We're based in Tokyo, Japan. We've been in business since 2010. We initially sold only to the Japanese market but in 2013 began selling worldwide. We have plans to expand our product line in the near future. We won't be closing anytime soon.

In our experience, ‘Bill Me Later’ only works in the US. We don't have any payment plan options at present. Most people use credit cards to accomplish the same thing, and might even get better interest rates doing so.

We offer a 65 day test ride with 110% paid returns. So if you would like to do a test ride you can place an order for the wheels of your choice from www.tokyowheel.com, try the wheels for up to 65 days and if you want to return them at any time, we’ll pay the return shipping costs, give you a full refund, and pay you an extra 10% of your purchase price as a thank you.

We are currently trialling a dealer program. Please check our dealer list.

Sorry, we don’t offer any sales from our Tokyo office. We sell exclusively online. Our Tokyo office is where we do all our administration, customer support, and marketing.

Every Tokyowheel includes titanium quick release skewers, brake pads, valve extensions, and nylon rim strips (for clinchers). The only additional parts you will need are the inner tubes, tires and rear cassette. Most customers choose to transfer the cassette from their old wheels onto their new wheels, which requires a few specialty tools, and is something easily done at your local bike shop.

• To get an idea of the perfomance and quality of Tokyowheels check out what our customers have to say here.
• We guarantee NO customs taxes.
• Shipping costs (to any location worldwide) are included in the price.
• Our wheels are guaranteed for 1 year from receipt of your Tokyowheels.
• We are so confident in our product that we will refund 110% of the cost of your wheels if you are not satisfied with your purchase. We even give you a full 65 days to try them! We will also pay the cost of shipping back to us if you are not satisfied within 65 days of receiving your Tokyowheels.

Sorry, we only offer 700c size wheels.

In the past this was a major issue with carbon wheels. The problem came from the fact that resin in some carbon fiber was not able to withstand the high temperatures generated by hard braking on long descents. These wheels would experience a ‘delimitation’, or melting of the braking surface and in some cases rim failure. At Tokyowheel we are constantly improving the technology of our wheels, and we pay special attention to the braking surface.

There are 3 technologies we incorporate into our rims to improve braking performance and temperature durability:

1+2. We use DuraHeat R carbon on the braking surface of all our rims. This is a two part technology. First the resin in this carbon is more resistant to heat which means your rim can get hotter dues to braking without any damage (260 degrees F). Secondly we embed a thermally conductive fiber into the carbon which helps to spread heat away from any 'hot-spots' and again makes it so you can brake harder and longer without damage to the rim.

Those are the main points, but also one minor thing to consider is:

3. We include our all-new BlueStop 2G brake pads. A very recent addition to our product line. These pads grip better, and stay cooler longer. You can also use third party pads on our wheels - we recommend the SwissStop Yellow King product line (Yellow King pads will result in a higher rim temperature during braking as a result of the residue that they leave on the rim vs our CeramicChampion™ pads).

We also test our wheels in our Digital Testing Lab for braking surface performance. This a key part of the manufacturing process and is one of the reasons why our wheels perform so well.

During this testing, we run the wheel up to 30kph and then we apply a braking force and measure 7 performance variables, such as deceleration, stopping distance, and average and maximum rim temperature. By measuring these things we are able to continuously improve the braking performance of our wheels and their durability under heavy braking conditions.

All our rims are 100% carbon. We don’t offer any wheels with aluminum braking surfaces. Our Duraheat-R™ Carbon braking surface rivals the performance of aluminum. It's also much lighter, which results in faster acceleration and better climbing. In the past, aluminum was used on carbon wheels to minimise any durability loss brought about by high heat from braking friction. Advances in braking materials technology have improved the performance of carbon braking systems in recent years. The popularity of aluminum/carbon hybridisation has declined as a result. Tokyowheel is continually researching and developing carbon braking technology.

