates, up-close](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Carbon-Ti-X-Rotor-SteelCarbon-3-prototype-centerlock-disc-brake-rotors_UAE-Team-Emirates-Colnago-V4Rs-bikes_up-close-800x600.jpg)
Otherwise, the outer “semi-floating” stainless steel braking surface of these prototype 160mm discs appears to share the same shape and cutouts as the current gen 2 rotors. They also use the same titanium rivets with Carbon-Ti’s name laser-etched on them to isolate the braking surface and its heat buildup from the carbon carrier.
Other Carbon-Ti upgrades for UAE Emirates
![Carbon-Ti X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 prototype centerlock disc brake rotors, UAE Team Emirates Colnago V4Rs bikes, race-ready](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Carbon-Ti-X-Rotor-SteelCarbon-3-prototype-centerlock-disc-brake-rotors_UAE-Team-Emirates-Colnago-V4Rs-bikes_team-bikes-800x480.jpg)
Besides the new rotors, the Colnago V4Rs race bikes of UAE Team Emirates were fitted with Carbon-Ti X-Carboring EVO chainrings that mate hard-anodized aluminum toothed rings onto a carbon fiber carrier to shed weight & increase stiffness over the stock Shimano Dura-Ace rings.
Their ENVE SES 4.5 aero wheels are also bolted on with machined alloy X-Lock EVO 12mm thru-axles.
![Carbon-Ti X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 prototype centerlock disc brake rotors, UAE Team Emirates Colnago V4Rs bikes angled](https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Carbon-Ti-X-Rotor-SteelCarbon-3-prototype-centerlock-disc-brake-rotors_UAE-Team-Emirates-Colnago-V4Rs-bikes_angled-800x533.jpg)
Carbon-Ti says their lightweight components have already been raced by Tadej Pogačar during Amstel Gold Race and Tour of Flanders victories this season. We already knew he was a weight-weenie, spotting the Darimo seatpost on his prototype Colnago last summer. We’ll be curious to see what other gram-shaving tech Carbon-Ti will have for him next.
Update: Now that Carbon-Ti has officially unveiled the new X-Rotor SteelCarbon 3 rotors we have quite a bit more details, including a new carbon carrier, new braking surface, and new centerlock mount. The rotors are now available for 185€ in 6-bolt and 220€ in centerlock configurations. Check out the full details here.