Selecting the right roller skate wheels for different surfaces can significantly impact your skating experience. From smooth indoor rinks to rough outdoor sidewalks and streets, various terrains require specific wheel characteristics to ensure optimal grip, speed, and overall performance. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key factors to consider when choosing roller skate wheels for different surfaces, so you can make an informed decision and get the most out of your skating adventures. Though the following information pertains to quad skates mostly, the same principles can be used for inline skate wheels, too. Check out all of our quad skate guides to learn more!
Before reading below, you might want to watch this video done by a World Champion Roller Skater – Skip Clinton. This guy really knows what he’s talking about when it comes to skating.
- Understand Wheel Hardness (Durometer)
The hardness or durometer of roller skate wheels plays a crucial role in determining their suitability for specific surfaces. Wheel hardness is measured on a scale known as the A scale, with a higher number indicating a harder wheel and a lower number representing a softer wheel.
- Soft Wheels (78A-84A): These wheels are ideal for outdoor surfaces, such as sidewalks, streets, and rough pavement. They provide excellent grip and shock absorption, making for a smoother and more comfortable ride on uneven terrain.
- Medium Wheels (85A-91A): These wheels offer a good balance between grip and slide, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. They’re a versatile option for skaters who want a single set of wheels for various surfaces.
- Hard Wheels (92A-100A): These wheels are best suited for indoor rinks with smooth surfaces. They provide minimal grip, allowing for faster speeds and better sliding capabilities.
- Choose the Right Wheel Size
Roller skate wheels come in various sizes, with larger wheels offering more speed and smaller wheels providing better agility and acceleration.
- Smaller Wheels (57mm-62mm): These wheels are perfect for skaters who prioritize agility and quick turns, such as in jam or derby skating. They allow for faster acceleration but may not reach the same top speeds as larger wheels.
- Larger Wheels (63mm-70mm): These wheels are ideal for skaters who want to cover long distances or reach high speeds, such as in outdoor or recreational skating. They may take longer to accelerate but can achieve greater top speeds.
- Consider Wheel Profile (Shape)
The profile or shape of roller skate wheels affects how the wheel contacts the surface, influencing grip, maneuverability, and speed.
- Narrow Profile: These wheels have a smaller contact surface, allowing for quicker turns and better maneuverability. They’re great for agility-focused skaters, such as roller derby athletes.
- Wide Profile: These wheels have a larger contact surface, providing better grip and stability. They’re suitable for skaters who want a stable and comfortable ride, particularly on outdoor surfaces.
- Select Wheels Based on Skating Style
Your preferred skating style should also play a role in your wheel selection:
- Artistic Skating: Choose medium to hard wheels with a narrow profile for better agility and quick turns on smooth indoor surfaces.
- Roller Derby: Opt for medium-hard wheels with a narrow profile to balance grip and slide on indoor rinks. We have a ton of information on roller derby skates!
- Speed Skating: Select hard wheels with a wide profile to achieve high speeds on smooth indoor surfaces.
- Recreational Skating: Choose medium wheels with a wide profile for versatile use on both indoor and outdoor surfaces.
Choosing the right roller skate wheels for different surfaces can significantly enhance your skating experience. By considering wheel hardness, size, profile, and your skating style, you can select the ideal wheels for your specific needs. With the right wheels in place, you can hit the rink or pavement with confidence, knowing you’re equipped for a smooth and enjoyable ride.
Devaskation’s Pro Tips for Choosing the Right Wheels:
- Treat your roller skate wheels like tires on a car. Soft tires make for a smooth ride on bumpy streets, but “low profile” tires with large rims often make for a rougher ride. However, large rims with small tires can improve performance in turns. So, there is always a give and take. Keep this in mind when you’re choosing roller skate wheels.
- Soft wheels on a soft surface will be very sticky, so using outdoor wheels on an indoor surface might make your skates really sticky and slow. Conversely, using an indoor wheel outside will not only damage your wheels, but the wheels will not stick to the pavement and might cause you to slide around or even fall. Choose wisely!
- You can use a mix of two wheel hardnesses to get different effects. If you want your outside wheels to be more sticky, you can get a slightly softer wheel for your outside wheels and a harder wheel for your inside wheels.
- Keep in mind that you don’t need separate outdoor and indoor skates. You can just swap the wheels! Buy an extra set of wheels and bearings so that you can simply swap them based on where you plan on skating.