Wheels wheels wheels

[j_bo]

Discussion time again eh?
Do the myriads of roller hockey wheels confuse most everyone??
How many different types of wheels are really necessary? I mean, come on. I can list about 75 different wheels from about 16 different companies out there. Now, of course I understand that everyone "swears by" the wheels they have. I say, Good for you! BUT??
Is company "A"'s 76a wheel just as good as company "B"'s? Are you sure? What other factor goes into the wheels that we all buy? Sure, you take what your buddies are using at the rink. But??? Why do you? Just because they say its "the bomb"?? Is it the chemical makeup of the wheel that turns you on? WHY?? Isn't the true measurement of a wheel the duromater rating? NO?? Then what?
Of course, you have a bunch of different surfaces you say that one call play on. TRUE. I agree that there is probably not a wheel out there that is good on all surfaces. But?? I am sure that sacrifices must be made so that you don't have to buy 8 differents sets of wheels for the 8 different surfaces that you play on.
SO what is the determining factor?? Why can company "A" make a wheel for say $10 that has a rating of 78a and company "B" makes a 78a for $3?? You say, the wear of the wheel? or it just rolls better? or???
Now I see that PRIME WHEELS has come out with I would suppose (according to them atleast) the "space age" materials that we have all been missing! I guess at $9-$10 they should include part of the space ship eh?? (joking of course)
What determines the HIGH cost of certain wheels with the same durometer? NAME BRAND??
Just what is the perfomance factor in a roller wheel? What REALLY makes "A" better than "B"??
Durability is important of course. But??? How do you get durability out of 2 wheels with the same rating? I would suppose it would be the compound of the wheels. But???
Don't you think that a company would want there wheel to last just a bit longer than another companies? Now, don't get me wrong. I know that wheel manufacturers don't want there wheels to last too long, or how would they keep selling to us that wear out wheels fast?
And...this is just thoughts on my brain. No "wheels cost too much for me" crying here. I just wanted to start some discussion. I was bored tonight okay? hahaha.
Anyways.. I think this is a good subject for a college kid to look into eh? Well.. this was alot longer than I thought. Well.. get those replies going! laters, j-bo

[Justin]

I use round rocks with bundles of toothpicks to hold them in my chassis. You can usually find them out in your garden or down by the stream.


Sincerely?
Justin 'Yabba Dabba Doo' Nazarenko
IHC




http://www.inlinehockeycentral.com/images/justin.jpg

[lhi]

What would be interesting to find out is actually how many wheel companies have their wheels poured at the exact same facility. There are different 10 companies right now I can think of off the top of my head that are fairly well known in roller hockey right now. Do each of those companies have their own facility for pouring the wheels?

[sk8man]

Why are there so many wheel types ? - In a word marketing.

As with many products wheels are priced on a "percieved value" basis, not a cost plus basis.

The actual cost of manufacturing a wheel wouldn't be much more than $1 for a hi-tech dual pour model.

I buy blems (they have air bubbles) from a large manufacturer at .25 each. I would suspect that this probably their actual material cost (hub plus urethane).

Sure there may be some variations in cost, metal hub, kevlar hub, whatever hub, but I don't think the actual cost would be much past $1.

Also many of the wheel companies buy in the hubs from elsewhere, get someone else to pour them, and then slap their name on them.

So if I can give a wheel a slick look, cool name and rad logo and then sell it for $10, that's great for me.

If company X brings out such a wheel, then company Y has to respond or risk market share.

Like or not, skating is a fashion business, and just because the hottest wheel this year is purple, it doesn't mean it will be next year.

In terms of different wheel types - matching the wheel to the surface is everything. A wheel that's good for concrete ain't going to be great on sports court or wood. A lot of players will mix several wheel types to get the exact feel /performance they want.

Urethane - like many plastics is part black magic, part science. There are infinite variations that can be made by varying compositions, temperatures, molding times, even colour. Clear wheels will outlast coloured ones, as the dye is an additive and weakens the mix slightly.

Players tend to find a wheel they like and stick to it. Also I think wheel companies are realisign the fact that there are too many similar wheels. Cases in point. Both Hyper and Volcanix (to name two) seem to cutting back on models as compared to previous years.

The idea of a "universal wheel" sounds great, but like the everlasting lightbulb - it may be possible, but I doubt we'll ever see it. Why sell a skater one set of wheels, when I can sell him3 or 4 to suit all conditions ?

Just my two cents worth.

Hope it helps

Darrin

[Jockey1412]

I think wheels are all a matter of personal opinion. Everyone likes their own thing, and not everything works with everyone. i worked at a skate shop for 2 years, and the owner always knew about the latest and greatest technology very far in advance. So, i got to try out a lot of the new toys on the market and, to tell you the truth, nothing really impressed me. Some guys like all the new stuff, but i don't. Right now i skate on Hyper Formula G and they are the best wheels. The stick like crazy and last forever. That is my definition of a good wheel. I try to stay away from new technology because most of the time it is just a gimmick. The millennium's were supposed to revolutionize wheels, until we found out the don't last with bigger skaters. The foamies and some of the old volcanix were the same way. But none of them lasted. For me, as long as a wheel sticks decent and last long, thats all i need. On wood i use old Hyper G's and they work great. You don't need a sticky wheel for wood, you only need an indoor wheel thats still in one piece. So, just go out and find a basic wheel that you like, and make it cheap too. Mine are only $4 a wheel in a store. Stick with it and let the new fads pass. The old tried and true always works.

Dave Hanley
MSU Roller Hockey


<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by jockey1412 on 11/3/00 11:08 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

[John]

As I understand it "Durometer" is a protocol for measuring compression of material only. It measures how far a material compresses based upon a given amount of force, applied under specified conditions. Theoretically the denser the material, the less it will compress and the higher the "Durometer" rating will be.

All things being equal, theoretical physics may assume that the denser material will last longer and be less inclined to create friction. But things are seldom equal, differing compounds, specific gravity (weight), profile and hub design/rigidity will all impact actual performance.

So when you reach for your wallet, bear in mind this standard was "not" developed to indicate the performance of roller hockey wheels and as always, buyers beware.

John