Pertual Sharp ADV Review: The Chinese Carbon Wheelset That Outweighs ENVE at Half the Price (2026)
"What if you could get World Tour-level wheel performance without the World Tour price tag?"
Chinese carbon wheelsets are no strangers to the market, and as the years go by, brands such as Winspace, Elitewheels, Yeoleo and Light Bicycle have enjoyed time in the spotlight.
However, a lesser-known brand (for now) has been making waves in the cycling community.
PERTUAL is the wheel brand from Chinese bike company Tavelo with headquarters in Xiamen, the bicycle manufacturing hub of China.
Today, we will pit their latest Sharp ADV Carbon Disc Wheelset against other well-established brands and show why this wheelset deserves your full attention.
1. Weight: Lighter Than What The Pros Use
Coming in at an astounding 1,245g (claimed), this wheelset sits squarely among the lightest wheelsets for the rim depth.
Pertual claims this represents a 20% weight reduction over its predecessor.
Here's how that figure sits in the wider market:
ENVE/Roval Comparison
| Wheelset (Rim Depth/mm) | Weight (g) |
|
ENVE SES 4.5 Pro (49/55) |
~1,295 |
| ENVE SES 4.5 (50/56) | ~1,450 |
| Roval Rapide CLX III (51/48) | ~1,305 |
| Roval Alpinist CLX II (51/60) | ~1,520 |
At 1245g, the Sharp ADV is lighter than both the ENVE SES 4.5 Pro, used by the likes of Tadej Pogačar and the Roval Rapide CLX III used by numerous World Tour Pros!
Winspace/Elitewheels/No.6 Comparison
| Wheelset (Rim Depth/mm) | Weight (g) |
|
Winspace Hyper 3 D45 (45/45) |
~1,334 |
| Elitewheels Drive 50D II (50/50) | ~1,300 |
| No.6 50/58 Superlight Aero (50/58) | ~1,280 |
At around the 50mm rim depth, the Winspace, Elitewheels and No.6 are very competitive in terms of weight and within the margin of tolerance.
All these wheels sit at the very top of what's available in disc brake road wheels, and the Sharp ADV comes out on top from this group. Aero weight-weenies rejoice!
2. The Hubs: Super Drive System with 92mm Carbon Flange
The Sharp ADV's hub is one of its most distinctive engineering features, and it's worth unpacking properly.
92mm integrated carbon hub flange diameter - This is the standout spec. A larger flange diameter increases the spoke bracing angle, which directly improves lateral stiffness and power transfer. However, this increase in stiffness and power transfer efficiency will also mean that the ride will be less compliant.
Most alloy hubs run significantly smaller flanges. By integrating this large flange directly into a carbon structure, Pertual eliminates the weight penalty you'd normally pay for that added stiffness.
36-tooth dual-action ratchet system - Similar to DT Swiss hubs, these hubs use two toothed rings that engage simultaneously across their entire surface area, rather than individual pawls that are common in most hubs.
Ratchet-style hubs distribute load evenly and tend to hold up well over high mileage.
The 36t engagement provides an engagement angle of 10°.
In the world of hubs, 36t is considered a 'sweet-spot', where it has quicker engagement compared to 18t, but more durable than ultra-high engagement 54t or 90t options.
CeramicSpeed Bearings - The Sharp ADV has a CeramicSpeed bearing option.
CeramicSpeed bearings are the gold standard when it comes to bicycle bearings for eking out every marginal gain by reducing frictional resistance due to ceramic's lower coefficient of friction compared to steel.
A more budget-friendly TPI steel bearing option is also available for those who prefer the durability and cost-effectiveness of quality steel bearings.
Super G3 spoke lacing - Pertual uses what they call their Super G3 lacing pattern, with truss structures within the lacing to improve strength.
3. Front/Rear Optimised Rims: Built With a Purpose
The Sharp ADV's rim profile is built around a specific engineering claim: a 43% improvement in stiffness-to-weight ratio compared to its predecessor.
While manufacturers love to claim increased stiffness, unfortunately, we'll have to take them at their word, as we are not able to verify these details at this point in time.
Pertual decided to design their front and rear wheels differently to achieve their intended purpose.
This front/rear differentiation mirrors the approach of top-tier Western wheelsets, such as ENVE's SES.
Front Wheel Specifications
Rear Wheel Specifications
4. Pricing: Very Competitive
Let's put some context into those numbers:
| Wheelset | Price (USD) |
| ENVE SES 4.5 Pro | 3,750 |
| ENVE SES 4.5 | 2,850 |
| Roval Rapide CLX III | 3,526 |
| Roval Alpinist CLX II | 2,272 |
| Winspace Hyper 3 D45 | 1,699 |
| Elitewheels Drive 50D II | 1,299 |
| No.6 50/58 Superlight Aero | 1,620 |
If one were to give up CeramicSpeed for TPI bearings, the price reduction makes it incredibly attractive for the price-performance ratio.
5. The Bottom Line: Should You Buy the Sharp ADV?
1,245g, 92mm carbon flange hub, Ceramic bearings, 36T ratchet, 43% stiffness improvement, Front/rear optimised engineering.
On paper, the Sharp ADV is one of the leaders of its class in terms of weight. Against Winspace and Elitewheels, it competes closely on grams but differentiates itself with the carbon flange hub architecture, front/rear optimised wheels, and CeramicSpeed bearings.
This wheelset is for you if...
- You're currently riding on carbon/alloy wheels weighing 1,400g or more and want an upgrade you'll actually feel.
- You want a single wheelset that does it all: light enough to climb, fast enough to hold pace on the flats.
- You want ceramic bearings and large flange carbon hubs without paying boutique brand prices.
- You're already looking at Chinese carbon wheels like Winspace or Elitewheels and you want to know what else is out there.
If I had a budget only for a single wheelset to do it all, the Pertual Sharp ADV would definitely be the top on my list!
6. Links
We've covered a couple of wheelsets earlier. If you're interested, click on the links below!
Check out the Pertual Sharp ADV Wheelset Here
Written by:
Tim 🚴
Ride Hard and Ride Safe!
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are the writer's own and do not constitute professional advice. All specifications, weights, and comparative figures cited are based on publicly available information and manufacturer-stated claims at the time of writing, and are subject to change without notice. Competitor specifications were sourced from official brand websites and verified third-party retailers. However, real-world figures may vary depending on build spec, measurement method, and production tolerances. The Pertual Sharp ADV specifications are based on official marketing materials provided by Tavelo/Pertual. This post is intended for informational purposes only. Always conduct your own research before making a purchasing decision.