Which stroller with which wheels is better to choose? Stroller frame design

Wheels on a baby stroller - how to choose the right one?

The main criteria when choosing wheels are the season in which they will be used for the longest time and the quality of the road surface.
Now, let's take a closer look at their varieties.

Wheel material for baby stroller

According to the type of material, all wheels are divided into 3 types: rubber, inflatable rubber and non-inflatable rubber.
Rubber wheels the lightest of all, which reduces the overall weight of the stroller. They are also puncture-proof and have good wear resistance. Suitable for all types of roads, but in winter they will perform worse than rubber inflatable ones. The downside is not very good shock absorption, which is compensated by shock absorption on the frame itself.
Rubber inflatable wheels give a softer ride on the road, so your baby can sleep peacefully while walking. But they are heavier and not at all protected from punctures; they also need to be pumped up from time to time. If damaged, inflatable wheels can be taken to a tire shop or simply bought new ones. It is best to use them on the road without sharp objects and stones, as well as in winter, because they cope well with driving on snow.
Rubber not inflatable, differ from the previous type in that they do not need to be inflated, since they do not have a chamber and the entire internal space is filled with foam rubber. Therefore, they are puncture resistant and are perfect for any type of road.

Rubber wheel Inflatable rubber wheel Non-inflatable rubber wheel

Stroller frame design

There are two types of frames on baby strollers: classic and with swivel wheels.
Classic frame has four large non-swivel wheels that are securely locked in one position. This design allows you to drive on any road, and is also recommended for use in the winter season. It can cope with snow, mud and curbs that are often encountered along the way. But at the same time, the maneuverability of the stroller is inferior to the second type.
maneuvers well and looks more compact. The wheels themselves can be fixed. The disadvantage of rotary ones is that they are more fragile due to their design and are more difficult to cope with obstacles.

Classic frame Frame with swivel wheels

Advice from the store:
The standard answer to the question “Which wheels are best to buy a stroller with?” unfortunately no. As written above, the choice depends on weather conditions, road surface (or lack thereof), as well as your budget. Once you decide on these points, choosing the type of wheels will be much easier, and our consultants will always help you!

Table 1. Comparison of wheels for baby strollers by material

The fashion for the most individual means of transportation – roller skates – is gaining momentum. More and more newcomers are joining the ranks of roller skaters and learning to “steer” on their own two feet. The speed of learning depends not only on personal talents, but also on the choice... there are not only rollers... but the right roller wheels.

Interest in the diameter of a rollerblade wheel arose relatively recently, after a year of learning to skate, and quite suddenly. Having bought cheaper roller skates at one time, I saved a relative amount of money and spent... a huge amount of time in a vain attempt to enjoy skating. Having gone out for a ride with a friend the day before, I noticed that to cover the same distance I spend three times more strength and energy than he does. Attributing this to his training and strength, she shared her observation with a friend. To which I received an answer that stunned me... it turns out that he spends virtually no effort on developing and maintaining speed, he doesn’t shake at all on uneven asphalt, and he’s not afraid of accidentally falling branches.

Of course, I guessed that the better the wheels, the more efficient the ride. However, she naively believed that good things were reserved for professionals, while simple models would do for a beginner. But, as it turned out in practice, just a beginner needs wheels that will allow him to master the world of roller skates more quickly and pleasantly. And the main criterion here is the diameter of the wheels.

It is measured in millimeters and indicated on the wheels themselves. Having visited a sufficient number of sites in search of information, I found out that the optimal diameter for beginners is from 76 to 82 millimeters. My wheels could only boast of 65 millimeters. From the range indicated above, I suggest choosing the largest wheel diameter - 82 millimeters. More, of course, also exist. But you shouldn’t be overzealous - wheels of 84 millimeters and more are used by those who prefer high-speed running and people who are experienced in skating.

For us, the magical 82 millimeters will help us feel the real joy of riding, look not only under our feet, but also around us, not feel small potholes and unevenness of the asphalt, and spend less effort on acceleration.

By the way, the “bigger is better” principle also applies because polyurethane wheels are especially actively worn out when they begin to be used. And they will lose a couple of millimeters in the first two months of working for you.

By the way, about polyurethane. An excellent invention, in no way comparable to plastic and other materials. Modern roller manufacturers use this material of varying hardness to give their products different qualities. Finding the hardness of wheels is also very simple - it is written on the wheel, next to the diameter, in the form of a two-digit number with the letter A. There is no need to pay special attention to the letter; it is invariably present on all wheels and means the unit of measurement.

