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Vision Metron 45 & 60 SL aero wheels get wider & MUCH lighter at le Tour de France

Vision Metron 45 60 SL Disc lightweight wide aero carbon road wheels, Bettini photo
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Getting their racing debut at the Tour de France right now, FSA Vision has just released the full details on a new range of wide, lightweight carbon Metron 45 SL & 60 SL disc brake aero road wheels – in both tubular & tubeless clinchers. Expanding up to 20% wider than the previous Vision Metron SL generation for optimized aerodynamics with wider tires, these new disc brake wheels are both deeper and 11-13% lighter weight than before and even get new faster-engaging hubs.

Vision Metron 45 & 60 SL Disc wide aero road wheels

Vision Metron 45 60 SL Disc lightweight wide aero carbon road wheels, Bettini photo
c. Vision, all Tour photos ©BettiniPhoto

Last season Vision snuck in a wider 19mm internal update to their long-running Metron SL wheels when they launched the deepest Metron 81 SLs. But now those 55 SL & 40 SL wheels have been superseded by another, slightly deeper & wider update in these new Vision Metron 45 SL Disc & Metron 60 SL Disc wheels.

Vision Metron 45 60 SL Disc lightweight wide aero carbon road wheels, LSWT San-Diego wind tunnel results
LSWT San-Diego wind tunnel validation of CFD

Both new wheelsets (there are actually four new rim profiles factoring in tubular & tubeless options) feature a new wider rim shape based on a 21mm internal, full-carbon hooked tubeless bead that has been optimized for improved aerodynamics with modern 28mm racing tires. The overall rims are a similar shape, but now bulge out even wider relative to the bead and get a more blunt nose shape. Vision says the new shape results in less drag straight into the wind, but also reduces drag at yaw angles where a shallow rim would typically be better, still increasing crosswind stability by 15-21%.

Tubular rims share the same outer dimension & shaping, again optimized for larger volume tubular tires.

Vision Metron 45 60 SL Disc lightweight wide aero carbon road wheels, rim profiles
45mm or 60mm deep, tubular or tubeless clincher

The 45mm deep, 21mm internal rim expands out to a max 31.1mm outside (5.1mm more than the 19mm internal 40mm deep predecessor). And the 60mm deep, 21mm internal wheels take it even further, expanding out to a full 33mm at their widest point (6mm more than the 19mm internal 55mm deep predecessor).

So how did they get so much lighter?

Tech details

Vision Metron 45 60 SL Disc lightweight wide aero carbon road wheels, team wheels

The key trick to the wider Metron SL Disc wheels’ weight loss appears to be more advanced handmade carbon construction. Vision says that besides more accurate hand layup of the individual plies of fiber and new reinforcement at the spoke holes, they’ve also added a new foam layer between carbon layers that help improve stiffness characteristics at a lower total weight.

Vision Metron 45 60 SL Disc lightweight wide aero carbon road wheels

Quantifying just how lighter they claim to be is a bit tricky since the wider 45mm & 60mm depths are both new, but even compared to the 5mm shallower wheels, they all are lighter than either of the narrower prior generations. Now more so than we originally thought!

  • Metron 45 SL Disc tubulars 1299g (down 121-161g over the 40 SLs)
  • Metron 45 SL Disc tubeless clinchers 1373g (down 157-207g over the 40 SLs)
  • Metron 60 SL Disc tubulars 1450g (down 70-90g over the 55 SLs)
  • Metron 60 SL Disc tubeless clinchers 1570g (down 60-120g over the 55 SLs)

Update: We’ve received a couple of updated weight claims from Vision as they’ve tried to communicate the most accurate numbers possible. While it might seem like these weights are jumping back & forth a hundred grams here or there, it seems like they are working hard to ensure we have the most accurate figures available.
The numbers above are the most current, up-to-date available.

