There’s a certain expectation when you hear “carbon spokes.” Usually it’s followed by a five-figure bike build and a wheelset price that makes your mechanic whistle. Elite Wheels has been steadily chipping away at that assumption, and the Drive 36D II Disc Brake Carbon Spoke wheelset is their latest swing at delivering high-end tech without WorldTour-level pricing.
Drive 36D II Disc Brake Carbon Spoke Wheelset – $1299US
At a claimed weight below 1300 grams, 36mm depth, ceramic bearings, and a ratchet hub system, this is positioned squarely in the modern all-rounder sweet spot — light enough for the climbs, deep enough for the flats, and wide enough for today’s 28–30mm rubber. On paper, it ticks a lot of very current boxes. On the road? Let’s find out.
First Impressions: Modern, Clean, Fast-Looking
The 36D II carries a contemporary silhouette: a 36mm U/V-shaped rim profile, 23mm internal width, and a 31mm external width designed around wider tires. Mounted with 28s, the tire profile is beautifully flush — no lightbulb effect, no awkward transition. Just smooth lines and the promise of clean airflow. I mounted my test set with 30mm Continental Grand Prix 5000AS tires, and that flush aero fit was almost as sleek as the 28s.
The finish is understated — not dripping in loud branding — which makes them look at home on anything from a stealth climbing rig to a race-ready aero bike.
And yes, the carbon spokes look cool and will leave the desired impression of envy from your riding partners.
But first – let’s check out the packaging…
The wheels ship direct to you, so secure packaging is important to protect the goods inside. The other thing I look for with packaging is just how environmentally friendly it appears to be. As an aside – I’m constantly bewildered and often disgusted by how much overpackaging I find – especially buying bulk goods at Costco. So my tolerance for too much wasted packing material is getting lower with each package that arrives.
Cardboard (recyclable), a few small pieces of styrofoam to ensure the wheels don’t move inside the box, and thin poly-foam sleeves around each wheel. Overall, I’m feeling like there’s not a lot of wasted packing material used.
The Carbon Spoke Story: Stiff Where It Matters
Elite uses 4.5mm carbon aero spokes, and unlike some early bonded carbon-spoke systems, these are designed to be serviceable. That matters. Exotic tech is great — until something goes wrong.
Out on the road, the first thing I noticed was the lateral stiffness. Out-of-saddle efforts feel direct. There’s no vague wind-up sensation under torque. When you punch it, the wheels respond immediately. Sprinters and punchy climbers will appreciate that crisp engagement.
Are they brutally harsh? No. The wider rim bed and modern tire pairing smooth things out, especially if you’re running tubeless at sane pressures – I run 40psi with the 30s, 45 with 28s – to suit my 140lb weight. But these are performance wheels first — not gravel plush.
Finish quality is excellent, including pre-taped rims that are top-notch.
Climbing: Weight Still Matters
Elite claims a 1260 grams for the combined wheelset weight, while mine came in at an even 1300g – before I added the tires, sealant, and cogset. But forget the discrepancy – 1300 grams for both wheels is impressive.
On longer climbs, the Drive 36D II feels lively and eager. There’s that intangible sensation of reduced rotational mass — the bike just feels a touch more “on its toes.” Accelerations mid-climb don’t feel labored, and the wheels don’t resist when cadence rises.
They don’t scream “featherweight climber’s wheel,” but they don’t have to. They sit in that all-rounders’ sweet spot: light enough to matter, aero enough to carry speed once you crest.
Aerodynamics & Crosswinds: The All-Rounder Balance
A 36mm rim is rarely dramatic in crosswinds, and the 36D II behaves predictably. These wheels replaced a set of 45 mm deep REHI’s, which were far more resistant to cross winds. The rounded profile keeps steering inputs manageable, making these a strong option for riders who want one wheelset for everything.
While I didn’t notice the flat-speed advantage of a dedicated 50mm deep section rim, I also won’t hesitate to ride these in mixed terrain, mountainous fondos, or fast technical rides or races.
For many riders, this depth is the real-world sweet spot.
Hubs & Engagement: Quietly Efficient
The 50T ratchet hub offers quick engagement without feeling overly buzzy. Power transfer feels immediate, particularly when transitioning from coasting to sprinting.
To better explain this Kinetic hub, I’ll let the Elite website take it from here:
Elite Sez: Conical Ratchet Mechanism Explained
1. Star Ratchet Instead of Pawls
Traditional hubs often use multiple small pawls that engage little teeth around the freehub body. The Kinetic hub replaces this with a star (ratchet) mechanism — a ring of teeth that directly engages a matching ring in the hub. This star design means all engagement points share the load at once, which tends to be tougher and more consistent than pawl systems.
