Inline hockey players use the durometer numbers of a hockey wheel to determine the optimal wheel choice depending upon several factors, including the playing surface and body weight of the player. While personal preference plays a role in the selection of hockey wheels, generally a softer wheel is the ideal choice for indoor play while a harder wheel provides added durability for playing on outdoor surfaces.
The Facts
The hardness of inline hockey wheels are measured using a durometer score that usually falls between 74 and 95 with the lower numbers being the softer wheels and the higher numbers representing a harder wheel ideal for outdoor use and greater durability. Additionally, each durometer number is followed by an "A", which is the scale used for measuring the hardness of the rubber material. The A scale is one of three scales, including type D and type OO, and all inline hockey wheels use the type A rubber material since it is a softer material ideal for the manufacturing of hockey wheels.
Significance
The hardness of your inline hockey wheels can play a significant role in how your wheels perform on various types of playing surfaces. For instance, you will want a much harder wheel when playing on outdoor surfaces, such as pavement or concrete. On the other hand, you will want a much softer wheel for playing indoors on sport court or a similar type of flooring. A softer wheel provides improved grip on indoor flooring, but will wear out quickly on outdoor surfaces.
Function
The durometer is a measure of how hard a material is, such as a hockey wheel. This measurement is used to determine the type of wheel that is the ideal choice for you depending upon your body weight, playing surface and overall preference. Inline hockey players may opt for wheels on the lower end of the durometer scale for indoor play, while outdoor players usually go with the more durable wheels on the higher end of the durometer scale.
Performance
Soft wheels and hard wheels offer varying levels of performance and advantages depending upon the player and the playing surface. According to SkateLog.com, softer wheels will give you a smoother ride and grip better, but too soft of a wheel may prove to be sluggish and slow for heavier players. A harder wheel -- 78A or higher -- may ride a bit rougher and provide less grip, but they tend to be faster and a better choice for heavier players.
Wheel Configurations
Inline hockey skates feature various wheel size configurations depending upon the skate manufacturer and chassis being used. A common wheel configuration as of 2010 is the Hi-Lo setup where two different sized wheels are used, such as two 80mm wheels in the back and two 76mm wheels in the front. This type of setup offers greater maneuverability and turning. Another wheel configuration used in some inline hockey skates is the one-up configuration where you have three different sized wheels per skate. This setup is again designed for increased turning and quicker starts/stops. Either soft or hard wheels can be used with any inline hockey chassis as long as the size of the wheel fits.
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