Reynolds is not a company that avoids innovation. Quite the opposite. Reynolds invented the carbon clincher wheel, a technology that fundamentally changed the industry and helped define the modern performance wheelset. But that innovation did not happen simply because carbon rims were exciting. It happened because riders needed a better solution. In the early era of carbon road wheels, tubular tires were the only viable option. Carbon rims were designed exclusively for tubular tires that were glued directly onto the rim. For professional teams with dedicated mechanics, this system worked well. Experienced mechanics could glue tires perfectly and replace them quickly between race stages. For everyday riders, the reality was very different. Installing a tubular tire is one of the most complicated and time-consuming procedures in cycling maintenance. It required: • multiple layers of glue • precise tire alignment • curing time • experience to perform correctly In short, tubular systems demanded professional-level precision from everyday riders. Reynolds saw an opportunity to solve this problem. The carbon clincher wheel was developed to bring the performance of carbon rims to a system that was simpler and more accessible for riders. The innovation was not about chasing a trend but rather addressing real-world needs.

One of the fundamental differences between hooked and hookless rim designs is the safety margin they provide. Hooked rims use a small inward-facing lip that physically locks the tire bead into place. This mechanical retention adds an additional layer of security between tire and rim.

Hookless rims rely entirely on bead tension and dimensional tolerances. In engineering terms, that means the system depends more heavily on perfect compatibility and precise pressure control. Hooked designs offer a larger margin for variation.

Temperature changes, minor pressure errors, tire brand differences, and long-term wear are all realities of real-world riding. A well-designed system should accommodate those variables without compromising safety.

“Tire shape is important as straight side rims will, generally speaking, give a straighter shape to the side wall for a given tire size as compared to a hooked rim. This is one of the reasons straight side rims work well for mtn/gravel where riders commonly run very low tires pressure for traction/comfort and need additional tire stability in high load cornering situations. On a road rim you can’t run tires at very low pressures without a very high likelihood you’ll damage the rim due to higher average speeds and very low tire volumes (even with 32-35mm tires). In addition, road tires/wheels do not encounter near the side load pressure as seen on mtb or gravel, so tire sidewall stability is not required in the same way. As a tire sidewall becomes more straight either due to the straight side rim or small tire on wide rim, the side wall in effect becomes more still and results in a less compliant tire. This works on mtb and gravel as tire pressures are reduced to add back sidewall compliance, on road this is limited as stated above. The manner in which a tire’s side wall is curved in a more exaggerated manner on a hooked rim is what results in a more compliant tire as compared to the same tire/pressure on a straight side rim, and that equals a more compliant and more efficient ride.”

“The most significant benefit to straight side rims is in relation to side wall shape and tire stability when running very low tire pressures and facing significant corning forces at the tire. Neither of these are applicable to road due to higher tire pressures and much lower lateral load on the tire. There is really no other benefit to a straight side rim vs hooked rim…at least to the rider.”

Hookless rims are sometimes presented as the future of road wheel design. But when evaluated through the Reynolds engineering lens, the performance advantages insofar as their application for road use is concerned are not always clear.
Aerodynamic performance is influenced primarily by rim width, tire shape, and rim profile, not the presence or absence of a hook. Weight differences between modern carbon hooked and hookless rims are often minimal.
Manufacturing simplicity can be improved with hookless designs, but manufacturing convenience is not the same as rider benefit. Reynolds does not design wheels for the factory floor. We design them for the road.
While advantages of the hookless system may be difficult to identify for the road, the hooked system represents several easily identifiable benefits:

– Increased tire choice options for the consumer. Any tubeless ready tire is acceptable for use on our TL hooked road rims. Of course, there will still be varied fit and performance depending on the tire brand and model selected but in general the available selection is much greater.

– No limitations on tire pressure except the max allowable tire pressure of either the rim or the tire (whichever is lowest) but in almost all situations that max pressure will be well above the 5bar/73psi max allowable pressure for any straight side tire/rim combination. –