2. Conical Machining for More Surface Area
What makes the Elite Kinetic hub distinctive is that its ratchets are machined in a conical shape rather than flat plates. The conical geometry increases the surface engagement area between the teeth — so instead of tiny contact points, you get a broader interface that:
Spreads forces over more metal
Reduces localized wear
Improves longevity under high loads
Can feel more solid under power transfer
In simple terms: larger, tapered contact surfaces resist wear better than thin flat teeth.
Elite spec’s S&S ceramic bearings from the Dutch-based brand, and while the marginal gains debate is endless, these spin freely and feel smooth. Long-term durability will be the real test, but out of the box, they roll clean and fast.
Sound-wise? I’ll let you be the judge – but these are neither the loudest nor the quietest spinning free-hub sound I’ve experienced..
LISTEN: Click this link to hear the spinning free-hub sound.
Tubeless Setup & Tire Pairing
The 23mm internal width is built around modern rubber. The rim shape is aimed at both 28mm tires and 30mm to give extra comfort without compromising the rim profile.
Tubeless setup is straightforward. The bead seats securely, and once inflated, pressures hold well. Riders who’ve fully embraced lower-pressure road setups will appreciate how stable the tire feels under load.
How They Compare
In this price range, you’re often choosing between:
- Slightly heavier alloy wheels from legacy brands
- Deep-section carbon from direct-to-consumer brands
- Or premium-brand carbon at a significant cost jump
The Drive 36D II stands out by combining light weight, carbon spokes, ceramic bearings, and modern rim dimensions in one package. That spec list typically costs considerably more.
The tradeoff? Elite is slowly building long-term brand trust in markets dominated by big-name manufacturers, and like most Asian brands, you won’t see the advertising because they rely on reviews from credible sources to spread the word. You also won’t be paying extra for flashy ads and videos.
This is the second set of wheels I’ve reviewed for Elite, (see my G45 gravel wheels review here), and I continue to be impressed by the build quality, finish, performance and most importantly price. And so far I’ve had zero mechanical issues with either of the wheelsets.
Some riders will hesitate. Others will see the value equation and jump in.
Pros
- Excellent weight for a 36mm disc wheelset
- Noticeable lateral stiffness from carbon spokes
- Modern rim width optimized for 28–30mm tires
- Competitive price for the spec
- Serviceable carbon spoke design
Cons
- Brand cachet still growing compared to legacy players
- Carbon spokes may intimidate traditionalists
- Not as aero as deeper race-day options
Who Are These For?
- Racers wanting one wheelset that can climb, sprint, and survive crosswinds
- Weight-conscious riders without the appetite for boutique pricing
- Enthusiasts building a high-performance bike on a realistic budget
If you’re looking for a single, do-it-all performance wheelset that doesn’t drain the equipment fund, the Drive 36D II deserves a look.
PEZ Verdict
The Elite Drive 36D II hits a compelling performance-to-price ratio. It delivers modern width, low weight, real stiffness, and the undeniable cool factor of carbon spokes — without pushing into premium-brand pricing territory.
Is it a WorldTour halo product? No.
Is it a legitimate high-performance wheelset for serious riders? Absolutely.
In today’s wheel market, that combination makes it more than interesting — it makes it competitive.
Attention PEZ-Fans: If you purchase a set of wheels from ELITE – use the CODE “PEZ15” at the checkout to save an extra 15% OFF the price.
PEZ Rating Box
Weight: ★★★★☆
Light and lively at 1300g as tested — excellent for a 36mm disc wheelset.
Stiffness: ★★★★☆
Carbon spokes deliver crisp acceleration and solid lateral response.
Aerodynamics: ★★★☆☆
Balanced all-round depth — fast, but not a pure aero weapon.
Ride Quality: ★★★★☆
Modern rim width and tubeless setup keep things smooth without dulling responsiveness.
Value: ★★★★★
High-end features (carbon spokes, ceramic bearings, ratchet hub) at a very competitive price.
Overall: ★★★★☆
Note: If you have other experiences with gear or something to add, drop us a line. We don’t claim to know everything (we just imply it at times). Give us a pat on the back if you like the reviews or call us out if you feel the need!
PezCycling News and the author ask that you contact the manufacturers before using any products you see here. Only the manufacturer can provide accurate and complete information on proper/safe use, handling, maintenance, and or installation of products as well as any conditional information or product limitations.
The post PEZ Reviews: Elite Drive 36D II Carbon Spoke Wheelset – Big Performance, Lean Price appeared first on PezCycling News.