A hard wheel will go faster than its softer counterpart, this is its main and only advantage. It is extremely sensitive to small roughness and twigs, and even on turns it can skid and the risk of falling increases - after all, the smoother and stiffer the wheel, the less its grip on the asphalt surface. Here, choose for yourself what is more convenient. The comfort level hardness for beginners ranges from 78A to 80A.

Keep in mind that skate wheels are not durable at all. If you ride three times a week all summer (with an average weight of about 60 kg), by the end of the season the wheels will be in poor condition. This is why purchasing rollers that allow for wheel changing is so important.

By the way, there is one little trick to make the wheels last longer. After a month and a half of use, they can be turned over, that is, unscrewed, turned the other side (inside out) and screwed back.

Let's summarize - we need rollers with large polyurethane wheels, quite soft. The priorities are set, all that remains is to go to the store to buy roller skates.

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If the wheels on your roller skates are worn out and you don’t know where to buy roller skate wheels and which ones are better, then this article will help you quickly navigate and understand which roller skate wheels are right for you. Each wheel is equipped with two bearings and one bushing.

When replacing wheels, it is not always necessary to change the bearings, so it is better to consult with knowledgeable people first. If you don’t ride through puddles or in rainy weather, avoid sand and don’t jump, then the bearings can last quite a long time and outlast more than one set of new wheels. Recently, almost all wheels for roller skates are made for standard 608 bearings. That is, regardless of the manufacturer of the roller skates themselves, you can choose any suitable set of wheels and bearings for them.

In this article we will talk exclusively about wheels, their characteristics and properties.

In addition to color and design, roller skate wheels differ in several main parameters:

1) Diameter and stiffness.

Indicated on the wheel itself. It looks something like this 80mm/84A. This sign indicates that this is a wheel with a diameter of 80mm and a hardness of 84A.

a) Diameter– determines the size of the wheel. The larger the wheels, the faster they will roll. Using this parameter, you can determine for which riding style the wheels are suitable.

Large diameter wheels are used in running models and children's scooters (90mm, 100mm, 105mm, 110mm). Wheels of medium and small diameter (72mm, 74mm, 76mm, 80mm, 82mm, 84mm) are used in models for freeskating, slalom, fitness skating, hockey, and also in children's models. Small diameter wheels (less than 70mm) are used in models for aggressive skating and in small sizes of children's skates.

b) Stiffness wheels or density, measured in units of A and determines the quality of adhesion to the surface and the resistance of the wheels to wear. Wheels with a hardness of 78A, 80A and 82A are considered soft. Used for simple fitness models, models for beginners and in children's videos. Medium hardness and hard wheels start at 83A.

Soft wheel 76mm/82A

The most popular wheel hardness in recent years is 84A, 85A and 86A. In aggressive models, the wheels are even more rigid and have a small diameter. Hard wheels roll more, resulting in higher speeds. Soft wheels cling to the surface better, but the speed is so high. Driving on soft wheels is comparable to driving a car with lowered wheels; on hard wheels, on the contrary, with inflated ones.

3) Wheel profile- the profile can be elliptical (sharper edge) or round (rounded edge) Sooner or later, any wheels acquire a round profile, because with regular rearrangement they wear out evenly. Therefore, rarely does anyone look at the profile. Although objectively, wheels with a round profile are more suitable for the FSK style and, as a rule, FSK models are equipped with such wheels.

4) Hub type— the wheel hub is the plastic base of the wheel into which the bearing is inserted. The smaller the hub, the better the wheels. This is from a savings point of view. Indeed, in this case, there is more polyurethane and this means that you will ride on such wheels longer until they wear out. Again, wheels with a small hub handle better on uneven surfaces and soften the shock well when landing after a jump.

Wheel with small hub

Large plastic hubs are only good for large diameter wheels (more than 80mm), which are used for running models. Such wheels are lighter and allow you to pick up speed faster, and are also more stable while driving; there is practically no risk that the polyurethane will move away from the hub. It's hard to imagine a 110mm wheel with a small hub.

Wheel with large hub for running rollers

To choose the right wheels for roller skates, you need to ask yourself a few questions:

1) What is your weight?

2) What is your riding style?

3) What surface do you ride on?

4) Do you want to go fast or not so fast?

5) What is the maximum wheel diameter that can be installed on your roller model?

By answering these questions, you can easily determine which wheels may suit you.

