Ripping RinkRat Hornet Wheels

**CCMVector** · 03-15-2008, 11:57 PM

My CCM Vector 8.0 skates came standard with the black Hornet wheels from CCM's official supplier, RinkRat. These wheels were very grippy (which is the most important thing that I look for in a wheel), but made of a very soft compound (76A, but it felt more like 74A). I'm a very aggressive skater, but I only weigh 130 lbs, so I was shocked when the urethane/rubber outer part one of the rear wheels completely ripped apart from the hub during normal recreational skating!!! This was the most catastrophic wheel failure I'd ever seen, and no one at my rink had seen anything like it either. To my dismay, this soon happened to my other rear wheel as well, and the other 6 wheels began to show signs of significant wear. I contacted the supplier (his name is "Mike Hunt," I'm not joking), and he generously sent me a replacement set of wheels ($10.00 each)! However, the rear wheels continued to fail until I was finally forced to switch to the harder Hotshot wheels (78A), sacrificing that grip I loved so much. I wish I could post pictures (I sent pictures and actual wheels to Mr. Hunt) because I think you would all be shocked to see the damage. I'm talking about a wheel that's been split or torn in half!

Has anyone else had this problem with these or any other wheels? Is this normal under any circumstances?

**InlineMBA** · 03-21-2008, 11:57 AM

Rink Rat Wheels - Blowing Apart, nothing new.

My son had 3 Rink Rat Hot Shot Wheels blow apart, at the worst possible times - during games, at the 2007 NARCh Winternationals in AZ. Since then he has switched to Revision Wheels and he hasn't had a problem since.

The first time this happened to him (well before 2007 NARCh Winternationals), Rink Rat was nice enough to give him a new set of wheels. When the 3 wheels chunked - I couldn't get anyone at Rink Rat to give me the time of day.

Steve Inge - ROXBURY 8

**SpiderRat** · 03-21-2008, 12:58 PM

I've been wearing RinkRat wheels for 5 years now, and have blown out only one. And that was because I skated to my car between games. Perhaps he wore them on the tar. Just a thought.

**mrrinkrat15** · 03-21-2008, 02:23 PM

First off thanks for posting your concerns, I am aware of the old style hornets having issues and have seen it in the past. It was a hub issue and we have since corrected it! Moving forward you shouldn't see an issue.

Inge, You make me laugh!

everyone knows if they have an issue to give me a call and i will do my best to fix the issue! Cell number 401-578-4231

If I miss some one or they fall through the cracks I eventually get to them.

Sorry or the issues boys (they happen from time to time)but you can be rest assured that Rink Rat wheels are the industry leader in both performance and durability. Proven over the past 5 years!

Don't hesitate to call if you have an issue!

Mike

**overridex** · 03-21-2008, 02:33 PM

I've been wearing rink rat wheels for 3 or 4 years now, and I've had my share of them rip off the core leaving me with half a wheel, mostly the hornets though I believe I've had it happen with a hotshot as well.

That said, it used to happen with the hyper trinity wheels I used before rink rat, and I think it may just be the price you pay with the multi-pour/durameter wheels that give such a good combination of grip and speed.

It's almost always been the rear wheel that goes if it goes completely and isn't just a small chunk missing for me. It's important to rotate your wheel positions so you aren't leaving the same wheel in the rear of the same skate too long, every few weeks move it to the other skate in a different position. Otherwise, you may also want to skate with a slightly harder wheel in the back and the more grippy wheels elsewhere on the skate as the back wheel takes a lot of abuse when stopping hard at speed.

**InlineMBA** · 03-21-2008, 03:38 PM

Skating on tar ? ? ? Nah, only skated on sport court.

Before Rink Rats he used Labada Dynastys and they never blew up, just tore down the center of the wheel. Before that, it was Labeda Millenniums and they never blew up either, they just plain wore out fast.

Steve Inge - ROXBURY 8

**RichardGraham** · 03-22-2008, 01:21 AM

Hi Mike,

That's the proactive approach I like to see companies take on Inline Hockey Central. Great job. Thank you. I'm sure that reasonable IHC readers will appreciate it.

**InlineMBA** · 03-22-2008, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by mrrinkrat15

First off thanks for posting your concerns, I am aware of the old style hornets having issues and have seen it in the past. It was a hub issue and we have since corrected it! Moving forward you shouldn't see an issue.

Inge, You make me laugh!

everyone knows if they have an issue to give me a call and i will do my best to fix the issue! Cell number 401-578-4231

If I miss some one or they fall through the cracks I eventually get to them.

Sorry or the issues boys (they happen from time to time)but you can be rest assured that Rink Rat wheels are the industry leader in both performance and durability. Proven over the past 5 years!

Don't hesitate to call if you have an issue!

Mike

Mike - I sure am surprised by your response!

I spoke to you in AZ at the NARCh 2007 Winternationals, in fact I gave you the first two wheels that blew apart but never saw you again in AZ, even though your booth was set up and I stopped by quite a few times. I also have copies of all the emails I sent you (I very rarely delete emails) and I never heard back from you. I'd be more than happy to email you copies of all my correspondence.

I thought I responded to the problem reasonably.

If that makes you laugh, so be it.

I guess we just "fell through the cracks". Not a problem though, he's very happy with the Revision wheels he has. I guess, everything happens for a reason.

Thanks,

Steve Inge - ROXBURY 8

**eXpress19** · 03-22-2008, 11:53 PM

I had a brand new set of Rink Rat Hornets, the yellow ones, about 6 months ago... After the 2nd day of having them the hub blew out, needless to say my dad sent an email about the one wheel blowing out and Mike Hunt sent me a WHOLE NEW SET. Can't get much better then that. I have had these wheels for 4 months now and can say they are still in pretty good shape. I love these wheels and the fact that Mike took such good care of me just showed how much he cares about his product.

Matt Nielsen

**althoma1** · 06-22-2008, 02:07 PM

I also had some Rink Rats seperate from the Hubs on me - Rink Rat Blue Flames and 76a MB816's. I notified Rink Rat and sent some pictures and they took care of me right away - within the week I had a new set Fedexed to me. I believe the problem there was two fold - they had some early batches that had issues that were corrected in later batches and I was using wheels that were too soft for my weight.

I haven't had any problems with wheel seperation with the 78a and 80a Hot Shots I've been using this season. They've been very durable.

I think every company is going to have product defects once in a while, but based on my experience Rink Rat stands behind their products and takes care of customer issues. Dan Rielly was the one at Rink Rat who sent me the replacement wheels so quickly.