All About Shimano’s Updated Dura-Ace Wheelsets on Zwift

Zwift recently upgraded the performance of the three Shimano Dura-Ace wheelsets available in game: the C40, C50, and C60. Drop Shop prices also increased, as did the levels at which each wheelset was unlocked. Here is a summary showing the before and after specs for the three wheelsets:

Shimano Dura-Ace Wheel Details (Version 1.80 and earlier)

Shimano Dura-Ace Wheel Details (Version 1.81 and later)

The star ratings for the C50 and C60 wheels also changed in the update. Zwift’s star ratings, as you may know, are based on the invisible CdA and weight settings for the wheels. (If a wheelset falls within a particular CdA range, it will receive 3 stars for aero performance, for example.) The more stars, the better.

Both the C50 and C60 improved from a single-star weight rating to a two-star rating, making all three wheelsets have 3-star aero/2-star weight ratings:

We already spilled the tea and shared the test results of the updated wheels above. But read on below to get these results in context, as well as other takeaways!

Aero (Flat/Rolling) Performance

Aero performance has improved for the C50 and C60 wheels, while remaining unchanging for the C40. The C50 improved by 7 seconds in our tests, while the C60 improved by 4 seconds.

That means the C50 moved up the leaderboard past 5 wheelsets in terms of aero performance, including the level 6 Mavic Cosmic Ultimate UST. It now essentially matches the aero performance of the level 8 Mavic Cosmic CXR60c, while outclimbing these wheels. This means the C50 is the best aero performer available at levels 10-11.

The C60 moves past 4 wheelsets, meanwhile, including (crucially) the level 13 Mavic Comete Pro Carbon SL UST. So the C60 is the best aero performer of any wheel up from level 12-14.

It’s not entirely “fair” to compare these low-level unlock wheels to the best, high-level wheels in game. That said, it’s another way to gauge their relative performance. The C40 remains 48 seconds slower than the current fastest road wheels (DT Swiss ARC 1100 DICUT DISC, level 39) on our test course, which is two laps of Tempus Fugit totaling 34.6km. The C50 is now 46 seconds slower, and the C60 is now 37 seconds slower.

Climb Performance

Climb test performance improved for all three Shimano wheelsets with Zwift’s 1.81 update. The C40 is 2.5 seconds faster up our Alpe du Zwift test course, while the C50 gets to the top 9.5 seconds faster and the C60 shaves off 11 seconds.

The overall ranking of Shimano’s wheels in terms of climbing performance improves substantially with these changes. While the C40 moves past just 1 wheelset in the rankings, the C50 moves past 12 wheelsets, and the C60 moves past 13 wheelsets!

The fastest overall climbers in the game (Lightweight Meilensteins and Roval Alpinist CLX) complete the test 15 seconds faster than the C40, 12 seconds faster than the C50, and 14 seconds faster than the C60. While the performance of Shimano’s three Dura-Ace wheelsets doesn’t stand out from the full crowd of Zwift wheelsets, when compared to lower-level wheelsets, they may now be the best available option. More on that below…

Note: all test results above are from a 75kg, 183cm rider holding 300W steady using the Zwift Aero frame.

Conclusions

Shimano’s Dura-Ace wheels are now the fastest racing wheels available between levels 10-14. While the C40 is not a standout performer, the C50 and C60 show strong aero and climb performance for their unlock levels, making them a go-to choice for newer Zwifters racing flat and rolling routes.

February 2025’s ZRacing series is titled “Shimano Find Your Fast”, so we’re guessing this wheel update was done in anticipation of this partner event. (Watch this space next week for details on February’s ZRacing, including courses, unlocks, and a prize drawing.)

The updated Shimano Dura-Ace wheels can be found on our Master Zwift Wheels List, and we’ll be updating the following posts to reflect Zwift’s recent changes:

• Zwift Speed Tests: Wheel Ranking Charts
• Fastest Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level (updated)
• Zwift Shopping Guide: What To Buy from the Drop Shop at Each Level (updated)

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