PRO Clincher Disc Wheel

The PRO Clincher Disc Wheel solves a problem that only shows up when things go wrong mid-race: a flat tire on a tubular wheel means glue, patience, and time you don't have in a triathlon. Because this is a clincher, a flat is a tube swap, not a project. That single detail is the reason PRO built a disc wheel around clincher compatibility instead of the tubular construction more common in this category.

The disc itself is a sandwich construction — carbon-fiber twill on both faces with a Rohacel structural foam core in between. The foam gives the wheel some give over rough pavement, while the carbon skins keep it rigid enough to drive power efficiently. PRO based this design on their Tubular Disc, which in turn traces back to their pro-level Textreme Disc, so the layup approach has already been proven at a higher price point before showing up here in clincher form. The rim itself is an aluminum alloy hoop with a machined braking surface, which matters for all-weather stopping power — carbon braking surfaces can fade in the wet, and an alloy track doesn't have that problem.

Inside the hub is a Shimano Ultegra 6800 cassette body and rear hub, which puts this wheel on common ground with most drivetrains on the road: it's compatible with Shimano and SRAM 10/11-speed cassettes, so swapping it onto race day doesn't mean hunting for a specific freehub. The complete wheel weighs 1,590g. It's not the lightest disc on the market, but weight isn't really the point of a rear disc — aerodynamics on a flat or rolling time trial course is, and the enclosed disc shape is what's doing the work there, not the wheel's mass.

A few things to know before mounting it: the rim is wide enough that PRO recommends a minimum tire width of 24mm — narrower tires won't sit right on the profile. You'll also need a disc-specific adapter to inflate it with a floor pump, since a standard head won't reach through the enclosed disc; a pipe-style adapter works. The wheel ships with a wheelbag and a valve extender sized for 48-60mm valve stems, which covers most aero tubes. If you're running a speedometer, dual-sided tape is enough to mount a magnet directly to the disc face.

This is a wheel for triathletes and time trial riders who want the aero benefit of a rear disc without committing to tubular tires and the maintenance that comes with them. It's a practical choice for anyone racing solo, far from support, where a fast tube change matters more than shaving the last few grams.