Diameter
Wheel sizes on the market vary from 55 mm to 125 mm. When choosing your size, make sure the diameter of your wheels are compatible with the layout of your frame.
URETHANE
Your wheels can be soft or hard to give you more comfort or a faster roll. Generally speaking, the softest wheels are around 75a (HOCKEY), while the hardest are between 100A and 110A (AGGRESSIVE grind wheels). Wheel hardness is measured in shore, and most of the time you will see the letter "A" after the number to describe the value. 84A means that the wheel has a hardness of 84. A lower number indicates that the wheel is soft, and when the number is high, it is hard. The maximum hardness possible is 110A, but no inline wheels will reach this value, because then the wheels will be too hard and have almost zero bounce.
Just like the tires on race cars, the compound will really change the rolling experience. As soon as you make progress with stability, we recommend investing in wheels with an upgraded compound to experience the best rolling experience possible. Much of the joy of skating comes from the quality of your wheels.
PROFILE
There are a number of shapes on the wheel profiles that help fulfill different functions, for example giving you more stability, more control or a faster roll.
HUBS
Do not mix different profiles on a skate, it will make a skate behave strangely and be difficult to balance on, as well as the skate will have difficulty rolling straight forward.
The hub is also an element that will affect the wheel. For wheels of the same diameter, a smaller hub will make the wheel feel more comfortable and provide better grip, but it will also be slower and heavier. The design of the hub also affects the performance of the wheel. If the hub is full like a disc or has many spokes, it will provide a lot of support for the load. The wheel will likely be more responsive and stable at high speed, but it will also absorb more vibration.
WHEEL INTERLOCK
The interlock system on the wheel also creates a connection between the hub and the urethane (compound). Single density wheels use a mechanical lock that creates the connection, and double density (DD) wheels can use either a mechanical or chemical locking system. With a chemical lock, the wheels get more flexibility and absorb more vibration.
ALUMINUM HUB (NAV)
Hubs made of aluminum offer better power transfer and a very fast rolling experience, but they are more expensive, heavier and do not absorb vibrations in the same way as plastic hubs, which makes rolling less comfortable in certain situations.
DUAL DENSITY WHEELS
Dual Density (DD) is a wheel technology that uses two different urethane compounds: A softer inside and a harder outside. The first layer towards the core is made of a softer PU, while the outer layer is of a harder type. The soft inner urethane absorbs vibrations for a very smooth ride and acts as a cushion to reduce the harsh impacts of jumps. The harder PU on the outside allows a fast roll. This really lifts the performance to another level. With DD, all the specifications of the wheels are improved: GRIP, COMFORT, ROLLING. If you've never tried DD wheels, you really should. It is an essential experience.
ANTI-ROCKER WHEELS
The wheels that are smaller than 50 mm and harder than 95A are called anti-rocker wheels.
These wheels are very hard and slippery and are not suitable for normal rolling. They are only designed for freestyle skating to perform slides and grinds.
WEAR TIPS
Depending on your usage, you can assess the level of "wear" on your wheels with these tips.
MAINTENANCE
Noisy or uneven wheels are due to uneven wear. The inside of the wheels wears faster than the outside. Regular rotation of the wheels helps to maintain the service life and stabilize the wheel during skating.
LIGHTNING WHEEL
LED WHEEL
LED wheels have small LED bulbs inside the PU material that are powered by a magnetic spacer and do not need to be charged. As long as the walker is inside the wheel, it will light up when it spins. If you remove the spacer, it will behave like a normal wheel (but you have to replace it with a normal spacer). These wheels are available in many sizes and colors, as well as different grades of urethane.
LED module
GRAPHIX WHEEL
GRAPHIX wheels are ordinary wheels with a special LED module that clicks into the core. The module has LED lights that create special light patterns and text elements when the wheel spins. The model can be turned on and off at the touch of a button, and it can be removed. It can be charged via MICRO-USB. GRAPHIX wheels are only available in 100, 110 and 125mm sizes and use high quality SHR urethane with very good performance.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the most important specifications for a wheel?
The wheels are one of the most important components of your inline skates, and they can dramatically change the experience of your skating. These are the most important points you should look for:
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The diameter: Wheel sizes on the market vary from 42 mm to 125 mm. When choosing your size, make sure the diameter of the wheels is compatible with the setup of your frame.
