Rolf Prima Ares3 Disc Wheelset
The Rolf Prima Ares3 Disc is the shallowest carbon road wheelset in Rolf's Ares line, and it is the one we point people toward when climbing weight matters more than a deep aero section. The rim is 32mm deep, the complete set weighs 1440 grams on Rolf's scale (660g front, 780g rear), and it runs on Rolf's US-made XST 4.4 disc hubs with the T2 high engagement drive and a CNC-machined titanium freehub body.
Rolf calls this wheel a thoroughbred climber, and that is a fair description. It is built for riders who spend a lot of time in the hills, who want a carbon wheel that accelerates quickly out of switchbacks, and who do not want the crosswind sensitivity that comes with a 50mm or 60mm rim.
The paired-spoke design matters more on a wheel this light than on almost any other in the range. Rolf brings spokes to the rim in pairs so the left and right pulling forces cancel each other at each pair rather than tugging the rim sideways between single spokes. That lets Rolf build the Ares3 Disc true and stiff with 20 spokes per wheel, fewer than a conventional lacing would need on a rim this light, which is where a good part of the weight and aero advantage comes from.
Design and construction
The rim is a full carbon clincher, 32mm deep, tubeless compatible, and it ships already taped. Rolf's spec sheet lists a 19mm inner width. The profile is shaped to keep side-wind interference low, which is the main reason the Ares3 Disc feels calmer than deeper Rolf wheels when a gust hits from the side.
The hubs are Rolf's XST 4.4, designed and manufactured in the USA and assembled in Eugene. They run Enduro steel cartridge bearings as standard, with a ceramic Enduro Zero bearing upgrade offered by Rolf as a built-to-order option. The rear uses the T2 high engagement drive, which is a 48-tooth drive ring with three independently sprung steel pawls; Rolf describes it as twice as fast to engage as its older 24-tooth ring. The freehub body is CNC-machined 6Al-4V titanium and is offered in Shimano HG 10/11, SRAM XDR 11/12, Campagnolo 11/12 and Campagnolo N3W.
Spokes are Sapim CX-Ray bladed, 20 front and 20 rear, laced in Rolf's paired pattern. The brake interface is Center Lock disc, front and rear. Axle choices at order time are 15mm thru, 12mm thru or 9mm quick release up front, and 142mm thru axle or 135mm quick release out back, so the Ares3 Disc fits both current thru-axle frames and older disc road bikes.
How it rides
On the road the Ares3 Disc feels like a climbing wheel first. The low rim mass shows up every time you stand and stamp on the pedals, and the T2 drive picks up the chain almost immediately when you go from coasting to pedaling through a hairpin. Stiffness is good for a 20-spoke wheel because paired spokes let Rolf carry higher spoke tension than a conventional lacing at the same count, so the wheel does not wander under a hard out-of-saddle effort.
It suits riders who do long climbing days, gran fondos in the mountains, and hilly road racing where a 60mm wheel would be dead weight for most of the course. The Ares3 Disc is not the wheel for flat time trials or for someone whose riding is mostly fast group rides on the flat; the Ares4 Disc or Ares6 Disc will give more free speed there. Heavier or very powerful riders should also look at the Ares6, which Rolf itself recommends as its stiffer option.
Specifications
| Wheel type | Road |
|---|---|
| Rim | Carbon clincher |
| Rim depth | 32mm |
| Rim width | 28.5mm, internal 19mm |
| Brake | Disc Brake |
| Spoke count (F/R) | 20/20 |
| Spokes | Sapim CX Ray, bladed |
| Hubset | XST 4.4 T2 High Engagement Enduro steel cartridge Bearings |
| Front axle | 15mm, 12mm, 9mm |
| Rear axle | 142mm, 135mm |
| Freehub | Shimano HG 10/11, SRAM XDR 11/12, Campagnolo 11/12, N3W |
| Tire size | Please refer to chart in product images |
| Weight | 1440g [660g/780g] |
| Includes | Taped for |
This version
This page is the Ares3 Disc Wheelset itself, not a custom build. The choices on this page are front axle: 15mm Thru Axle Front, 12mm Thru Axle Front, 9mm QR Front; rear axle: 142mm Thru Axle Rear, 135mm QR Rear; driver type: Shimano HG 10/11, SRAM XDR, Campagnolo, Campagnolo N3W. This listing is the complete wheelset - front and rear together, not a single wheel.
