You've slightly misunderstood some of the GCN video, as the wheels you've got are not really that 'low end' it talks about upgrading from (like theirs). They're already better made, more aero and lighter than low end wheels. They're generally talking about 'off the shelf wheels' on prebuilt bikes from the popular 'retail' pre built bike brands which usually are 'own branded', mass produced in factories to fairly generic low specifications and come with tyres which again, are own branded, mass produced and budget orientated. Much of the information in the video is valid but could be considered 'outdated' - the wheels they're talking about have got increasingly better as time has gone on. Giant branded wheels and tyres from 10 years ago have far less quality about them, than current Giant wheels and tyres for example.
But same could be said for tyres - premium tyres now compared to even 'middle of the range' there is far less to choose between them (also why their rolling times are marginal). Compare a Conti GP5000 at £50 and a Conti Ultra Sport at £22 and you won't get a massive difference, but compared to a Kenda tyre which came on a Halfords of the shelf £400 bike both would be fairly big upgrades in the quality and speed of your ride. Without upgrading the wheels that Halfords bike comes with, there would really not be any point to ride the GP5000 on there if you planned to upgrade the wheels. Stick the Ultras on, save the money for the upgrade, then maybe ride the Ultras on the still until you can upgrade to the GP5000.
Always bear in mind that GCN content is sponsorship driven - no matter what they say and how much fun they have. I'm not saying they're experts, but when they're all riding Pinarello's on Vision wheels with Pirelli tyres... When a few years back it was another brand (Kona?), before then they all had different bikes (being ex-pro's generally their old team bikes).
Same/similar experience(s) which I'll list below (it's a slow day and you all know I love to share my 'wisdom'! )
Quite medium/high range bike with 105 (at the time) £900 Giant Defy 1 2015 came with Giant PR-2 wheels. Not even the cheapest alloy wheels they did at the time but kept going out of true and broke 2 spokes.
- Replaced with 'off the shelf' Campag Khamsin £105 wheels and they where a good upgrade. Rock solid, reliable and even slightly lighter. Just better quality and better made wheels with similar components, so really down to the poor quality build of the Giants.
- Replaced them with higher range (but still half alloy) Shimano RS81 for £350, trimming a bit of weight (only about 150-200g) but much stiffer and a bit deeper with less spokes so they felt & rode even faster. Without even being 'top end' carbon.
- Replaced with ~£650 alloy Zipp 30 Course, wider, tubeless compatible and lighter. Great upgrade and a bit of a treat, but still alloy to alloy.
- Did get a set of Fulcrum Racing 7's for £180, heavier but felt well made. Solid and dependable - made me question the cost of the 30 Course!
- Summer wheels got a set of £800 Carbon Zipp 303S, a bit lighter, stiffer and loads deeper. Feel a bit faster (but am running lighter and narrower tyres).
One thing I've said for ages is make sure you know what you're buying. Going for a Hunt/Prime carbon wheelset 'because it's carbon' is quite likely to be lighter and cheaper made than a quality alloy wheel. They might even be similar prices.
Saving 500g rotational weight on a wheelset is pretty big, maybe not MASSIVE, but would be noticeable for most of us. Having a 500g turd before you go riding is really not comparable. But if you also consider at your weight, that '500g saved' wheelset is likely also stiffer for a heavier rider, so flexes less and transfers more power to the road... The same way that it will likely be deeper, so marginally more aero. But being a 'block' of wind resistance from a bigger guy, you'll get more 'speed' from a wheelset with stiffness and good tyres at the right pressures. Both giving you a more pleasurable ride.
But also don't rush your decisions - you've not even ridden the bike and you're looking at buying wheels to upgrade on it within a month! Factor in a cost of the SRAM hub to go on the wheelsets (prices of and how available they are for the wheels you're looking at). I bought a wheel £130 cheaper as it had a Campagnolo freehub on it, when to buy the Shimano freehub to fit to it cost £30.
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The main reason to upgrade would likely be to go for a deeper rim regardless of material as it's only 25mm on the Prime wheels i got.
