Roller Skate Wheels / Quad Skate Wheels

Defining Features of Roller Skate Wheels

Roller or quad skate wheels are designed to be wider, providing more surface contact than inline skate wheels, which enhances skater stability. Each roller skate wheel is unique, differing in terms of size, hardness, and shape. The size of the wheels, referred to as their diameter, is measured in millimetres (mm), generally ranging from 55 mm to 65 mm. The term for a wheel's hardness is its durometer, assessed on the A-scale, with a span from 74A (extremely soft) to 105A (extremely hard).

How to Choose the Right Size for Your Roller Skate Wheels

Your choice of quad skate wheels should reflect your skating approach. Skating styles are broadly classified into Indoor Skating and Outdoor Skating.

For indoor settings, roller skate wheels generally come in small to medium sizes, allowing enhanced control and agility on the rink. Rhythm skaters often opt for 62 mm diameter wheels with widths from 35 to 44 mm. For figure skaters, wheel dimensions are usually between 55-65 mm for diameter and 30-31 mm in width. When it comes to outdoor roller skating, wheels are larger with a rounded surface for better stability, typically measuring 55-65 mm in diameter and about 40 mm wide.

Examining Roller Skate Wheels Hardness for Both Indoor and Outdoor Use

Indoor rhythm and figure skaters might choose very hard wheels that provide greater speeds on smooth surfaces, with typical hardness ranging from 97A to 103A. Fitness quad skaters, who skate outdoors, frequently prefer softer wheels to cushion impacts on varied terrains, generally falling within a hardness range of 78A to 85A. Speed skating wheels are indeed harder than fitness wheels, offering quicker rolling on smooth urban surfaces, with typical hardness for speed rollers being from 95A to 98A.