Enve G SES 4.5

The ENVE G SES 4.5 is ENVE’s “do-everything” high-performance gravel wheelset, designed to bridge the gap between pure gravel racing, endurance riding, fast all-road riding, and mixed-terrain adventure use. Rather than focusing exclusively on maximum aero depth or ultra-light climbing weight, the G SES 4.5 was engineered to deliver balanced real-world speed across a huge range of surfaces and conditions.

Built using ENVE’s SES (Smart ENVE System) aerodynamic philosophy, the wheelset is designed around the idea that real riding conditions matter more than isolated wind tunnel numbers. Gravel riding introduces constantly changing surfaces, wider tires, lower pressures, rough terrain, and unpredictable wind conditions, so the G SES 4.5 is shaped to maintain aerodynamic efficiency while also improving stability, comfort, and control.

One of the most important design elements is the wheel’s extremely wide rim profile. The G SES 4.5 uses a 25mm internal width, specifically developed around modern gravel tires in the 35–50mm range. Wider rims better support larger-volume tires, creating a more stable tire profile with less sidewall squirm at low pressures. This improves cornering precision, traction, and ride feel while also allowing lower tire pressures for increased comfort and reduced rolling resistance over rough terrain.

Unlike many gravel wheels that simply repurpose road rim shapes, the G SES 4.5 is aerodynamically optimized around larger gravel tires. ENVE carefully shaped the rims to work efficiently with wider rubber, helping reduce drag even with 40–45mm tires installed. This is especially important as gravel race speeds continue to rise and aerodynamic efficiency becomes increasingly valuable in long events and open-road conditions.

The wheelset uses ENVE’s mixed-depth SES profile with a shallower front rim and deeper rear rim. This design improves crosswind stability and front-end handling while still maximizing aerodynamic performance where it matters most. The front wheel is optimized for steering control and predictable handling, while the deeper rear wheel enhances aerodynamic efficiency and power retention.

Despite its aero focus, the G SES 4.5 remains impressively lightweight and responsive. The rims are constructed using tuned carbon layups that balance stiffness and compliance, allowing the wheels to accelerate quickly while also damping vibration and impacts from rough terrain. This smoother ride quality reduces rider fatigue during long gravel events and improves traction over washboard, chunk, and uneven surfaces.

The wheelset is fully tubeless-ready and uses ENVE’s hookless bead technology. Hookless construction allows tighter manufacturing tolerances, improved impact strength, and lower weight while also improving tire retention and tubeless reliability when used with approved tires. The hookless shape additionally creates a smoother tire-to-rim transition, improving aerodynamic performance.

Another major advantage of the G SES 4.5 is versatility. While it excels in gravel racing, it is equally capable as a fast all-road wheelset or endurance road setup with larger tires. Riders can run aggressive gravel tires for rough terrain or switch to high-volume slicks for ultra-fast mixed-surface riding.

Rim Specifications

Aerodynamic Design

The G SES 4.5 uses ENVE’s SES aerodynamic shaping philosophy, meaning the front and rear rims are specifically designed differently rather than simply using identical rims front and rear.

• Front Rim (~42mm depth): prioritizes stability and predictable steering in crosswinds
• Rear Rim (~49mm depth): prioritizes aerodynamic efficiency and power retention
• Optimized around real gravel tire widths rather than narrow road tires
• Designed for stable airflow with 40–45mm tires installed
• Improved “sailing effect” in crosswinds without twitchy steering feel

This gives the wheelset a notably calm and composed ride feel even at high gravel race speeds or in windy conditions.

Ride Characteristics

The G SES 4.5 has a very refined ride quality that balances responsiveness with comfort.

• Quick acceleration and efficient power transfer
• Stable descending and cornering behavior
• Reduced vibration on rough terrain
• Excellent handling at lower tire pressures
• More aerodynamic than shallow gravel wheels
• More versatile and forgiving than ultra-deep gravel race wheels

It is especially well suited for:

• Gravel racing
• High-speed endurance gravel rides
• Mixed-surface road riding
• Fast all-road setups
• Long-distance adventure riding

Hub Options

One of the biggest configuration differences with ENVE wheels comes from the available hub systems. Depending on model year and build level, the G SES 4.5 may come with different ENVE hub generations or custom builds using premium aftermarket hubs.

ENVE INNERDRIVE Hub (Current Standard)

Most current-production G SES 4.5 wheels use ENVE’s INNERDRIVE Premium Straight Pull hub system.

Key features include:

• Oversized inboard steel ratchets for durability
• Low-drag bearing system
• Improved sealing against water and dust
• Faster engagement compared to older ENVE hubs
• Straight-pull spoke interface for improved stiffness
• Lower overall system weight

Available freehub options typically include:

• SRAM XDR
• Shimano HG
• Campagnolo N3W

The INNERDRIVE hub is designed to prioritize efficiency, reliability, and reduced rolling drag while remaining relatively easy to service.

ENVE INNERDRIVE PRO Hub (PRO Models)

The newer G SES 4.5 PRO receives the upgraded INNERDRIVE PRO hub system.

Compared to the standard INNERDRIVE:

• Lower drag internals
• Lighter hub shell construction
• Improved bearing quality
• Faster engagement response
• Reduced rotational weight
• More race-focused performance feel

This is ENVE’s highest-performance in-house hub system and is targeted primarily at elite gravel racers and riders chasing maximum efficiency.

Older ENVE ID360 Hubs

Some previous-generation SES wheels used hubs based on the DT Swiss 240 EXP / ID360 platform.

These hubs are still highly respected for:

• Excellent reliability
• Easy servicing
• Proven ratchet engagement system
• Wide parts availability
• Strong long-term durability

Many riders still specifically seek out ID360-based SES wheels because of their reputation for simplicity and serviceability.

Freehub Body Options

Available freehub bodies vary slightly by build and retailer, but common options include:

Tire Pairing Recommendations

The G SES 4.5 performs best with modern high-volume gravel tires, particularly:

• 40mm race gravel tires
• 42–45mm mixed terrain tires
• Fast semi-slick gravel tires
• Large-volume all-road slicks

Popular pairings often include:

• ENVE SES tires
• Continental Terra Speed
• Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RC
• Panaracer GravelKing X1 R
• Rene Herse endurance casings

Overall Performance Summary

The ENVE G SES 4.5 is designed to be an exceptionally versatile performance gravel wheelset. It combines:

• Aero efficiency
• Crosswind stability
• Modern wide-tire optimization
• Lightweight climbing performance
• Long-distance comfort
• Gravel race responsiveness

Compared to ultra-deep gravel race wheels like the G SES 6.7 PRO, the G SES 4.5 is noticeably more versatile and easier to ride across varied terrain. Compared to shallower gravel wheels, it delivers significantly better aerodynamic efficiency and high-speed performance.

For riders building a single premium wheelset capable of everything from gravel racing to fast endurance road riding, the G SES 4.5 sits in one of the most balanced positions in ENVE’s entire lineup.