The best outdoor hockey wheels are made from the highest quality materials and are constructed using advanced manufacturing processes. Roller hockey wheels typically range in size from 72 mm to 80 mm in diameter. Always replace your wheels with the equivalent size wheel to ensure optimal performance of your skates.
Durometer
The durometer of a wheel is a measure of its hardness. When playing outdoor hockey on concrete or asphalt, use a durable wheel with a relatively high hardness. The best outdoor wheels to use range between 80A and 84A on the durometer scale. Softer wheels provide increased grip, but wear out extremely fast outdoors. Avoid them for outdoor use.
Wheel Configuration
There are several wheel configurations used for inline hockey skate chassis setups. The most widely used setup -- used by Bauer and Mission skates as of January 2010 -- is the Hi-Lo setup with two larger wheels on the back and two smaller wheels in front. A common setup is two 80 mm wheels in the rear and two 76 mm wheels in front. This wheel configuration allows for a good mix of speed, acceleration and turning ability.
Manufacturing Process
Starting in 2010, inline roller hockey skate wheel manufacturers began to change how wheels were made. The most advanced innovation is the quad-pour manufacturing process that combines four layers of urethane for improved grip and speed on the street or indoors. These wheels contain a harder urethane material on the outside of the wheel for increased top speed potential and improved durability. Softer urethane is used on the inside for increased grip.
Hockey Wheel Manufacturers
The best individual roller hockey wheels will vary by player based on your weight, playing style and personal preference. However, the top inline hockey wheel manufacturers remain the same. According to HockeyGiant.com, some of the top brands include Labeda, Rink Rat, Red Star, Hyper and Kuzak. The quality of inline hockey wheels are directly related to their price; as of January 2011, the best inline hockey wheels cost $10 or more per wheel.
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