Cdst

Based on what I have seen, Zipp has sold at least a few different wheels under the same name without any generation marking (that I am aware of) on the rim.
Specifically I am interested in the 202 Firecrest clinchers. Looking at old articles, I see this wheel appear around 2013, then there is this 2014 article mentioning that they are updated. I also saw a for sale post for what the owner claimed was a 2017 set with different hubs. Zipp no longer offers the 202 firecrest clincher rim brake wheel according to their website.

It looks like that obvious differences are
pre-2014 the front wheel is straight laced and in 2014 it changed to a crossing pattern and has the 88/188 v9 hubs. Then by 2017 the hubs changed to 77/177.

None of these changes seem to affect the rim, just lacing and hubs. Were there any changes to the 202 firecrest clincher rim during its run? If so how would one identify them?

Psimet2001 

I wouldn't call it straight laced. I am pretty sure it went out and partied every now and then.

Seriously though over the years there is occasionally a cross reference on SRAM's site that shows some differing features over the years but that's not what you're asking... no change to the rim in essence. At some point they may have been slightly lighter or heavier over the run but when you do a carbon rim mold like that you run it for a handful of years and differentiate the wheelset over time with hub and lacing/spoke options. So to my knowledge saying 202 firecrest means that specific rim.

What was your concern though? worried about the age of it or something? Thinking maybe they came up with some groundbreaking new tech during the run but didn't see the need to include that in the piles of money they spend on advertising and marketing?

Cdst

my main concern is the braking surface, curious if it there were any changes to it and if newer production had more brake track grip than older ones.

GhostRider62

I identify them by their failure modes. Rims, hub flanges, freehubs, bearings. Fantastic marketing.

The rims are not the same. The shape and width and braking surfaces changed. Hubs changed to make them more defective.

Psimet2001 

6 and 1/2 dozen the other. It's a 202 rim brake.