Vision Team 35 Wheels: My Honest Take After 2,000 Miles

Look, I will be straight with you – when I first unboxed the Vision Team 35 wheels, I was skeptical. Like, genuinely worried I had wasted my money skeptical. They seemed almost too affordable for what they promised, and we have all been burned by budget wheels before, right?

But here is the thing – after putting roughly 2,000 miles on these hoops over the past year, I have actually got some strong opinions. And honestly? They are mostly good ones.

Why I Even Considered the Team 35s

So my old aluminum wheels were basically toast. The rear hub was making this grinding noise that no amount of bearing replacement could fix (trust me, I tried three times), and I was facing that classic dilemma: spend real money on quality wheels or grab something cheap to get me through another season.

A buddy from my Tuesday group ride had been running Vision wheels for about eight months. He kept going on about how they had transformed his climbing, which – I will admit – I thought was exaggerated enthusiasm. But when I actually rode his bike up our local test hill, I was surprised. They felt genuinely quick.

First Impressions And Why They Were Wrong

When the wheels arrived, I immediately noticed they were heavier than I expected. I actually weighed them – came in at about 1,620 grams for the set, which is honestly about 50 grams over the claimed weight. Annoying? A little. Deal-breaker? Not really.

The build quality seemed decent enough. No obvious flaws, the spokes were tensioned evenly (I checked with a meter because I am that kind of person), and the hubs spun smoothly. The freehub engagement was nothing special – maybe 3 degrees or so – but it was not terrible either.

What I got wrong initially: I assumed the extra weight would make them sluggish on climbs. Spoiler alert – it does not matter nearly as much as I thought.

The Good Stuff

Here is where I have to give credit where it is due:

• Aerodynamics actually matter at this rim depth. The 35mm depth is not crazy deep, but I have noticed a real difference on flat sections. My average speed on my regular loop went up about 0.7 mph. Could be placebo? Maybe. But I have done enough testing to think it is real.
• They are surprisingly stiff. When I am out of the saddle hammering, there is minimal flex. I weigh about 175 lbs and I can really lay into these without that vague, noodle-y feeling you get from cheaper wheels.
• The brake track is decent. Yeah, they are rim brake specific. But the braking is consistent, even in wet conditions. Not amazing, but better than I expected.
• Hub durability has been solid. At 2,000 miles, I have had zero bearing issues. Given my luck with other budget wheelsets, this genuinely surprises me.

The Not-So-Good Stuff

Okay, they are not perfect. Here is what bugs me:

The tire mounting situation can be frustrating. The rim bed is tight – like, really tight. Getting tires on and off requires actual effort, and I have definitely lost some skin to my tire levers. If you are the type who gets frequent flats, this will annoy you.

Also, the weight thing. Yeah, I said it does not matter much, but for pure climbing? There are lighter options. If you are racing up mountains every weekend, you might want to look elsewhere. For me, doing maybe one big climbing day a month, it is fine.

And the sound – the freehub is not loud or distinctive. Some people love that angry bee sound from expensive hubs. These are quiet. Almost too quiet? It is weird, but I have actually had people not hear me approaching from behind.

Real World Performance

After all this time on the Team 35s, here is my honest assessment of who they are for:

Perfect for you if: You are upgrading from stock wheels on a mid-range bike. You want better performance without spending four figures. You do mixed riding – some climbing, some flats, maybe the occasional group ride.

Maybe not for you if: You are a pure climber who counts every gram. You are racing at a high level and need absolute top performance.

I have done two local races on these wheels. Nothing serious – just our club summer series. Finished mid-pack both times, which is exactly where I usually end up. The wheels did not hold me back, and on the faster sections, I felt like I was carrying speed better than before.

Maintenance Notes

Quick note on how they have held up: I have trued them once (hit a pothole hard enough to make me wince), and the spoke tension has stayed pretty consistent. The bearings are still smooth. I have put them through rain, some light gravel sections, and more than a few rough roads. They are holding up.

One thing I would recommend: if you buy these, put some decent tape on them right away. The factory tape was okay but started peeling after about 500 miles. I switched to Gorilla tape and have not had issues since.

Final Verdict: Would I Buy Them Again?

You know what? Yeah. I would.

Are there better wheels out there? Absolutely. But for what I paid – and for what I actually need them to do – the Vision Team 35s have been a solid upgrade. They are not going to win any weight weenie competitions, and they will not turn you into a pro overnight. But they are honest wheels that do what they promise without any drama.

If you are on the fence about budget wheelsets, I would say give these a shot. Just do not expect miracles – expect reliable, reasonably aero wheels that will last you a good long while. And really, is that not what most of us actually need?

Been riding these for a while now and happy to answer questions. Drop a comment if you want specifics about fit, compatibility, or anything else I might have missed.