Fit and compatibility
Compatibility is broad. Front axle: 15mm, 12mm or 9mm QR. Rear: 142mm thru or 135mm QR. Freehub: Shimano HG 10/11, SRAM XDR, Campagnolo or Campagnolo N3W, all in titanium. Rotor mount is Center Lock; if your rotors are 6-bolt you will need Center Lock adapters. This is a disc brake specific wheel with no brake track, so it cannot be used on a rim brake frame; Rolf sells the Ares3 rim brake version separately.
For tires, Rolf's size chart places its 19C and 20C road rims, which includes the Ares3 Disc, at 23mm to 32mm tire width, with maximum pressures of 110 psi at 23 to 25mm, 100 psi at 28mm and 80 psi at 30 to 32mm. Use the lower of Rolf's figure and your tire maker's limit. A 28mm tubeless tire is the sweet spot for most riders on this rim.
What Rolf Prima says about testing
Rolf Prima builds every complete wheelset by hand at its facility in Eugene, Oregon. The company states that all orders are built by hand there by its own builders, and describes its process as building each wheel three times with two stress cycles in the build to seat and stretch all components. Rolf Prima says hand building lets it hit uniform spoke tensions that machine building cannot match, and that its design allows higher and more targeted spoke tension than a traditionally laced wheel, which it credits with increasing stiffness and improving spoke durability by decreasing the load cycle on each spoke.
The defining feature of a Rolf Prima wheel is Paired Spoke Technology, introduced in 1997. Bringing the spokes to the rim in pairs neutralizes the left and right outward pulling forces, which Rolf Prima says allows it to build true wheels on lighter rims with fewer spokes. Fewer spokes and lighter rims are the basis of the brand's aerodynamic and weight claims. The wheel systems combine paired spokes with the Delta rim profile, internal nipples, and patented details including the Jacketed Nipple, Self-Aligning Nipple, Differential Flange Diameter and Dish Reducing Design. Rolf Prima cites eleven patents behind its technology.
Rolf Prima runs an in-house engineering and testing lab and states it uses the ISO 4210 standard as a base starting point but considers it not tough enough, so it applies its own in-house standards. Published test capabilities include an in-house drum fatigue tester it calls the Thrasher, which compresses years of riding into days; an impact test using a weight calibrated steel anvil that exceeds the UCI 40 joule requirement, striking at spokes, between spokes and at the valve hole; lateral and radial stiffness measurement of rims alone and complete wheels; brake energy, distance and temperature testing developed for carbon clinchers; wind tunnel evaluation; and field testing by sponsored athletes. The Certainty page cites over 10,000 hours of lab testing to above industry standards.
On racing eligibility, Rolf Prima explains that UCI approval only matters for mass start UCI road races, UCI cyclocross and draft legal ITU triathlon. Its standard wheels (Aspin and the Elan family) do not require approval, while most of its deeper or lower spoke count models are non standard and are listed on the UCI approval registry. Rolf Prima does not publish a fixed rider weight limit; it says every wheel has limits that involve riding style and road conditions as well as weight, and directs heavier or more aggressive riders toward stiffer models such as Vigor, Echelon or Ares6. All road wheels can be set up tubeless with the brand's tubeless kit, and adventure, cyclocross and mountain models ship tubeless ready with tape and valves installed.
Rolf Prima backs its wheels with the Certainty program: a five year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for the original owner, lifetime crash replacement at a discount for registered wheels, a 30 day trade out or return window in the USA, replacement parts availability for any Rolf Prima wheel regardless of age, and stated service response times of same day to 24 hours on calls and email with service work resolved within three days of receipt.
