Princeton Carbon Alta series spins up sub

Oct 02, 2023

Designed as an ultralight climbing wheel, the new Princeton Carbon Alta 3532 wheelset is the first to use their new Evolution rim design and layup, yielding a 348g rim and tubular wheelsets at just 950g.

For the average rider, the 1094g tubeless-ready disc brake wheelset is more interesting, and also extremely light. With multiple hub and spoke options, and even a rim brake option, there's something for everyone seeking a lightweight road bike wheelset.

The new Evolution rim design is, they say, the first to use an articulating and undulating spoke bed to provide the perfect bracing angle.

And, it uses their non-drilled tire bed, so tubeless setup is easier since you don't need to use rim tape. It's a hooked design, with a 21mm internal (28.6mm external) width. The nipple bed sways from side to side, creating a direct path to the hub and better bracing angles…the steeper spoke angles are fixed to the taller rim section to create a shorter spoke length to improve stiffness.

Sample claimed wheelset weights are:

All options and pricing are:

The rim's name refers to the depth, with the wavy surface varying from 32mm to 35mm deep. At this depth, it's providing a slight aerodynamic benefit, but the emphasis here is on lateral stiffness and light weight.

The design is a lower profile of their taller aero wheels, which give them the straight-line aerodynamic benefits of a deeper wheel with the crosswind stability of shallower wheels. I’ve tested them and they work quite well, even their mid-depth gravel wheels.

Several finishes and graphics are offered, some with an upcharge. The top build uses the Tactic TRO1 hubs, which weigh in at just 215 for the pair.

PrincetonCarbon.com