There are 3 technologies we incorporate into our rims to improve braking performance and temperature durability:

1+2. We use DuraHeat R carbon on the braking surface of all our rims. This is a two part technology. First the resin in this carbon is more resistant to heat which means your rim can get hotter dues to braking without any damage (260 degrees F). Secondly we embed a thermally conductive fiber into the carbon which helps to spread heat away from any 'hot-spots' and again makes it so you can brake harder and longer without damage to the rim.

Those are the main points, but also one minor thing to consider is:

3. We include our all-new BlueStop 2G brake pads. A very recent addition to our product line. These pads grip better, and stay cooler longer. You can also use third party pads on our wheels - we recommend the SwissStop Yellow King product line (Yellow King pads will result in a higher rim temperature during braking as a result of the residue that they leave on the rim vs our CeramicChampion™ pads).

We use black Sapim SILS Polyax Aluminum Nipples for all wheels upgraded to Sapim spokes & nipples.

We offer an XL hub upgrade which features a special hub and a higher spoke count front and rear (24/28). This hubset is designed for heavier/more powerful riders.

No, we don’t offer any custom design or graphics services. We offer 12 different decal color options, including a No-Logo version. All our decals are removable so you could either remove the decals from the wheels or order the No-Logo version, and apply your own decals.

No, we don’t offer any hubs that are made by Novatec. Our hubs are made for us by a high-quality specialty hub maker in Taiwan.

All our hubs are compatible up to 11 speed. That means that they are also 8, 9, 10 speed compatible. We include a small spacer for use with non-11 speed cassettes.

By default we lace our rear wheels 2x on both drive and non-drive side.

Tokyowheels actually have pretty high rider weight limits. Limits are different for each wheelset and range from 209lbs/95kg ~ 243.5lbs/110kg. Wheelset rider weight limits are listed in the Quick Specs box on each individual product page. You can increase the effective limit for each wheelset by including the Sapim CX-Ray Spoke upgrade in your build (this adds maybe 22lbs/10kg). When talking about rider weight limits, we’re generally talking about avoiding broken spokes. The Sapim CX-Ray spokes are stronger and the SILS Polyax nipples allow for a more efficient force transfer through the spoke to the nipple and into the rim.

No, we haven’t had any reports of our wheels not fitting any frames, including all Cervelos. The shape design of our rims is such that they are 25mm wide at the braking surface, then bulge out to become slightly wider toward the center of the rim. This shape allows for them to fit into a wide range of frames. The only fit issue is with some specialty brand brakes. If your brake callipers don’t offer 25mm of clearance with brake pads installed, then you will need to sand down your brake pads to allow the rim to fit. This issue doesn’t exist with Shimano, SRAM, or Campagnolo brand brakes, but has been reported with smaller specialty brand brakes.

Yes, if you select the cassette compatibility option ‘Campagnolo’ we will include Campagnolo compatible brake pads.

Yes, all Tokyowheel Epic wheels are 2-Way Tubeless Clincher compatible. You can use normal clincher tires and tubes or tubeless tires and no-tubes.

This is a tough one to answer - it really depends on your riding style. Training vs. racing, summer vs winter etc. Basically you want to use a 23c tire with our 25mm wide rims to optimize handling, but you can use any size from 23c to 50c or more. You can't go wrong with most choices from Continental - especially the Grand Prix series. I would say start with the basic Grand prix, then see how you feel about the durability after 500~1000k (if that's how you're riding). If you had a lot of flats or lost big chunks of rubber then go with one of the more durable tires like a Gatorskin. If you didn't experience problems, and are interested in fine-tuning, consider trying a less durable tire and see if you can feel any performance increase. Something like the Grand Prix 4000s maybe. We include valve extensions with your wheels so you don't need to get tubes with extra long valves.

No, we don’t sell inner tubes, tires, or cassettes. We recommend getting those from your local bike shop.

You can order spare brake pads here.

We use a specific wheel-building process that decreases the need for truing maintenance over the life of the wheel. Our wheel building process is as follows: We lace the spokes to the rim and true the wheel at low tension. We then exercise the spokes so that they can be ideally positioned for further tensioning. Following this, we bring the spokes up to equal tension and measure with a micrometer and tensionometer. Next we stress-relieve the wheel by applying a sideways force on the hub with a machine. This essentially replaces the 'break in' period that you would experience with a new wheel and allows our wheels to stay truer for longer. After a final truing they are ready for finishing.

