The roller industry has stepped forward a long time ago, and developers so often delight their fans with new technologies and “chips” that it becomes difficult to follow trends.
However, the principle of choosing both roller skates and components for them has gained consistency and logic. There are many parameters and nuances, but it is easy to deal with them by studying our articles.
Wheels in roller skates are one of the most important components, the quality and the correct choice of which will determine comfort, technique, results, and even safety.
Our material will help you choose the right wheels.
The main parameters when choosing wheels
- Diameter (size)
- Profile
- Hub (core) type
- Rigidity and quality of polyurethane
- Density
- Wheel connection
- Durability
- The presence of backlight
Wheel diameter
All wheels on the market are available in sizes ranging from 55mm to 125mm.
The diameter, first of all, should fit the size of the binding (frame), and also correspond to the goal – what style of riding will be used and what goals will be pursued.
The larger the wheel diameter, the higher the speed, the level of comfort, and the better the grip. The lower – the higher the stability, the ability to control rollers and slow down faster.
Wheel profile
Can be flat or pointed:
Do not use wheels with different profiles on the same roller. This will affect the ability to steer, balance, and roll straight.
The figure below shows the advantages and disadvantages of flat and pointed profiles.
The pointed profile is primarily chosen by racers and speed skaters who value speed, maneuverability, good grip, and fast wheel rotation.
And flat is a must-have for skaters at the stage of learning to skate, for those who use skates for amateur skating or fitness and want to feel maximum comfort.
Hub (core) type
The inner hard part of the wheel – the hub (core or core) – also affects its properties, as does the size or material. On wheels with the same diameter, a smaller hub can add comfort to the ride and increase traction while making it slower and stiffer.
Hub design also has a direct impact on performance. One-piece cores in the form of a disk or with holes for “spokes” provide the most support for heavy loads. Such a wheel will be more productive and stable at high speeds, but with a low vibration absorption rate.
Aluminum hubs are as rigid as possible, provide excellent power output and fast torque, but these wheels are more expensive, heavier, and do not absorb vibrations like plastic hubs.
Read More: Roller Skate Bearing Markings and Standards
Rigidity and quality of polyurethane
The wheels can be either soft or hard to provide more comfort or rotational speed. The hardness index is indicated by a number with the addition of the letter “A”.
In general, the softest have an indicator of 75A (for roller hockey), and the hardest – from 100A to 110A. The lower the number, the softer the wheel, and vice versa.
Despite the fact that the maximum possible stiffness is 110A, such wheels are not used in any roller skates, because. they will be too hard with almost zero recoils.
At the same time, the Matter wheel range uses its own stiffness measurement system F, which is compared with the standard system as follows:
- F00-90A
- F0 – 88A-89A
- F1 – 86A-87A
- F2 – 84A-85A
- F3 – 82A-83A
- F4 – 80A-81A.
The quality of polyurethane in roller sports is as important as car tires in auto racing. A comparison of polyurethane types and wheel performance is shown in the diagram: Once you have gained some confidence in roller skating and stability, we recommend investing in wheels with higher quality polyurethane to start having even more fun.
It is important to note: wheels with a diameter of less than 50 mm with a stiffness above 95A are called anti-rockers and are intended exclusively for FSK rollers, slides and complex elements.
Wheel Density
Dual Density is a technology in the production of roller wheels that uses 2 different polyurethane compounds:
- soft – located inside the wheel and is necessary for effective vibration absorption, smooth rolling and softening of shocks when jumping
- stiffer is the outer material responsible for speed, which really takes the level of riding to a new level and improves all the technical characteristics of the wheel: from traction to comfort.
Connection of polyurethane and hub (lock)
The wheel coupling system is where the hub meets the polyurethane part.
Single density wheels use mechanical bonding for greater rigidity and stability, while dual-density wheels can use both mechanical and chemical bonding. With chemical blocking, the wheels are more flexible, able to dampen vibrations better.
Wheel durability
During the operation of the rollers, it is necessary to assess the condition of the wheels in a timely manner and replace the worn ones as they wear out.
Wheel maintenance
Noise and change in the shape of some wheels in your rollers appear due to uneven wear. In this case, the inner edge of the wheel wears out faster than the outer one.
Regular and correct rearrangement of the wheels will extend their “life” and increase stability when riding.
Diagrams for the correct rearrangement of wheels are shown in the figure below:
The presence of backlight
A nice option for those who pay attention to details and strive to stand out is luminous wheels, which are presented in 2 versions with different LED and Graphix implementation technologies:
- wheels with LED bulbs – LEDs built directly into polyurethane, which are charged from a special magnetic sleeve and do not require additional batteries or power supply.
The bushing will provide a glow when rotated. The wheel can also be easily converted to a normal wheel by replacing the hub with a standard one. These wheels are available in different diameters, colors, and polyurethane qualities.
- Graphix wheels – a special removable LED module is inserted into the hub and turned on / off by pressing a button.
The module is charged using a micro USB. This range of high-quality SHR wheels is only available in 100, 110, and 125mm diameters.
We looked at the main aspects of choosing wheels for roller skates, which will help you choose your ideal “pair” and make skating enjoyable, comfortable, and productive.
Do you have any questions?
Contact our specialists. We know everything about inline skates and even more to find the best equipment and equipment for you to achieve the highest results!