August 2020: DT Swiss presents the second generation of Aero Road Carbon (ARC) wheels, a product family dedicated to performance. There are three rim heights: 80, 62 and 50 mm. Four years later, after having been approved by the professionals of the Tudor Pro Cycling and Uno-X Mobility team, the new DT Swiss ARC 38 wheels.
The low profile rim made it possible to create the lightest wheel in the ARC range. A record that does not lose sight of aerodynamics. An increasingly important dimension in modern cycling even when the road climbs.
That aerodynamic/weight ratio
The innovations of modern road cycling increasingly revolve around these two words which describe a rather delicate balance. The weight reduction is easily achieved by “filing” the heights of the rims, a process which however ends up negatively influencing aerodynamic resistance.
DT Swiss did not choose the 38 mm rim height by chance.
The technicians of the Swiss brand entered the wind tunnel and thanks to the consolidated collaboration with Swiss Side they compared two wheels at the top of the ARC range: the ARC 1100 DICUT 38 and the ARC 1100 DICUT 50.
The lower rim of the first set results in a weight saving of 180 g, leaving an acceptable wattage difference on the plate at different yaw angles (see comparison below).
In essence, a light wheel, but at the same time aerodynamically optimized, gives an advantage on fast climbs (up to 7.5% in the case of a professional cyclist, 4.5% for the average amateur athlete), descents and flat sections, while the lightness changes come into play when the ascent gradient approaches double digits.
HERE is an interesting in-depth study on Swiss Side.
DT Swiss then compared the ARC 1100 DICUT 38 with several rival wheels in the same category.
Data in hand, the new wheels provide the best aerodynamic performance of the sample (see comparison below).
New DT Swiss ARC 38: technical specifications
As per tradition, DT Swiss offers two setups, ARC 1100 DICUT 38 and ARC 1400 DICUT 38, built around the same tubeless ready carbon fiber rim equipped with 20 mm internal channel with hook (no hookless).
What varies are the hubs (and not only):
– 180 DICUT with Ratchet EXP 36T for the wheels ARC 1100 DICUT 38;
– 240 DICUT with Ratchet EXP 36T for ARC 1400 DICUT 38 wheels.
THE 24 spokes (front/rear) with crossover in second are screwed onto aluminum nipples equipped with DT Pro Lock technology and configure the second distinctive feature of the two product series.
The ARC 1100 DICUT 38 have spokes DT aerolite II and DT aero comp while the ARC 1400 DICUT 38 are entirely assembled with DT aerolite II spokes.
There are two free wheel body options: Shimano HG or Sram XDR.
Below are the technical data sheets.
DT Swiss ARC 1100 DICUT 38
DT Swiss ARC 1400 DICUT 38
Weight
ARC 1100 DICUT 38: 1,292 gr
ARC 1400 DICUT 38: 1.361 gr
Price
ARC 1100 DICUT 38: 2,499.80 euros
ARC 1400 DICUT 38: 2,049.80 euros
For more information: dtswiss.com/it
HERE all the news and insights regarding DT Swiss.