Yes. You can lightly sand the area with ultra fine sandpaper to smooth the rims surface out. This won't negatively affect the performance, durability or safety of your wheels.

The max pressure for our clinchers is 140psi. There is no limit on tubular pressure. Most people use 120psi or lower - especially given the fact that the rims are wide (the same rolling resistance can be achieved at a lower psi).

We use the same materials and manufacturing processes as the big brands but our overheads are much lower. We ship direct from the point of manufacture to our customers. We don't need to store wheels or hold stock. We don't sell through a long list of middle men - each taking a percentage. We don't spend a fortune on advertising, or marketing. We don't need all the staff that go along with these processes, we don't need the offices to house the staff, or the equipment to allow them to do their jobs. In short, we're small and agile!

We recommend the Epic 5.6 wheelset for all-around riding. They climb and handle well but still provide a noticeable aerodynamic performance gain.

We recommend the Epic 38-50 wheelset with either the Vapor Ceramic hub upgrade or the the DT Swiss 240s hub upgrade. The Epic 38-50 is a light and fast wheelset that handles great in close proximity to other riders. Both hub upgrades feature the added stiffness and aerodynamic advantage of Sapim CX-Ray spokes. If you can afford it, consider going with the DT Swiss 240s hubset which has a unique ‘star ratchet’ mechanism for better power transfer and durability.

We recommend the Epic 60-88 as the best all-around wheelset for triathletes. If you want even more aerodynamic advantage at the expense of some stability in crosswinds you can step up to the Epic 88 wheelset (for the ultimate in go-fast). Do your research on the crosswind/deep profile rim thing before buying this wheelset because it isn't for everybody. We recommend the Tokyowheel Aero Ceramic or Lighter Ceramic hub/Sapim CX-Ray spoke upgrade to increase aerodynamics and reduce rolling resistance.

It depends on your riding style (& budget) but we generally recommend use of the following criteria: If you are trying to get the best value in a great all-around wheel set, choose the standard (Tokyowheel Vapor) hub. It's a great hubset that's very durable and performs well all-around. It’s much better than most entry level hubs you’ll find. If you are going to use your wheels for Triathlon racing, then we recommend you upgrade to the Tokyowheel AeroCeramic hubs - the reduced internal friction, better rolling resistance and upgraded spokes will help your Triathlon times. If you are road racing, doing a lot of climbing, or riding in competitive group rides choose the DT Swiss 240s hubset. This hubset has a very strong ‘star ratchet’ system in the free hub mechanism and results in better power transfer during aggressive high force riding (and the spoke upgrade rocks too). If you still can’t decide, contact us and we’ll give you a personalized recommendation.

Wheels ship with vinyl decals. They can be removed if you ever want to change them.

The new Epics have different rim shapes, different rim shapes front and rear, different rim depths, different hub options, and different layup.

Tokyowheel has a few guarantees designed to take anxiety out of purchasing, and eliminate the chance of a rider having a negative experience buying Tokyowheels.

We have 3 main guarantees.

• 110% Guaranteed No Customs Taxes
• 65 Day, 110% Moneyback Test Ride
• 110% Speed Guaranteed

Here is a little more info on each of those.

We are experts in global logistics and shipping, and we ship out wheels so customers don't pay any fees or taxes. It's company philosophy that all riders should have equal access to our products. A rider in L.A. should get his wheels for the same total price as a rider in Mozambique. Free worldwide shipping and guaranteed no customs taxes is a big part of our effort to make this a reality. It's also an integral part of how we plan to lead the cycling industry and expand globally. We back that up with a 110% Guarantee, which means that should you need to pay any additional fees to get your wheels to your door, we'll refund you 100% the cost of those fees, plus an extra 10% to say thanks (This rarely happens, but when it does we go the extra mile to support our riders).

