How to choose inline skate wheels

If you do not know according to what or how to choose spare wheels for skates, this article will surely help you. I will advise you on the right choice of hardness, size or type.

1. Types of wheels

The basic division is the division by type of use. The most common type are the wheels intended for fitness skating. Their size ranges from 78mm to 100mm. They are primarily intended for recreational skating and training. Their hardness is between 80A and 85A.
Inline wheels for speed skating are characterized by a higher hardness, specifically 84A to 88A and above all by a size between 90 and 110 mm. The larger size allows the skater to reach higher speeds. Their size works simmilarly a bicycle gear when driving. The bigger they are, the higher the speed the skater can reach, but he will need more power to do so. As you may have already guessed, starting with 110mm wheels is certainly more demanding than with 100mm wheels. So if you are a beginner when it comes to speed skating, don't immediately choose the biggest alternative.

Finally, we have the Inline hockey category. This type is wider than the wheels mentioned above. This is to make the inline hockey player more agile and improve their stability during the game. Their size ranges from 72mm to 80mm. Inline hockey players also use different Hi-LO (low-profile) frames in which they can combine different sizes, so that they get better agility on skates. Their hardness differs depending on whether they are used outdoors or indoors. When used outdoors, they are also called outdoor. Here, inline hockey is usually played on asphalt, so the hardness of the wheels is around 85A. When used indoors on a special surface (indoor), lower hardness is used precisely because of the need for a higher grip of the wheels.

2. Grip (adhesion) and roll (wheel speed)

You may have come across these terms while reading articles about skating. Both of these parameters are directly related to material and hardness. Grip and roll generally work in this way: the higher the hardness of the wheels, the higher the speed and the less grip, and the lower the hardness, the higher the grip and the less speed. This statement can be considered true, but it should be taken into account that the material itself, aside from hardness, can affect speed and grip. We can observe this trend especially in speed skating, where hard wheels with extra grip are also being developed, which hold the skater perfectly in sharp turns and so on.

Finally, you may be wondering why you should also consider adhesion. The lack of grip can cause your skate to simply slip during a sharp turn or when a stronger bounce occurs. Another disadvantage can also be that hardened inline wheels do not absorb shocks from thicker asphalt and can be uncomfortable to drive.

3. Hardness

Hardness ratings can be subjective, but I believe I have enough experience to give you my advice and recommendations.

When choosing new skates, it is not worth following the hardness of the wheels. But generally when you need a new one, it is best to choose a hardness of 83-85A. Lower hardness wears out relatively quickly, and on the other hand, with the fitness category you don't have to worry that the hardness of 85A would be too hard. On the contrary, it's a great compromise between soft and hard wheels. All in all, you won't even find 86A and above in the standard fitness category.

However, it is different in the speed category, where the hardness of 86A and above is fairly common. Here, skaters even often combine individual wheels with each other in order to achieve an optimal ratio between hardness and grip.

4. Wheel material

Some of you still often solve the dilemma of whether rubber wheels, artificial wheels or a completely different material are better.
The answer is neither artificial nor rubbery. If you decide to buy a quality brand, they will not be made of rubber or plastic. Manufacturers like Hyper, Powerslide, Matter or MPC use a special material in their products, so you don't have to worry about accidentally buying replacement wheels made of poor quality material.

5. Composition

The wheel consists of a so-called hub or center. It can be different, which affect its properties. There is also an inner material and finally a surface layer that best corresponds to the described properties. As this layer wears out, the wheel gradually loses its positive properties.