UPDATE 3 or 4 (I’ve lost count now): Vision has again received a new production weight claim update from their factory. The good news is, they are even lighter than last we heard. A pleasant surprise. See most up-to-date weight claims below:

  • Metron 45 SL Disc tubulars 1270g (down 150-190g over the 40 SLs)
  • Metron 45 SL Disc tubeless clinchers 1372g (down 158-208g over the 40 SLs)
  • Metron 60 SL Disc tubulars 1350g (down 170-190g over the 55 SLs)
  • Metron 60 SL Disc tubeless clinchers 1460g (down 170-230g over the 55 SLs)

 

Vision Metron 45 60 SL Disc lightweight wide aero carbon road wheels, PRS hub

Besides lighter carbon rims, the new wheels get new 12mm thru-axle centerlock hubs as well (tool-free QR & 15mm front end caps, also available), with faster PRS (Power Ratchet System) tech 5° helical clutch ratchet 72-point engagement and the option for Shimano HG or SRAM XD-R alloy freehub bodies. The wheels are all handbuilt with Italian stainless butted aero spokes & self-locking nipples, laced 2:1 with 21 spokes front & 24 spokes rear.

Vision Metron 45 60 SL Disc lightweight wide aero carbon road wheels, hubs

New Vision Metron 45 & 60 SL Disc – Pricing, options & availability

Vision Metron 45 60 SL Disc lightweight wide aero carbon road wheels, wheel options
2022 Vision Metron SL Disc, 45mm or 60mm deep options

Four sets of new disc brake-only wheels should be available for pre-order now through dealers: Vision Metron 45 SL Disc tubeless clinchers and Vision Metron 45 SL Disc tubulars for $2058 / 2006€ each wheelset, or Vision Metron 60 SL Disc tubeless clinchers and Vision Metron 60 SL Disc tubulars for $2100 / 2058€ each wheelset.

Whichever depth or tire interface you choose, these new Metron SL Disc wheels also come with a new lifetime warranty for the original buyer from Vision.

Vision Metron 45 60 SL Disc lightweight wide aero carbon road wheels, Bettini photo
©BettiniPhoto

EF Education First-Nippo & Bahrain-Victorious teams are currently racing the 2021 Tour de France on the new Vision Metron 45 SL & 60 SL wheels, picking the ideal depth based on the amount of climbing on a stage, and both opting for the lighter tubular versions it seems.

Vision Metron 45 60 SL Disc lightweight wide aero carbon road wheels, Bettini photo
©BettiniPhoto

FSA Vision assures us that the new wheels will be available in customers’ hands late this autumn/winter, before the end of 2021.

VisionTechUSA.com

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hoyoon
hoyoon
2 years ago

60SL tubeless lighter than 45SL tubeless. is it right?

Eugene C
Eugene C
2 years ago
Reply to  hoyoon

The VisionTech website says the clincher version of the 60 SL weighs 1600g for the pair. These wheels are way too heavy compared to their competitors if those numbers aren’t a mistake.

Eugene C
Eugene C
2 years ago

Another website claims the 45 SL clinchers weigh 1390g.

Oli
Oli
2 years ago

I very much doubt the 60SL clinchers weigh 1460. Those hubs are relatively porky, and the spokes are quite a but heavier than CX Ray. Doubt real weights are lower than 1580-1600g.

WorkOnSunday
WorkOnSunday
2 years ago

some very impressive numbers there with very attractive price tag. almost have no reason to get the new zipp404fc. Also very good to see them committing to tubular tyres. i for one after using zipp 303s and 303fc think tubeless still have some catching up to do.

we will see the reliability tho, in my circle, there are so many vision wheels that suffer broken spokes and flanges in their first few months of use.

dofr2001
dofr2001
1 year ago

Any body got hold of these wheels? More than 18 months after placing a pre-order, my retailer is still waiting on them. And a real review is yet to be published. This is way longer that what supply chain issues could justify.

Michal
Michal
10 months ago
Reply to  dofr2001

Will repeat question as also looking at 60SL. Anyone have them and can share impressions ?

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