We offer a 65 day test ride with 110% paid returns. So if you would like to do a test ride you can place an order for the wheels of your choice from www.tokyowheel.com, try the wheels for up to 65 days and if you want to return them at any time, we’ll pay the return shipping costs, give you a full refund, and pay you an extra 10% of your purchase price as a thank you.

If you're looking for an edge when it comes to speed, try Tokyowheel. We guarantee you'll ride faster with our wheels, and if you don't, we'll pay for you to send them back, give you a full refund, and pay you an extra 10% as a thank you for trying them out.

As you can probably see, we're confident in our products. There'd be no way we could stay in business if our wheels were bad and a lot of people were taking us up on these guarantees. A strong after-sale care policy is really important to us. We appreciate customers have a choice, and want them to feel they've made the right choice at all times.

If you have any problems with your wheels we'll take care of the issue for you. We'll pay for a bike mechanic to take a look - they can usually fix issues with a bit of tinkering in our experience. We'll send spare parts out as needed. We'll replace wheels when needed too. Obviously, all shipping costs are on us. Resolving issues in a timely fashion is seriously important to us and our Community Managers will be available for advice and support throughout.

Yes, you can return your wheels for a 110% Money-back refund anytime within 65 days of when you purchased. We will also pay the return shipping. We want you to be happy with your experience, and will do whatever it takes to make that happen, even in the event that you want to return your wheels. Check out our full Terms and Conditions for more details..

Yes, we ship for FREE to every country in the world (Including APO/FPO/DPO addresses). Shipping takes 14 ~ 21 days, on average. Occasionally it can take a few days longer do to delays by the shipping company, but usually you’ll get your wheels in 14 ~ 21 days from the time you place your order. See the full list of countries we ship to.

We'd love to be able to guarantee delivery dates but once your wheels leave our facility, and are in the hands of a shipping agent, there are too many variables beyond our control in play. The shipping estimate we provide following checkout is accurate 95% of the time.

In such cases, we can't refund you until we know the wheels are on their way back to us & have not been damaged. Once a package is picked up by EMS, it's in their custody - we can't recall the wheels, or prevent them from being delivered. This means we can't refund customers until we know the wheels are on their way back to us, as there is nothing to stop customers from keeping the wheels, and the money (this happened to us in the early days). Any delays with postal carriers, or Customs are completely beyond our control, and will add to the time it takes before you can get your refund. We can't rush postal workers, or Customs officials, unfortunately.

If you decide to cancel before your wheels are delivered, the fastest/easiest way to get your refund underway is to refuse delivery of the wheels. This means neither you nor anyone else at your address (family, coworkers etc.) accept delivery of the package when the postal worker tries to deliver it. You can just tell the postal worker 'I can't accept delivery'. If you refuse delivery of the package, the package will be automatically returned to sender (us). Once we see that this has happened (on the tracking page), and that the wheels are on their way back to us, we will refund your money. Refunds often take 4-5 days to show up in your account once processed at our end. If you accept delivery, it will take a lot longer to get your refund. You will need to post the wheels back to an address we provide you (in the US), wait for the wheels to reach that address, then wait for the wheels to be inspected before we can refund you. This could take an extra 2-3 weeks.

Please accept delivery of your wheels and if there are any associated fees, please pay them to the shipper. Take a photo of the receipt and email it to Tokyowheel, we will then process your 110% Guaranteed No Customs Taxes refund, and your account will be credited for the full amount of the fees plus an additional 10%.

Every Tokyowheel rim is made from multiple densities and tensile strengths of carbon (different materials for different structures). Over 20 separate pieces are precision cut for each rim.

We moved away from basalt braking surfaces recently and developed the Duraheat-R™ process in collaboration with our factory engineers. Duraheat-R™ is a Tokyowheel trademark. It's a proprietary process. Without giving too much away, before we put the carbon layup into the mold, the braking surface and the surface layer of the rim are glued in (this as opposed to putting the braking surface directly onto the layup before placing it in the mold). The Duraheat-R™ braking surface responds particularly well to the BlueStop 2G pads we just released (Sep 2015).

