Wheels Inline_skates

inline skate wheels different diameters , profiles

wheel sizes vary depending on skating style:

44–72 mm aggressive skating.
47–80 mm roller hockey skating.
68–72 mm artistic inline skating.
72–80 mm freestyle slalom skating , downhill skating.
72–100 mm general recreational skating.
80-90mm downhill inline skating.
100–125 mm tri-skating, mushroom blading, urban skating , speed skating.
125-150mm tires off-road skating.

wheels nowadays universally made of polyurethane (a kind of durable plastic). other plastics , rubber either wear down or have rolling resistance.

in general, bigger wheel, faster skate. however, large wheels take more energy start rolling. smaller wheels allow faster acceleration, maneuverability, , lower center of gravity. wheel hardness measured on scale (see durometer) , ranges between 72a-93a (higher numbers harder). harder wheels not faster tend more durable; soft wheels may have better grip , less affected road bumps. in 1990s, wheel rolling resistance (crr – coefficient of rolling resistance) tended minimized wheel hardness in 78a durometer range, rolling resistance dramatically increasing below 75a durometer , above 85a durometer. in 2000s, urethane compounds improved significantly, allowing skaters use harder compounds better wheel life, , lowest rolling resistance in 82a–84a durometer range. wheel profiles , thicknesses again vary application. elliptic profiles thought minimize friction faster ride; however, intended mimic knife-like properties of ice blade. more rounded profiles provided lower rolling resistance due greater belly or tire increased resilience (or rebound ); , these wheels perceived having better grip , being more stable (less ice blade), heavier elliptical-profiled wheels , used in downhill racing (such hyper downhill racing wheels) , in recreational skates. advantage of rounded profile wheels longer wear life due increased amount rubber on tire. increase stability @ high speed, skates intended downhill skating have 5 or 6 wheels, in contrast recreational skates, typically have 4 wheels. advantage of more wheels having less rolling resistance has been largely negated 100–110mm diameter wheels 4-wheel trucks.