Just Released: ENVE Foundation AR40 Wheelset
New year, new gear. And for our first big drop of the year, it’s a rad new wheelset from our Utah neighbor, ENVE Composites.
Putting this release into context, there’s a particular kind of rider we see on the regular here at Contender: performance-minded, fully bought into modern wheelsets, primarily a roadie but increasingly dipping their toes into gravel, and deeply pragmatic about value and getting the most bang for their buck. For that rider, the arrival of the ENVE Foundation AR40 is right on the money, quite literally.
That’s because the AR40–AR for All Road, 40 for rim depth–sits squarely in the sweet spot of modern day road riding and all-road exploring. It’s aerodynamic without being twitchy, light but rugged, and modern without being precious. ENVE is also quick to point out that these are the best sub-$1,500 wheels on the market. Such a verdict will have to wait for deeper testing, but we’re also compelled by how they got there: by distilling nearly two decades of aero development, carbon know-how, and tubeless expertise into a wheelset that punches far above its weight class.
And yes, this is a flex, but since it’s pretty damn cool we’ll go ahead and mention it anyway: per ENVE, the AR40 wheels were tested in the Mercedes-Benz Formula One Wind Tunnel. Marketing talking points aside, we admittedly love how this reinforces that these are serious wheels, designed with the same rigor as ENVE’s flagship SES lineup, just packaged to be more accessible, on both price point and surfaces they’re meant to roll on. And side note to the Benz people–we’re still waiting for our wind tunnel invite.
What’s New? Key Features of ENVE Foundation AR40 Wheels
At first glance, the AR40s certainly look clean and understated. But under the hood (err, tires), these wheels are a banger, and very much a modern ENVE wheelset—optimized for the way more and more of us are riding, mixing road and gravel, and the occasional singletrack.
Key highlights are as follows:
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40mm Rim Depth, Front & Rear: a true all-around depth that balances aerodynamics, stability, and low-weight feel.
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Flexible Tire Options: ENVE tuned these wheels to be more aero optimized, at the more common 29-30mm width for road riders, while leaving the option to run a much wider 27-50mm width, which we know the all-road and gravel-leaning riders will love.
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Gravel Tested and ENVE-Certified: primarily a road wheel, but qualified to ENVE’s gravel standards for true all-road versatility.
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1515g Total Wheelset Weight (with tape): light enough to feel snappy on climbs, stout enough for daily riding.
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Wide Hookless Bead Design: improves tubeless performance, provides impact protection, and enhances overall system reliability.
- ENVE Innerdrive Foundation Hubs: oversized ratchet system, long bearing life, and straightforward serviceability.
Worth noting: from an aero standpoint, the AR40 borrows heavily from ENVE’s SES learnings. Rim shapes were developed in-frame and tested at multiple speeds to prioritize real-world efficiency and confidence-inspiring handling, not just wind tunnel bragging rights. Per ENVE, the result is a wheel that feels fast when you’re pushing the pace, but calm and predictable when conditions get sketchy, as is often the case when pointing one’s rig off-road.
All-Road Wheels: What Else Contender Stocks
If looking to cast a wider net before committing to your own set of all-road wheels, you’re in luck, as Contender carries several great options, all within a similar price range to the AR40s. Here are a few of our favorites:
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Reynolds AR46: deeper rim depth and slightly more aero-biased, with a traditional hooked profile that some riders still prefer. And price point? Right on par with the AR40s.
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Reserve 40|44: a mixed-depth option with strong durability credentials a gravel-leaning personality, and the ability to run 50c tires. Backed by Reserve’s lifetime warranty, what’s not to like??
- Specialized Roval Rapide C 38: a lighter, more race-oriented feel, with Specialized’s aero shaping philosophy baked in. Also: the most modest price point of the four wheelsets in this post.
Learn More
Interested in learning more about the ENVE Foundation AR40s? Or ready to bring your all-road dreams to life with a new bike or new wheelset of your own?
Reach out via any of the options below, and we’ll get you started.
📍 Visit: our Salt Lake City or Park City locations
📞 Call: 801-364-0344
📧 Email: info@contenderbicycles.com
