Schmolke TLO 50 vs ENVE SES 4.5 Pro: Results will surprise you!

First, the ENVE SES 4.5 Pro is genuinely good

This is not an ordinary ENVE wheelset with different stickers.

The SES 4.5 Pro was developed with direct input from Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates-XRG. ENVE reduced the weight of its established SES 4.5 platform while retaining its aerodynamic focus, deep rim profile and premium INNERDRIVE Pro ceramic hubs.

ENVE publishes a wheelset weight of 1295g including tubeless tape and valves. The front rim is 49mm deep, the rear is 55mm, and both use a 23.5mm internal width.

TLO 50 vs SES 4.5 Pro at a glance

1. The TLO 50 is 318g lighter

Wheelset weight comparisons can become misleading when one brand includes tubeless equipment and another does not.

ENVE clearly states that its 1295g wheelset weight includes tubeless tape and valves. Schmolke’s claimed weight of approximately 940g does not normally include that equipment.

BikeRadar independently weighed its Extralite-equipped TLO 50 test wheelset at 977g with the tubeless tape and valves fitted.

A 318g reduction is significant on a premium road bike. It gives riders chasing a genuinely lightweight aero build a substantial saving without resorting to a shallow climbing wheel.

2. The lighter wheelset costs $1,405 less

The white-sticker ENVE SES 4.5 Pro used for this comparison is listed in Australia at $7,299.99.

The white Schmolke TLO 50 with Extralite ceramic hubs is $5,895.

The TLO 50 is also available with DT Swiss 180 and NONPLUS hubs, allowing you to choose between outright low weight, established DT Swiss serviceability or boutique German engineering.

3. Schmolke gives you a wider rim

The TLO 50 uses a 25mm internal rim and a 32.5mm external width.

The ENVE SES 4.5 Pro uses a 23.5mm internal rim and a 30.8mm external width.

Wider is not automatically better in every application, but the TLO 50 provides a modern platform for the 28mm and wider road tyres now commonly used on performance road bikes.

4. Carbon spokes help Schmolke break the one-kilogram barrier

Schmolke uses 24 carbon spokes in each wheel. BikeRadar reports that the spokes use conventional threaded metal ends, allowing the wheel to be maintained in a similar way to a traditionally constructed wheel.

ENVE uses 24 Alpina Ultralite Aero R5 metal spokes in each wheel.

Both are legitimate premium constructions. The difference is that Schmolke combines its carbon spokes with exceptionally light rims and hubs to deliver a complete 50mm wheelset below one kilogram.

5. ENVE gives you one hub. Schmolke gives you three.

ENVE supplies the SES 4.5 Pro with its own INNERDRIVE Pro ceramic hubs. They are purpose-built for the wheelset, but there is no alternative hub configuration.

Which wheelset is more aerodynamic?

There is no credible direct wind-tunnel comparison between these two wheelsets using identical tyres, pressures and test conditions.

ENVE has extensive aerodynamic development experience. Its staggered 49mm front and 55mm rear design is aero-optimised around 27mm to 28mm tyres and has been developed with one of the strongest professional cycling teams in the world.

Schmolke uses a full 50mm rim front and rear with a broad 32.5mm external profile. It is a genuine aero-depth road wheel, but there is not enough independent data to claim it is definitively faster than the ENVE.

What can be proven is that the TLO 50 combines its 50mm profile with a complete tubeless-ready weight below one kilogram.

Where the ENVE SES 4.5 Pro wins

ENVE wins on professional racing visibility and mainstream brand recognition.

The SES 4.5 Pro has been developed with direct input from Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Riders who want the wheelset carrying that WorldTour story have a legitimate reason to choose ENVE.

But professional racing visibility does not change the weight, width and price comparison.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Schmolke TLO 50 lighter than the ENVE SES 4.5 Pro?

Yes. ENVE publishes a wheelset weight of 1295g including tape and valves. BikeRadar independently measured its Extralite-equipped TLO 50 test wheelset at 977g with tape and valves fitted. That is a 318g difference.

Does Schmolke’s claimed 940g include tape and valves?

Schmolke does not normally include tape and valves in its quoted wheelset weights. This comparison therefore uses BikeRadar’s independently measured 977g tubeless-ready figure.

Which wheelset has the wider rim?

The TLO 50 is wider internally and externally. It uses a 25mm internal and 32.5mm external rim, compared with the ENVE’s 23.5mm internal and 30.8mm external rim.

Which TLO 50 hub should I choose?

Choose Extralite for the lowest possible weight, NONPLUS for boutique German engineering or DT Swiss 180 for proven internals and broad servicing support.