Developing the Best Road Bike Wheels

The Scribe team returned to the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub (SSEH) wind tunnel to do what matters most in performance cycling: measure, validate, and refine to bring customers the best road bike wheels on the market. Wind tunnel testing remains one of the most valuable tools in high-performance development, not for marketing headlines, but for capturing data and validating a carbon wheelset in an extremely controlled and repeatable environment.

This session marked a key milestone in the development of our latest performance models: the Ultra Élan 6 (£1,999) & Ultra Core 6 (£1,499). Both wheelsets were modelled around a 28mm tire with the capability of utilising a 30mm tire to enhance grip, comfort and offer a CRR reduction with minimal aero loss.

Benchmarking Against the Fastest in the Industry

A major focus of the test was true benchmarking. Not theoretical CFD comparisons or isolated component claims, but direct tunnel-to-tunnel testing of our newest wheels against other industry-proven “fastest” options, including the Scope Artech 6 (£3,500).

Utilizing Scribe's Augmented Validation Program (AVP); this utilizes data from consistent tunnel protocols which measures aerodynamic performance across key yaw angles and speeds, and gives us the clearest picture yet of where Ultra Core 6 & Ultra Élan 6 sit among the very best, with our data showing we have developed the best road bike wheels to surpass the performance of the Scope Artech 6 model.

Wind-Tunnel Results

We went to the wind tunnel to validate our 2026 models against each other and we took the Scope Artech 6 (65mm with the aero scales) to see how they compared. Not only did the Scribe Ultra Élan 6 with OSL8 wavy spokes match the performance of the Scope Artech 6 (0.33W variation), the Scribe Ultra CORE 6 was 1.38W faster at 45 Kph, and 1.60W at 50 Kph.

Image 1: when the Ultra Core (UC) 6 is compared to the Scope Artech (SA) 6, the UC out performs the SA at every negative YAW angle illustrating less drag for UC. From zero degrees onwards, the UC and SA illustrate very similar aero performance with the UC demonstrating improved performance overall. 

Image 2: this graph illustrates Ultra Élan (UE) 6 compared with the SA. At high negative YAW angle, the SA is slightly faster but the UE overtakes SA for aero performance at -12 degrees. This gain extends to +11.5 degrees where the SA matches, and slightly edges ahead of the UE at higher YAW angles. 

*Note: please note the wind-tunnel results are those collected at the Silverstone Sports Engineering hub. The data illustrated is from their calibrated tunnel. We have presented this factually, and provided commentary to support the findings.

Designed Around 28mm: The Modern Performance Sweet Spot

Today’s riders are no longer choosing tires purely for aerodynamics or weight. They’re balancing reduced rolling losses, improved comfort, real-world grip, and stability in crosswinds. To be the best road bike wheels for modern cycling, the tire and rim must be designed together. Our newest Ultra and SuperLight configurations reflect that shift: engineered for the tires riders actually race and ride.

Prototyping Validation & Future Configurations

Beyond benchmarking against the Scope Artech 6, today’s tunnel time allowed us to validate what comes next. We tested new rim configurations, alternate tyre widths, spoke patterns, and future prototype wheelsets (65mm to comply with UCI’s road standards).

Wind tunnel testing is not a one-time checkbox; it's part of a continuous feedback loop between design, manufacturing, and measurable speed. As an independent brand, we don’t rely on assumptions or trend-chasing. Every carbon wheelset we develop, including the Ultra Core 6 and Ultra Élan 6, represents the next chapter:

• • Tested against the best

  • Optimised for modern tyre performance

  • Validated as the best road bike wheels in one of the most advanced tunnels in cycling