DT Swiss ERC 1100 DICUT 45 on test

With the ERC 1100 DICUT 45, DT Swiss sent us their endurance classic to take on the competition in our aero wheels group test. But there’s more to these wheels than meets the eye, and they didn’t just surprise us on the road – they also performed well in the wind tunnel. How do they fare against the high-performance competition?

**DT Swiss** ERC 1100 Dicut DB 45 | € 2,500 | 1465 g | Manufacturer’s website

We tested these wheels for our big 2024 aero wheel group test – click here for an overview of the test field or to check out the individual reviews.

The 45 mm deep DT Swiss ERC 1100 DICUT wheelset is a classic of the endurance scene. In addition to streamlined aerodynamics, the wheels are designed to offer compliance on varying terrain, resulting in an excellent ride feel. With their relatively shallow rim depth, they should excel in both mountainous and mixed terrain, while also shrugging off heavy crosswinds on the flat. The perfect wheelset for all conditions, then? With their endurance character and wide rims, the wheels are bang up to date with the trend towards wider tires too, promising to be on par with the highest performers.

Swiss engineering – the specs of the DT Swiss ERC 1100 DICUT 45 wheels

As one of the largest wheel manufacturers in the industry, DT Swiss have a wide range of parts and know-how to draw from. Accordingly, everything on the ERC 1100 DICUT 45 is sourced in-house. DT Swiss rely on their flagship 180 hubs for these high-end wheels, which are probably some of the most well-known and reliable hubs ever. You also get maximum efficiency thanks to the in-house ceramic bearings. The ERCs also perform convincingly when it comes to weight: at 1,465 g, they’re in the midfield of our group test.

**Keramik?**
Die DT Swiss SINC-Keramiklager sorgen für maximale Effizienz am Endurance-Laufrad.

**Schön versteckt**
Die neuen DT Swiss-Aero-Naben verstecken die Straightpull-Speichen im Nabenflansch. Das sorgt für eine bessere Aerodynamik, einen cleanen Look und noch mehr Steifigkeit.

Other than that, the wheels meet all the requirements that you would expect of modern rims. With an internal and external rim width of 22 and 28.5 mm respectively, the design is a bit more conservative, though they still pair well with wide, modern tires. In contrast to the likes of Roval and HUNT, DT Swiss deliberately don’t adhere to the 105 % rule, instead keeping the rim width similar to the tire width. According to DT Swiss and co-developers Swiss Side, this is the ideal combination for optimum aerodynamics.

DT Swiss’ guarantee is considerably more progressive, offering an unlimited guarantee on manufacturing and material defects. On top of that, they offer the first owner another ten years of crash replacement.

**Pure Zuverlässigkeit**
DT Swiss 180-Naben stehen für Zuverlässigkeit und Effizienz, kein Wunder, dass die meisten Hersteller auf DT Swiss-Internals setzen.

**Up to date?**
Mit 22 mm Maulweite und 28,5 mm Felgenbreite passen die DT Swiss ERC 1100 DICUT perfekt für moderne und breite Rennradreifen.

Floating on a cloud – DT Swiss ERC 1100 DICUT 45

An endurance wheelset in an aero wheel group test? That’s no problem according to DT Swiss, but the ERC 1100 DICUT 45 wheels offer a completely different riding experience, nonetheless. That much is evident after the first few metres. Compared to the other wheels on test, the ERC 1100 DICUT feel like you’re floating on clouds. They feel slightly less direct and stiff, but deliver an incredibly smooth ride. While not necessarily the first choice for a crit race, they’re very pleasant on long distance rides. We were particularly impressed with how well they balance compliance, stiffness, and acceleration, as well as their predictable handling and reliability. The wheels never behave unexpectedly and always fulfil their purpose reliably. They accelerate willingly, make easy work of holding the pace, corner well, and remain stiff and efficient even in a sprint.

All of these factors combined result in a wheelset that feels very composed and smooth, not just motivating you to go on long rides, but also to race. The DT Swiss ERC 1100 DICUT is the ultimate all-rounder – a wheelset for all eventualities.

Aero wonder – DT Swiss ERC 1100 DICUT 45 in the wind tunnel

We were also surprised by the aero performance of the DT Swiss ERC 1100 DICUT 45. Subjectively, the wheels feel slightly below average. That’s not necessarily surprising at first, considering that our test field includes wheels with significantly deeper rims and super-aero spokes made of carbon. Nevertheless, we felt the DT Swiss ERC 1100 DICUT 45 produce a noticeable sail effect.

Their consistently high performance is confirmed in the wind tunnel. It’s surprising how well the DT Swiss wheels stack up against the competition in this group test. Despite being endurance wheels, they’re roughly on a par with the high-performance models from HUNT and CADEX, which have 50 mm deep rims and carbon aero spokes. Above all, it’s thanks to the narrower rims and reduced frontal area that the DT Swiss ERC 1100 DICUT 45 wheels are able to achieve this. At steeper yaw angles, however, the deeper and wider wheels perform significantly better. That said, the ERC 1100 DICUT performs incredibly well for an endurance wheelset with 45 mm deep rims.

Our conclusion on the DT Swiss ERC 1100 DICUT 45 wheelset/h2>

The DT Swiss ERC 1100 DICUT 45 is the big surprise of the group test. They impressed us with perfect balance, a smooth ride, high efficiency, and reliability in every situation. Their performance in the wind tunnel also exceeds all expectations, on a par with the uncompromisingly performance-tuned wheels from HUNT and CADEX. Overall, DT Swiss deliver on their promise and offer a wheelset that excels at more than just endurance riding.

Tops

very smooth ride feel
highly predictable and reliable

Flops

somewhat understated look – the white decals are reserved for the pros

For more information, visit dtswiss.com

The test field