I will try to give brief advice on these 5 questions:

1) Weight- the more weight, the stiffer wheels you will need. For roller skates weighing more than 70 kg, wheels with a hardness of at least 83A are recommended. This does not mean that you cannot ride on 80A, but they will wear out faster. If this is a beginner skater who often falls and literally takes his first steps, perhaps for the first time it is better to limit himself to wheels with a hardness of 80A. For small children, you yourself understand how unimportant the rigidity of the wheels is. The weight is small...

2) Riding style- if this is a fast and dynamic style, you will need the most rigid wheels, again no less than 83A. As a rule, stiffer wheels are used in slalom, roller hockey on asphalt (soft ones are used on special surfaces) and FSK style. Recently, wheels have been produced according to riding styles. FSK wheels, slalom wheels, speedskating wheels and so on. That is, with the same parameters, for example 80mm/84A, wheels for FSK and wheels for fitness skating can have completely different performance characteristics and roll differently.

3) Covering— if it’s asphalt, the harder the wheel, the better it will roll on the asphalt and take longer to wear out. But too hard wheels can sometimes seem unpleasant. It's like overinflated car wheels. The car bounces on bumps. When choosing wheel stiffness, be sure to think about where you plan to ride.

Matter wheels are the optimal balance of soft feeling and high strength wheels. That is, with a fairly comfortable ride (as on soft cushions), the wheels are very rigid and resistant to wear. And this is not advertising, it is what it is.

If you ride indoors, then the stiffness of the wheels is not so important, although I personally prefer wheels with medium stiffness. Again, this also depends on the covering in the hall, is it polymer or concrete or something else... Here you need to select the wheels. Although, as a rule, the same wheels on which you successfully ride on asphalt are suitable.

4) Required speed— the speed is determined not only by the bearings but also by the wheels. The most important thing is the diameter. The larger the wheels, the higher the speed. The better the bearings, the higher the speed. To some extent, rigidity can also affect speed, it depends on the coating.

5) Maximum wheel diameter, which may fit your rollers is usually indicated on the frame. This inscription looks something like this: max 80mm , and means that for your skates, the maximum allowable wheel size is 80mm. The type of rigidity does not play a role here at all. If there is nothing like that at all, and the wheels are worn to such an extent that you can no longer see what kind of wheels were there, then it is best to come to the store with the rollers, or search on the Internet for a similar model and find out the characteristics of the standard wheels.

I also want to draw your attention to the manufacturer. It is very important that the wheels are of famous brands. Such as: Matter(Undecover)— the best wheels in my opinion. Hyper, Giro, Seba, Labeda.

Powerslide, Fila and Rollerblade make good wheels, but they will be worse than the wheels of the above brands, and therefore cheaper. Prices vary from $25 for 4 wheels to $50-70 for 4 wheels. And I would not advise adults to install cheap wheels. Firstly, the ride will not be so pleasant, and secondly, during the season you will have to change 2-3 sets of wheels, or maybe more. A set of more expensive wheels will last much longer and will be more enjoyable to ride on.

If you have any comments or anything to add, please do so. The selection of wheels is a delicate matter. If you have any doubts regarding the installation or purchase of certain wheels for roller skates, please write or call.

I’ll help you buy what you need and install it for free if there are any difficulties with it.

Imagine that you are choosing wheels for your new car at a car dealership as an additional option. And so, you have the opportunity to choose 17-inch, 18-inch and 19-inch wheels. What will you choose?

Don't rush to choose. This is a very important decision, since it will directly affect not only performance, but also comfort and noise levels in the car.

Unfortunately, when a dilemma arises about which car to buy, as a rule, another one arises, with wheels. We cannot test drive a car with different wheel diameters. That is, before purchasing, we cannot determine with which wheels the car will perform better on the road.

In order for each of us to understand how different wheel sizes affect handling, comfort, efficiency, smoothness, etc., the authors of the British Tire Review website conducted interesting tests of wheels with different diameters.

For the test, they took a Volkswagen Golf GTI and tested it on wheels of different diameters. The test took place at the Goodyear test track in the south of France.

To make the wheel comparison fair, the experts used Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 tires from three different diameters, i.e. from 17-inch, 18-inch and 19-inch wheels.

Then the car, on each type of wheel, underwent six different tests on the test track.

You can view detailed test results on their website.

Below, you can watch a video with details of an unusual test of different wheel sizes installed on one car.

It is worth noting that according to the test results, both on wet and dry asphalt, the car showed excellent results on all wheel sizes. As experts note, all three types of wheels showed excellent results in the aquaplaning test, in the braking test on different types of asphalt, etc.

As a result, experts found that the difference in using different wheel diameters is noticeable only in handling and power. But only a professional will notice this.

