ENVE - SES 4.5 PRO - Overview
Created with feedback from Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates, the ENVE SES 4.5 PRO is a wheelset born from racing victories. With over 20 wins in a single season including The Classics, Grand Tours and World Championships, it brings together the light weight of a climbing setup and the aerodynamic edge of world-tour aero wheels. Every layer, spoke, and hub detail of this ENVE SES 4.5 PRO reflects ENVE's pursuit of speed, efficiency, and reliability.
Key Features at a Glance
- Wheelset weight: 1295 g (+/- 3%)
- Ultralight PRO Innerdrive Hubset with PRO Ceramic Bearings
- Rim depth: 49 mm front / 55 mm rear
- Internal width: 23.5 mm | External width: 30.8 mm
- Aero tire range: 27–28 mm (optimized for 28 mm)
- Tubeless ready, maximum pressure 100 psi (6.8 bar)
- Rim weight: 369 g front / 383 g rear
- Race-tested by UAE Team Emirates and Tadej Pogačar
Built for Elite Racing
Precision defines the ENVE SES 4.5 PRO. Over two seasons of collaboration with the UAE team led to a faster, lighter wheelset that still meets pro-level regulation standards. The focus was clear—keep the SES 4.5's legendary aero stability, but drop weight until it out-climbs everything else on the roster.
Core Improvements
- 50 g saved per rim via new composite layup
- 281 g saved on the hubs
- Narrower profile retains optimal internal width
- Maintains "Wide Hookless Bead™" pinch-flat protection
Pro-Level Construction
The manufacturing breakthrough behind the ENVE SES 4.5 PRO lies in its laminate and resin system. Higher modulus, lower areal-weight carbon fiber allows thinner, lighter sidewalls while keeping strength. A subtle hook design preserves ETRTO tubeless dimensions without compromising impact resistance.
Construction Highlights
- New rim laminate for weight efficiency
- Inner width 23.5 mm keeps tire volume
- Reduced rim depth (49/55 mm) for lower mass
- Handbuilt precision assembly in Ogden, Utah
INNERDRIVE PRO Hubset
At the heart of the ENVE SES 4.5 PRO lies the PRO Innerdrive hub — a platform built for minimal friction. Ceramic bearings roll smoother and faster, while the redesigned straight-pull architecture aligns spoke tension perfectly.
Hub Details
- 87 g front | 194 g rear (HG Freehub)
- Alpina Ultralite Aero R5 spokes and Nylock alloy nipples
- Spacing: 12×100 front | 12×142 rear
- Centerlock disc interface including lock ring
- 120 kgf spoke tension for race stiffness
Aerodynamic Philosophy
Born from the original SES concept developed with aerodynamicist Simon Smart, the ENVE SES 4.5 PRO represents "Real-World Fast." The wheel shape retains the SES 4.5's wind-tunnel advantage while trimming weight, creating effortless stability through varying yaw angles.
Aero Key Points
- Maintains patented SES 4.5 rim shapes
- Proven efficiency tested by UAE Team Emirates and ENVE labs
- Balanced drag and handling for crosswinds
- Keeps same real-world control under gust loads
Tire Optimization and Setup
Optimized for a 28 mm tire. The ENVE SES 4.5 PRO borrows from the 6.7's tubeless fitment. The wide inner 23.5 mm channel supports high-volume tires for speed and control on mixed road surfaces.
Recommended Setup
- Tire type: Tubeless ready
- Ideal label width: 27–28 mm
- Minimum tire size: 28 mm (27 mm ENVE tire OK)
- Max pressure: 100 psi / 6.8 bar
- Tape width: 29 mm
Purpose-Built for World Tour Racing
The ENVE SES 4.5 PRO is engineered for the highest level of competition built to conquer the legendary mountain climbs of the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta España. It's a specialist tool rather than a universal wheel, achieving unmatched performance for climbing and attack-stage racing.
Detailed Specs
| Property | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| Depth | 49 mm | 55 mm |
| Internal width | 23.5 mm | 23.5 mm |
| External width | 30.8 mm | 30.8 mm |
| Hole count | 24 | 24 |
| Effective Rim Diameter | 563 mm | 553 mm |
| Rim weight | 369 g | 383 g |
| Wheel weight | 587 g | 708 g |
Tubeless valve lengths 66 mm (front) / 72 mm (rear).
Real-World Fast Legacy
Since 2009, ENVE's Smart ENVE System (SES) has aimed for more than lab aerodynamics. The ENVE SES 4.5 PRO keeps that focus—balancing aerodynamic gain, weight reduction, stability, and ride quality. The result is a wheelset trusted by the best cyclists in the world and validated by countless race wins.
Summary
The ENVE SES 4.5 PRO marks the meeting point of power and precision. Its refined carbon structure, PRO hubset, and elite heritage make it the fastest evolution of the 4.5 line. For racers chasing the perfect mix of aero efficiency and light climbing weight, the ENVE SES 4.5 PRO is the ultimate choice.
