Quad skating on asphalt might not be your first choice for rolling around the neighborhood, but it sometimes is your only choice. You can enhance your asphalt skating pleasure by picking the best-suited set of wheels for the job. Regularly cleaning and oiling your wheels is also a must on asphalt.
Wheel Hardness
Wheel hardness, also known as durometer, is your first consideration for picking the ideal quad wheels for asphalt. Durometer is measured by a series of numbers, with the higher numbers indicating a harder wheel. Outdoor wheels are generally softer than indoor wheels because the softness lets them absorb shock and roll more smoothly over uneven surfaces. Ideal wheels for asphalt will have a durometer between 78A and 84A, with the softer ones better for asphalt that is bouncy and uneven.
Size
The size of a wheel plays a part in its performance. In wheels of the same hardness, the ones that have the biggest diameter and narrowest width will go faster than the smaller, fatter ones. On the flip side, smaller wheels are less likely to slip and wider wheels offer better stability. Most outdoor quad skate wheels measure 62 mm in diameter and 32 mm wide. This size wheel will not make you an asphalt speed demon but will keep you stable enough to counter any bumps and lumps in the surface.
Technology
Quad skate wheels usually are made from urethane, a durable, synthetic material that stands up to the abuse it's sure to get on the bottom of a roller skate. Lower-end urethane wheels use TDI technology, Lead Jammer Skates notes, while the higher-end use MDI technology. TDI is cheaper, with TDI wheel skates usually costing less than $100 and MDI wheels costing more. Technology is a huge consideration for quad asphalt skaters because the MDI wheels are far less likely to pick up the dirt and grime you are sure to encounter.
Bearings
No wheel of any sort is complete without a set of bearings inside it. While bearings will not play a part on your overall speed, they will determine how long your wheel continues to roll after your initial skating motion. Bearings receive ratings from the Annular Bearing Engineers' Committee, with higher numbers denoting higher quality. Because asphalt quad skating is going to bog down your wheels in the first place, opting for a higher quality bearing can help counteract the bogging.
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