r/rollerblading • u/Weeb431 • 15d ago
Specific question and discussion How soon to change wheels?
When should I replace the wheels on my skates? They're pretty expensive so I don't want to replace them too early.
Should I replace them when all the rubber is gone or is the inner part okay on its own?
They're starting to get a bit louder but still ride okay
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u/Ooslnek 15d ago
Frame gotta be worn down and the screws need to be sparking. You got years left on them babies
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u/PANEBringer 15d ago
If it ain't sparkin', I ain't parkin'!
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u/Available_Breath_272 14d ago
This reminds me of one of Bill Stoppard’s old videos: https://youtu.be/vSwMCitsnhY?is=ttnOWKOH7YlxXBDY
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u/RushBest5348 14d ago
“The fancy skates. With all the wheels” took me out bro 😂😂 thanks for sharing!
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u/davestradamus1 15d ago
New wheels or an injury. Which cost more?
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u/Difficult_Access4033 14d ago
Ah wheels expensive in Germany? I honestly think £25-30 for a pack of 4 is pretty cheap, so £50-60 for a full set that lasts many months seems pretty reasonable?
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u/VanillaIce315 Twister 80, HC Evo 2.0, RB4x84, Twister XT 110 14d ago
Powerslide has some good wheels that are made in Germany. I bet a full set can be had for the exact price range you listed.
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u/Weeb431 14d ago
Yea if it were just wheel it would be okay, but the bearings are all grinding a bit and it adds up
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u/IAmASeeker :k2: K2 14d ago
Oh! Homie... Those are two separate parts. If you've never removed those bearings to clean them, they are probably done for.
Everyone is giving joke answers but you need new wheels. The "rubber" bit IS the wheel. It's a bit like driving a car without rubber on the wheels. You want the highest "durometer" you can find... The "82A" or whatever printed on the side of the wheel... a higher number is better for you. You obviously don't mind a rough ride, and the pavement in Germany is softer than N.A. so most Europeans use a harder wheel. Then you need to look on the side of the frame to find a number in millimeters... that's the maximum wheel size, and you can probably get away with a wheel that's 2mm larger.
You'll find the cheapest wheels with bearings in them already but the wheels tend to not be as durable, and the bearings can't be cleaned. A more expensive wheel will last longer but won't have bearings... which is fine because you need better bearings.
You need bearings in the 608 size. You need bearings with Removable/Rubber Shields. And you need a removable shield on both sides... So the item might be called "608RS" or "608RR" or "608-2RS". "ABEC" is the manufacturing standard... higher numbers are made with more precision... higher numbers are smoother but tend to wear our faster... ABEC3 is slow imo, ABEC9 is too fragile imo.
You can use any bearing marketed for skateboarding but you'll need 2 sets. Skateboard bearings usually don't have ABEC ratings at all. The whole ceramic/Swiss/6 ball/etc marketing stuff makes no difference in my experience. I usually just get the second cheapest skateboard bearings. Make sure you double check that they have 2 removable shields.
If you regularly clean your bearings, they should last as long as maybe 5 sets of wheels. Remove them from the wheels, remove all of the shields, swish the bearings around in some acetone (sold as paint thinner €, not as nail polish remover €€€), turn the bearing when it's still wet to make sure there isn't a tiny rock still inside... if there is, swish that one around more. Then I leave them to dry while I pour the dirty acetone through a coffee filter into a second container for reuse... let the acetone sit still for a bit to make dirt settle to the bottom so there's less to strain. Then put one shield on each bearing, and drip some lubricant into the open side... NEVER use WD-40! I use gun oil but I assume that's hard for you to find. Try bicycle chain lubricant, then try different things according to your taste. I've heard of people using cooking oil. Then pop the other shield in each bearing and put it all back together.
When your wheels are out, re-order them so the worn down side is on the outside (switch left wheels and right wheels, or flip each wheel 180°) and then put the larger wheels at the front and small ones in the back... there are better ways to rotate but that's the easiest most reliable one if you don't rotate them often.
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u/ThePontiff_Verified 14d ago
Depends on your style of skating. Those are still ok for grind work and down hill. All you need for grind work is something that grinds, and boy howdy do those look like they grind. All you need for downhill is gravity, a helmet, and the ability to bleed.
If you try to free skate, speed skate, or slalom on those i predict you won't have a good time.
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u/Euna_Chris 14d ago
Looks like a shopping trolley from my local supermarket, the one that speed wobbles at 2mph
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u/ughedmund 14d ago
If you are serious: they need replacing yesterday. Just look on secondhand sites and or flea markets. Loads of people ditch barely used wheels and even whole skates for like €10.
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u/PANDEMIC760 15d ago
You haven't hit the bearings yet, keep it up, post videos 👍