Duraheat-R™ is a 2 part material technology. The Duraheat-R™ resin is temperature resistant to 260 degrees fahrenheit. This means when you brake hard and your rim heats up due to friction, it won't delaminate or melt the carbon resin. The Duraheat-R™ carbon cloth itself has thermally conductive filaments woven into it. These filaments help dissipate hotspots on the rim, and maintain a lower temperature. This creates a rim that can handle more stopping force with greater durability.

We are an international company, we have our office in Tokyo, where we originally begun business. Over the years we have manufactured wheels and wheel parts all over the world. Currently we build our wheels in two locations. We do the final build of our Manufactured in USA wheels in Tokyo, and sell those only to the domestic Japanese market. The wheels that you’re probably interested in are the EPIC and ELITE series road bike wheels, which we offer to the worldwide market. For these wheels, our rim engineering and design is done as a joint partnership between Tokyowheel and our partner engineers at our carbon manufacturing facility. All our hubs are made in Taiwan, including the DT Swiss 240s. Our ceramic bearings are made in the USA. Our spokes are either Sapim (made in Belgium) or our standard spokes which are made in Taiwan. We used to make our rims in Taiwan, but in 2013 we upgraded production to a new world-class facility in east China, near Taiwan. This is also where we hand build and test each wheelset. We hold every part of our production to strict quality tolerances.

Sure, just go to any wheel’s product page on tokyowheel.com (For Example the Tokyowheel Epic 60) and you’ll find the Manufacturing & Testing section which explains our manufacturing and shows the process.

Our wheel building process is as follows:

We lace the spokes to the rim and true the wheel at low tension.

We exercise the spokes so that they can be ideally positioned for further tensioning. We then bring the spokes up to equal tension and measure with a micrometer and tensionometer.

Next we stress relieve the wheel by applying a sideways force on the hub with a machine. This essentially replaces the 'break in' period that you would experience with a new wheel and allows our wheels to stay truer throughout the life of the wheel. After a final truing they are ready for finishing.

Our fundamental testing standard is EN 14781.

In addition to that, our testing protocol is as follows:

After molding and before wheelbuilding, we verify (with micrometers and a digital scale) that each rim’s roundness, lateral offset, and weight are within tolerances. We also test the braking surface width to ensure that the braking will be smooth and consistent.

We then test a random sampling from each batch of rims for braking performance and rim stiffness in our digital testing lab. This a key part of the manufacturing process and is one of the reasons why our wheels perform so well.

We run the wheel up to 30kph and then apply a braking force and measure 7 performance variables - deceleration, stopping distance, average and maximum rim temperature etc. By measuring these things we are able to continuously improve the braking performance of our wheels and their durability under heavy braking conditions.

We test the stiffness of a section of rim laced to a spoke by applying a 3000 newton force to the spoke and measuring rim deflection in thousandths of a millimeter. This lets us optimize the stiffness of the rims, which results in more power transferred from the rider through the wheel into the road.

During final wheel building our wheels are tested for all the common quality standards, including: Surface Finish and Blemish, Roundness, Lateral Offset, Braking Surface Width, Weight, and Maximum Spoke Tension.

No, Tokyowheels are not UCI certified, our fundament testing standard is EN 14781. We don’t certify our wheels with the UCI because professional riders sit on the periphery of our target market.

Supporting riders is what we do best. We have a highly structured program for sponsoring athletes. We don't always have slots open but send us your details for consideration at a later date.

We are always looking for dedicated and inspired individuals to join the Tokyowheel team. If you are interested in working with a rapidly growing, next generation company like Tokyowheel, then Get Started.

The Tokyowheel Ambassador Program is a way for amateur riders, with influence in their community, to earn gear and money by introducing their peers to Tokyowheel. Get Started

Great, we’d love to support you. Click the ‘Become a Dealer’ button to get started.

If you want to go tubeless, you need a tubeless kit - valves, tubeless rim tape and sealant. You can order these online, or source them from a good local bike shop.