Inline Skate Wheels

Before you buy inline skate wheels, you need some basic information, since wheels are an important part of your inline skate setup. Wheels are designed with different combined properties to accommodate inline skaters of different sizes, at various skill levels, in a variety of inline sport disciplines and using a range of skating surfaces or skating conditions. This knowledge will be essential when you purchase new skates or replace wheels on existing skates.

 

• Learn about the anatomy of an inline skate wheel.
• Find out how the wheel durometer can affect your skating.
• Discover the impact of various wheel profiles on skating maneuvers.
• Get information on why the size or wheel diameter of your wheels matter.
• Learn why some skaters keep all wheels flat on the skating surface.
• Find out how rockering wheels can help some inline skating disciplines.
• Learn one method of four wheel rotation.
• Get an option for rotating five wheels.
• Find out how to rotate three-wheeled skates.

 

1. Inline Skate Wheel Anatomy

Learn about the anatomy of your inline skate wheels. Identify the basic wheel components, and the basics of inline skate wheel performance.Your inline skate wheels are as important to the performance of your skate setup as the tires on a car. Wheels can come in a variety of diameter sizes measured in millimeters, shapes called profiles, hardnesses identified by durometer number and with different amounts of rebound that indicates responsiveness and grip. 

See the Basic Components of Your Inline Skate Wheels Inline Wheel Anatomy. Image © 2009 Carlesa Williams, licensed to About.com, Inc.

 

The design of each wheel gives it a unique footprint that helps determine how it performs for various skating disciplines and skating surface conditions. Recreational skates use small to medium sized, soft wheels with good gripping properties to control speed and vibration. Speed skates use bigger, harder, faster wheels, since inline racing is done on controlled surfaces. Aggressive skates use small wheels that are designed for maneuverability.

Basic components of a wheel:

• Polyurethane
• Bearings
• Spacers
• Wheel hub or core

The industry standard for all inline skate wheels is 24mm thick, and the wheels are usually marked with the diameter size in mm and a number followed by the letter A to identify the wheel's durometer.

 

2. Inline Skate Wheel Profiles 

Discover the impact of various wheel sizes and profiles on your skating performance.

Your inline skate wheel profile is determined by the shape of a wheel from a head on viewpoint. The profile establishes how much of your wheel touches the ground when you skate. There can be a big difference in the profile views of wheels and each profile has a purpose.

Wheel sizes are different depending on the skating discipline. Inline hockey wheels, recreational wheels and figure or dance wheels can work across these same disciplines, but you should be aware that you will not have all of the wheel properties needed for the activity. Recreational wheels are usually multi-purpose, but again, you will not have any sport-specific wheel benefits. The profile (shape) is also important; a wider flatter wheel has more traction and grip, but also more rolling resistance and won’t glide as well. Aggressive skaters prefer smaller flatter wheels for their grip and control, while speed skaters prefer taller narrower wheels because they offer less rolling resistance more responsiveness.