CHRIS KING’s New Wheel Lineup Adds the Long-Awaited Road Range
Some of you may already know from the official announcement, but the CHRIS KING original carbon wheelset lineup, which utilizes the next-generation high-end carbon material FusionFiber®, has expanded with the new ARD44 Wheel, covering the road range! Pre-orders are already being accepted at Circles.
【CHRIS KING】ARD44 Wheel
Rim : Chris King ARD44
Wheel Size: 700c
Rim Type : Hookless Tubeless TSS
Recommended Tire Width : 29-47c
Acceptable Tire Width : 28-47c
External Width (mm) : 30.5
Internal Width (mm) : 25
Rim Depth (mm) : 44
Hub Configuration : 24/24 R45D Centerlock
Front Wheel Weight (g) : 705
Rear Wheel Weight (g) : 820
Total Wheel Weight (g) : 1525
Price : Stainless Bearings / 429,000 JPY (tax incl.)
Ceramic Bearings / 445,500 JPY (tax incl.)
Rim Profile Optimized for 700c 28–30mm Tires
As the phrase “Aero Optimized for 28 – 30mm” suggests, the rim shape—with a depth of 44mm—is designed to be aerodynamically optimized when fitted with 700x28c–30c tires. While the GRD23 was already available in CHRIS KING’s 700c wheel lineup, it was gravel-focused, making this the long-awaited addition of a dedicated road wheel to the lineup!
Greg Hudson, CHRIS KING’s lead wheel builder and a key figure in the development of their wheel series, had planned to include this range from the very beginning of the project. It is a wheel that anyone riding a disc road or all-road bike should definitely consider as a top option.
With a 44mm rim depth, this falls exactly between the ENVE SES3.4 and SES4.5 wheels that we at Circles have typically recommended for this category.
What I personally find interesting is that, like the GRD23, it supports tire widths from 28mm to 47mm. While the "sweet spot" is 28–30mm, this is a versatile, high-performing wheel that can serve as a primary set for a disc road or all-road bike, but can also handle 40mm tires for light gravel or gravel-endurance rides, allowing you to adapt to different riding styles.
THE RADAVIST writer Josh has already installed the ARD44 on his AMIGO FRAMEWORKS / Bug Out. He’s the type of person who likes to run the widest tires frame clearance allows—something I can definitely relate to—and he’s currently running about 54mm tires. That’s admittedly pushing it, so I should add, “Don’t try this at home, kids.” However, the fact that it’s designed for 700x28c yet can accommodate 700x47mm tires really expands the range of use, doesn’t it?
Remind me, what is FusionFiber®?
Partnering with CSS, based in Utah, USA, Chris King’s original rims utilize FusionFiber® technology. The "long-chain polymer fibers" at the heart of their construction are characterized by high impact durability and improved vibration damping.
Unlike standard carbon fiber rims, Fusion Fiber® is not bonded with epoxy resin, which allows for superior damping characteristics. Instead, it uses nylon in the molding process, which achieves optimal strength. It maintains higher traction than any other carbon road wheel on the market, resulting in an incredibly smooth ride.
Another major feature of FusionFiber® is that it is recyclable. If the rim ever becomes unusable, it can be shredded into chips, heated, and reused to create other products. As mentioned in our previous blog post, this also significantly reduces the time, energy, and waste required to mold complex shapes like bicycle rims compared to traditional carbon manufacturing.
The Comfort Provided by FusionFiber®'s Vibration Damping
Regarding weight, which is a concern for many cyclists, Fusion Fiber® isn’t the lightest wheel on the planet. However, the ride quality—common to all CHRIS KING WHEELS—is its greatest feature and what sets it apart from other wheels. Whether you are on tarmac, flying over hard-packed dirt, or hitting unexpected gravel at the end of a long ride, the high vibration damping of the Fusion Fiber® rim ensures a comfortable and secure ride.
Wheels Built for the Long Haul
Of course, the heart of the wheel remains the R45D hub, which features CHRIS KING’s proprietary bearings—offered with confidence based on years of experience. These hubs are designed and manufactured to be serviced and used indefinitely. Even if you were to need to rebuild the wheel with a new rim, the CHRIS KING hub itself can be reused, and the rim that was removed can be 100% recycled. With all this in mind, don't forget that CHRIS KING also provides a lifetime warranty against rim damage.
"Use things for as long as possible. That is the most environmentally friendly way to use anything. And even if a rim must be replaced, it can be recycled to give it new life."
Being carbon wheels, they naturally come with a premium price, but when you consider long-term usage, I think you’ll understand just how reasonable—not "cheap," mind you—these wheels really are.
Some Circles staff have already placed their orders, and we are all eagerly looking forward to the arrival of the new ARD44 wheels.
【CHRIS KING】ARD44 Wheel
Rim : Chris King ARD44
Wheel Size: 700c
Rim Type : Hookless Tubeless TSS
Recommended Tire Width : 29-47c
Acceptable Tire Width : 28-47c
External Width (mm) : 30.5
Internal Width (mm) : 25
Rim Depth (mm) : 44
Hub Configuration : 24/24 R45D Centerlock
Front Wheel Weight (g) : 705
Rear Wheel Weight (g) : 820
Total Wheel Weight (g) : 1525
Price : 429,000 JPY (tax incl.)
For Ceramic Bearings: 445,500 JPY (tax incl.)