Which wheels are better: Big or small?

So. Which wheels to choose then: larger or smaller?

Judging by the test, it all depends on what you want. For example, in what conditions will you often drive? If you live in a region where the roads are not so good and there may be frequent precipitation of various kinds, then, as experts advise, it is better to take 17-inch ones, which, during testing on the Volkswagen Golf GTI, showed more predictable handling on wet asphalt.

With smaller wheels, tests have shown that the driver experiences better ride comfort, as the height of the tires complements the performance of the suspension. True, there is not much, but, as experts have noted, increasing the softness of the suspension slightly reduces the very stability of the car at speed.

On the contrary, 19-inch wheels and 19-inch tires made the car’s suspension stiffer compared to 17-inch wheels, and as a result, there is a significant decrease in driving comfort.

As for noise, the winner was the 18-inch wheels, which during testing showed themselves to be the quietest compared to others.

As a result, after testing all wheel sizes, experts came to a unanimous opinion that the ideal purchase would be 18-inch wheels, which have advantages over 17 and 19 inches.

This article talks about what types of roller skate wheels there are.

First of all, in 99.5% of cases, roller wheels are made of polyurethane, which was first used for roller wheels in 1979, and has since become the main material :)))

The material from which roller skate wheels are made

Once upon a time, roller wheels were made from anything, even from exotic materials - even hard wood (like boxwood) and metal. However, the former wear out very quickly, and the latter strongly transmit vibration to the feet. The use of polyurethane has become a small revolution, since its qualities combine impact resistance, abrasion resistance and low rolling resistance. Such wheels hold the road better, are used for a long time and make riding enjoyable :))

What you need to know about roller skate wheels

What you need to know when choosing wheels - after all, there are many of them, colored and not so colored, different and all sorts. How to figure this out?

Meanwhile, everything is not so complicated:

With all their diversity, roller wheels have two main characteristics: diameter(size) and hardness(rigidity). Here there are some properties shell wheels - which rolls on the asphalt.

So let's start with the labeling.

Wheels from good (white) manufacturers: K2, Rollerblade, Fila, Hyper, Gyro, Senate, Kryptonics, Labeda, etc., except for the logo of the company itself Always are marked size and hardness. This allows you to at least somehow navigate when selecting wheels.

Hardness is designated by the “durometer index”, this is the main indicator of the characteristics of the wheel; on the wheels themselves this indicator is indicated by a two-digit number: from 72A to 93A - the higher this number, the stiffer the wheel. Letter A simply indicates which hardness scale is used (scale A).

The sizes, materials and design features of the wheels are directly related to the riding style. So, styles: fitness, speed skating, freeskate, aggressive hockey

Wheels for fitness and speed skating

Wheels from 70 to 100 millimeters are used, this is the most numerous group of wheels! Standard range of diameters for these wheels 76-78-80-84-88-90-100 mm.

As a rule, it is more convenient to use wheels of the largest diameter outdoors - of course, as far as the frame of your skate allows. In rooms where space is limited, wheels with a slightly smaller diameter are more convenient. It also makes sense to buy the largest wheels because a larger wheel also has a longer service life - the wheels wear out unevenly: in 2-3 days the first 2-3 mm of the wheel size are removed, and then the wear slows down; Therefore, if you buy 84 mm, then the real size, which will then last for a long time, is 80 mm. !!! Racing wheels of large diameters can be equipped with a hub for either a regular size bearing - 608, or for micro bearings 688.

The hardness of fitness wheels is from 72A to 85A. The most common wheels are with a hardness of 82A - they provide the best combination of traction and comfort on poor surfaces. On average, for a person weighing 70-75 kg and riding 2-3 times a week, one set of wheels is enough for a season. When choosing wheels, you need to take into account your weight - a person with a decent weight (more than 80 kg) is better off taking harder wheels.

Roller Hockey Wheels

For this roller game, unique wheels are made - in general they are similar to ordinary ones (for fitness), but they are distinguished by a very durable cast hub without spokes or with thick short spokes: rigidity and strength come first here.

The size of hockey wheels is from 59 to 80 mm, hardness is from 75 to 83. In theory, the wheels are selected for a specific surface and the size of the site. In addition to hockey itself, such wheels can be recommended for fans of jumping and heavy roller skaters.