Rolf Prima's videos
From Rolf Prima
Warranty and certifications
- Limited warranty — Five years from original retail purchase against defects in materials and workmanship (2016 and newer wheels), original owner, non transferable; decals and bearings two years (source)
- Certainty program — Five year warranty, lifetime crash replacement, 30 day trade out or return in the USA, replacement parts for any Rolf Prima wheel regardless of age, same day to 24 hour service replies, service work resolved within three days of receipt (source)
- Crash replacement — Lifetime crash repair or replacement discount for the original owner; wheels must be registered within 30 days of purchase; proof of purchase and serial numbers required; freight not covered (source)
- UCI approval — Non standard models (rims taller than 25 mm, fewer than 16 spokes) are listed on the UCI approval registry; Aspin and Elan are standard wheels that need no approval (source)
- Test standards — ISO 4210 used as the base with tougher in-house standards; impact test exceeds the UCI 40 J requirement; in-house drum fatigue, stiffness, brake and wind tunnel testing (source)
- Hand built in USA — All wheels hand built in Eugene, Oregon; each wheel built three times with two stress cycles; eleven patents (source)
Sources on Rolf Prima's site:
- Rolf Prima: Testing
- Rolf Prima: Paired Spoke Technology
- Rolf Prima: Our Technology
- Rolf Prima: Certainty Program
- Rolf Prima: Warranty
- Rolf Prima: FAQ (UCI, rider weight, build process)
The figures, certificates and media above are Rolf Prima's own. ProWheelBuilder does not run these tests; we sell the wheel and stand behind the order.
A note on Rolf Prima
The Vigor is Rolf's longest-running profile and their best seller, and the ES version has been a staple of triathlon wheel choices for fifteen years. A rim shape that survives that long in a market this faddish is usually telling you something.
Ordering it from ProWheelBuilder
Every Ares3 Disc we sell is built to order by Rolf Prima in Eugene, Oregon; we do not build these ourselves. When you order through ProWheelBuilder you tell us your front axle, rear axle and freehub choice, we check the order against your bike before it goes to Rolf, and Rolf laces, tensions and tapes the set. We are in Georgia, we build wheels for a living, and we are happy to talk through whether a 142mm thru axle or 135mm QR is right for your frame, or whether XDR or HG matches your cassette.
If you like Rolf's rims but want a different hub, a different spoke count or a specific color, we can also build a custom wheel on Astral rims, which is Rolf's own rim brand, using any hub in our catalog. Ask us before you order and we will tell you honestly which route makes more sense for you.
Warranty
Manufacturer's warranty. Rolf Prima gives a one-year limited warranty on its wheels under normal use. Astral is Rolf Prima's rim brand; ask us and we will confirm the current terms for the exact rim before you buy.
ProWheelBuilder. These wheels were built at the factory, not on our bench, so it is the maker's warranty above that stands behind them - our own one-year wheel warranty covers wheels we lace ourselves. If you do need to claim, we will deal with the manufacturer for you.
Full terms are on our Policies & Warranty page.
Ares3 Disc questions
Is ProWheelBuilder the manufacturer of the Ares3 Disc?
No. Rolf Prima designs and hand-builds the Ares3 Disc in Eugene, Oregon. ProWheelBuilder is an authorized reseller in Georgia. We sell the wheelset, check your order, and advise on axle and freehub choices, but every set is built by Rolf.
What is the inner rim width of the Ares3 Disc?
Rolf's spec table lists a 19mm inner width on the 32mm-deep carbon rim. Rolf's tire chart rates this rim for 23mm to 32mm tires.
Which freehub bodies are available?
Shimano HG 10/11, SRAM XDR 11/12, Campagnolo 11/12 and Campagnolo N3W. All are CNC-machined titanium. Choose the one that matches your cassette when you order.
Does the Ares3 Disc use Center Lock or 6-bolt rotors?
Center Lock. Rolf moved most of its disc wheels to Center Lock in 2017. Six-bolt rotors can be fitted with an adapter.
What warranty comes with it?
Rolf's Certainty program: a five-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, lifetime crash replacement, and a 30-day trade-out or return window for US customers on non-custom orders.
How does the Ares3 Disc differ from the Ares3 ES Disc?
The Ares3 Disc uses Rolf's US-made XST 4.4 hubs with a titanium freehub, Enduro bearings and 20 CX-Ray spokes per wheel at 1440g. The ES version uses the XR 3.1 hub with an aluminum freehub and 24 spokes per wheel at 1580g.
Not sure? Text or leave a voicemail on 470-253-0929 or email info@prowheelbuilder.com — you will be talking to the people who build wheels for a living.
