Zipp 404 S vs Zipp 303 Firecrest: Which Wheelset Should You Buy?
What to Look For
Zipp’s road/tri wheel range spans several depths and price points, and two of the most common questions we get are “how much wheel do I actually need” and “is the cheaper option a compromise.” The 404 S and 303 Firecrest sit either side of that question — the 404 S is Zipp’s budget aero wheelset (already reviewed in full here), while the 303 Firecrest is a step up in refinement and sits in the premium mid-depth category. Here’s how they actually compare.
Zipp 404 S
- Depth — 50mm, a versatile all-round race depth.
- Weight — claimed 1,585g for the pair.
- Price — £510 rear wheel, verified in stock on Tredz.
- Positioning — entry point into “proper” Zipp aero performance, without the Firecrest or NSW hub refinement.
Zipp 303 Firecrest
- Depth — shallower than the 404 at roughly 40-45mm, with a wider 25mm internal rim width (vs 23mm on the 404 family) optimised for wider 28mm-plus tyres.
- Weight — independently measured actual weight of around 1,409g for the pair (including tubeless tape, valves and rotor lock rings) — lighter than the 404 S despite the premium construction.
- Price — £799.99, RRP £915, verified in stock on Tredz.
- Positioning — better suited to hilly, technical courses where the lighter weight and slightly shallower depth pay off on the climbs, at a real price premium over the 404 S.
Verdict
If your races and training routes are mostly flat to rolling and you want the biggest aero gain per pound spent, the 404 S is the better buy — it’s deeper, cheaper, and still tubeless-ready with disc-brake compatibility. If you regularly race hilly, technical courses (think Ironman 70.3 Bolton over a flat coastal 70.3) and can stretch the budget, the 303 Firecrest’s lighter weight and wider rim for modern wider tyres make it the more versatile all-rounder. Neither is a compromise pick — they’re simply built for different terrain.
Buying Tips
- Both wheels are disc-brake, centre-lock only — check your frame and rotor compatibility before ordering.
- Set up tubeless from day one on either wheel; both rims are tubeless-ready.
- Buy front and rear separately if budget is tight — on both wheelsets, the front alone delivers most of the aero benefit over an alloy training wheel.
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