The 58mm rim profile is a classic in Zipp’s arsenal that dates back to the early ‘90s. These days, the 404 Tubular still winning races from the Queen K to L’Alpe d’Huez. Now, with the advanced Firecrest aero rim shape, our leading all-around performer is an even greater threat to win any race on any terrain.

By controlling airflow around the back half of the wheel, Firecrest makes the latest version of the 404 9 seconds faster than its predecessor over 40km at a moderate 10-degree wind angle. At higher wind angles, the improvements are even more dramatic in terms of both speed and stability. That’s because Firecrest moves the center of pressure closer to the steering axis, so crosswinds exert lower side force on the wheel.

Aerodynamics aside, the 404’s new 27mm-wide profile offers a slew of other benefits on the road. The upgraded lateral stiffness makes the 404 even more responsive to accelerations and more precise when cornering. And its composite structure is designed to absorb impacts by flexing slightly outward – which gives you a comfortable ride and long-term durability.

Even with all these improvements, Firecrest technology hasn’t added a gram to the 404 Tubular’s weight of just 1278g. On the climbs, it goes toe-to-toe with shallower, less aero rivals. On the flats, it hangs with deeper, less nimble competitors. If any one wheelset can do it all, it’s the 404.