Freeskate wheels

Similar in shape to hockey wheels, freeskate with its jumping also requires a very durable cast hub without spokes. The only difference is in the greater rigidity and less tenacity of these wheels - if in hockey the wheels must “hold” their owner during any turns, then in freeskating slides are very much valued - sliding on wheels, and in them the excessive tenacity of the wheels will only interfere

Wheels for heavy roller skates

For heavy people (more than 80 kg), and for rollerbladers with a hard style of skating, there is a problem with hubs breaking, because of this they often have to throw away an almost new wheel; Therefore, in such cases, it is better to choose wheels for people “with weight”, or ones that are similar in design to hockey ones. The choice of harder wheels for such people is also supported by the following circumstance: the greater the weight of the roller, the more the soft wheel “sticks” to the asphalt, resulting in accelerated wear and a noticeable decrease in speed.

Wheels for aggressive rollers

The strongest wheels are made for stunt skating, their sizes range from 53 to 64 mm. Recently, the difference between ramp and street wheels has practically disappeared. But still, on city spots it is more convenient to ride on small wheels: 53-54 mm. On small wheels it is more convenient to slide along the railing (there is plenty of space on the frame for the pipe) and a more stable landing when jumping.

The hub (Core) of aggressive wheels is always made solid (without spokes), this makes it maximally resistant to shock loads. Despite the apparent simplicity of the design, different manufacturers of aggressive wheels profess their own ideological approaches to their manufacture, so the wheels are still slightly different.

Aggressive wheels come with small and large diameter hubs. For example, the companies "Senate" and "MOM USA" profess the idea of ​​​​large hubs - 32 and 34 mm. In theory, a larger hub is stiffer and stronger, but ultimately it all depends on the quality of the materials. Unfortunately, cracked wheels can be found with both types of hubs. Therefore, it cannot be said that wheels with large hubs definitely better.

Marking

Real aggressive wheels, in addition to the manufacturer's designation, always have size and hardness markings. You definitely need to pay attention to this; Oddly enough, there are no such markings on the left Chinese wheels.

For greater convenience of riding on the railings, there are special small and very hard wheels - 44-47 mm / 100A (or 50R - this is about 2 times harder than 100A). They are placed in the middle of the frame - in place of the 2nd and 3rd wheels - then in the center of the frame there is “very” a lot of space for the railing. It’s just not very convenient to ride with such a wheel setup, but for slides it’s “just right.”

For skating on a ramp (vert), larger wheels with a diameter of 59-64 mm are more convenient: On a ramp, larger wheels are more convenient: larger wheels > greater speed. Some manufacturers make wheels with iron hubs - such wheels will be fastest on the ramp, since the iron hub does not deform when driving along the ramp and gives the wheels more than nominal rigidity while maintaining good grip.

Aggressive wheels also have such a concept as “Pro-model wheels”.

Those. A series of wheels with the name of the pro-rider is produced. The parameters of these wheels reflect, in theory, this Pro's personal preferences for wheel size and hardness. Such wheels, as a rule, cost more than ordinary ones; their quality, like that of simple, “unnamed” ones, varies.

Prologue.

A little general information about wheels for all styles - careful reading of this will certainly allow you to avoid mistakes when selecting and purchasing wheels.

The roller wheel consists of two integral parts - the hub and the outer polyurethane layer, which is in contact with the road.

The hub is the rigid “core” of the wheel, and it is into it that the bearings are inserted; The hub material is much stronger and harder than the outer polyurethane shell - the hub should not be deformed from loads when riding. The usual hub material is nylon thermoplastics of various types. Light metal alloys and carbon fiber composites for hubs are used extremely rarely - only in highly specialized wheels (racing). The designs of hubs are very different, both in terms of the number of spokes, their shape and parameters.

The hub of a fitness wheel is large in size and is made with spokes. The hub is specially calculated, because it has a lot of tasks:

• ensure rigidity and directional stability of the wheel
• remove heat from bearings and shell
• it should be quite light

Our Chinese comrades, succumbing to the temptation to save money, often try to build wheels without hubs at all. It's horrible.

New wheels in a store, other things being equal, may differ profile. He can be:

• pointed at racing wheels
• semicircular wheels for fitness, hockey and freeskate
• flattened or completely flat for aggressive wheels

Theoretically, a wheel with a narrow profile has a small contact patch with the road and, accordingly, low rolling friction. In my opinion, the “choice” of a wheel profile when purchasing them is a matter of personal preference. In a few days, depending on the driving style, any profile changes its shape to “individual sharpening”. The exception is racing wheels: before important races, the wheels are ground on a machine to give them the most advantageous profile. By the way, you can tell a lot about a person and his riding style based on the profile of the wheels he has driven.