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The profile: There are a number of different wheel profiles that serve different purposes, for example providing more stability, better control or faster rolling.
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The hardness: The wheels can be soft or hard, and this affects comfort and rolling speed. Generally speaking, the softest wheels are around 75A (for hockey), and the hardest are between 100A and 110A (for aggressive grind wheels).
Which diameter/size should I choose?
You can find many different diameter sizes on the market, but the most common sizes are 60mm, 80mm, 84mm, 90mm, 100mm, 110mm and 125mm. The size of a wheel is always measured in millimeters.
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55mm to 72mm: These wheels are used for aggressive skating such as street or skatepark skating. You can also find wheels starting at 45mm for anti-rocker use. Please see our Aggressive Wheels FAQ for more information on this.
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76mm to 90mm: This size range is mainly used with children's skates or quad skates for urban skating when you like to do a lot of tricks like jumps or slides. They are also used for fitness skates.
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100mm to 125mm: These are the largest wheels available and are mainly used as triskates in almost all segments, including urban skating, fitness and speed.
The diameter of the wheels significantly affects skating.
For example:
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The bigger the wheels, the easier it is to maintain speed.
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The bigger the wheels, the more comfortable the skating. A large wheel like 125 mm absorbs a lot of vibration from the road.
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The smaller the wheels, the more agility you get (if you compare with the same frame length). It is easier to make smaller/sharper turns with smaller wheels.
If you want to change the wheel size of your skates, check the maximum wheel size that your frame can accommodate.
What hardness should I use?
The hardness of a wheel is measured in shore, and you will often see the letter "A" after the number to describe the value. 84A means that the wheel has a hardness of 84. A lower number indicates that the wheel is soft, while a higher number indicates that it is hard. The maximum possible hardness is TIOA, but no inline wheels will reach this value, as the wheels will be too hard and have almost zero bounce. Anti-rocker wheels are the only wheels that have a hardness above 100A, as they are not designed specifically for rolling.
It is more common to see wheel hardnesses between 82A and 90A.
How does hardness affect my skating?
A softer wheel provides more comfort, while a harder wheel provides faster rolling.
A softer wheel will wear a little faster than a hard wheel.
A softer wheel provides better grip. So if you like to do slides, it is better to choose a harder wheel.
How can I check if my wheels are worn?
Depending on your usage, you can assess the wear on your Matter wheels with these tips:
Once the glossy effect on the wheels' surface wears off, you'll likely start to lose some cornering grip, especially on track. This is level 1.
When the center line of the wheels starts to disappear, you have reached level 2. You will still get full performance out of the wheels on the road.
The surface of the wheels is no longer smooth. This is level 3 of use and you will start to lose some effectiveness in the impact, but the scroll will still function as before. You can check the surface by running your finger over it to assess the level of wear. When the wheel surface is no longer smooth, the roll is not affected, but the grip in the turn is reduced.
The profile of the wheel is starting to shift, but it is still "round". This will affect your impact and balance a bit more. You must regularly rotate the wheels from this point to maintain durability. We call this level 4.
The profile of the wheels is worn down, and one or both sides look more like a triangle. The wheels are completely used. It is really time to change them, otherwise it will greatly affect technical progress. This is level 5.
Why are some wheels much more expensive?
You may have noticed a wide range of prices for wheels. The quality of the urethane (material) has a big impact on the prices. It is always a good idea to look at what material you are getting for the price. The best wheels are often MADE IN USA, such as MATTER or UNDERCOVER. This is a sign of high quality that provides a perfect experience on your skates.
Also note that wheels with more advanced technology, such as DUAL DENSITY, will cost more. Generally speaking, we only use the best possible material on these DD wheels both inside and out.
My wheels do not spin properly on the frame, what can I do?
First, it is important to check the axle sleeves you are using. There can be a slight tolerance in manufacturing, so it's always a good idea to have some extra axle sleeves with you to ensure you can align the system perfectly. Generally speaking, a longer shaft sleeve will solve the problem immediately.
If it still doesn't work, try using a different set of ball bearings and/or check that the ball bearings are clean and spinning well. You can also try adding a little oil for lubrication.
Finally, if your wheels are still not spinning well, also check that the ball bearings are not touching the inside of the frame near the axle section.