Mixing brands of wheels

thesavo · December 28th, 2016, 08:46 PM

I have a new set of Rollerblade Twister 80. They are such a step up from my second-hand K2 Exo's. They have 85a/80mm. I have read many posts, and rockering them for slalom is the way to go. How bad is it to mix wheel brands?

I figured I would replace the 1st and 4th with LABEDA/ASPHALT brand 85a/76mm wheels. I can get four of them at HockeyGiant for less than $30.

http://www.hockeygiant.com/labeda-gr...rolhocw16.html

Oicusk82huh · January 1st, 2017, 07:05 AM

Sounds great. They both have the same hardness, so there should really be no problems. Several months ago I found some $1.00 wheels at a local ice rink and bought those. They were soft, so I used them as the middle two wheels but kept my 85a's on the outside. I felt that the softer wheels effected my speed, but I'm not so militant anymore about wheels. As long as the wheels are rockered, (or your frame) you'll have great control and ease with maneuverability.

I think most skaters are used to the constant transition of wheels. I must say that getting new wheels feels awesome. Have fun.

thesavo · January 6th, 2017, 06:54 PM

I just did this last night. I can't wait to try them out tomorrow.
Now I have another problem.
I had an issue getting the bearings out of the OEM RB twister wheels. The spacers are different than I'm used to. My 3-way tool didn't seem to work. I used a small Slotted screwdriver to push one out. I nicked the side shield on them. Is that something that just flatten out as they are used?

Oicusk82huh · January 7th, 2017, 07:07 AM

Ohhhh, bummer. Don't worry, as long as you can hold the bearing and it still turns the way a wheel would, then I wouldn't be too concerned with some nicks. As long as your wheels are rolling...

Yeah, generally speaking I just use my Allen Key and wedge it into the middle of the wheel somewhere and then start banging it on the floor until something happens. I've been doing this for quite a few years and have had no major issues, just a few nicks on the shield occasionally (which never seems to be a problem).

thesavo · January 9th, 2017, 07:48 PM

It was some operator error. I put my OE wheels back in and they free spun just fine. I think the issue might be that the new wheel hubs are tighter on the bearing than the OEM wheels. The bearings press in to the OEM hub a lot easier than the new one. Also when I swapped the new wheels back in, they spun much better.

December 28th, 2016, 08:46 PM	#1
thesavo Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 14	Mixing brands of wheels I have a new set of Rollerblade Twister 80. They are such a step up from my second-hand K2 Exo's. They have 85a/80mm. I have read many posts, and rockering them for slalom is the way to go. How bad is it to mix wheel brands? I figured I would replace the 1st and 4th with LABEDA/ASPHALT brand 85a/76mm wheels. I can get four of them at HockeyGiant for less than $30. http://www.hockeygiant.com/labeda-gr...rolhocw16.html

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January 1st, 2017, 07:05 AM	#2
Oicusk82huh Skating 35 years Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Highland NY Posts: 261	Sounds great. They both have the same hardness, so there should really be no problems. Several months ago I found some $1.00 wheels at a local ice rink and bought those. They were soft, so I used them as the middle two wheels but kept my 85a's on the outside. I felt that the softer wheels effected my speed, but I'm not so militant anymore about wheels. As long as the wheels are rockered, (or your frame) you'll have great control and ease with maneuverability. I think most skaters are used to the constant transition of wheels. I must say that getting new wheels feels awesome. Have fun.

January 6th, 2017, 06:54 PM	#3
thesavo Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 14	I just did this last night. I can't wait to try them out tomorrow. Now I have another problem. I had an issue getting the bearings out of the OEM RB twister wheels. The spacers are different than I'm used to. My 3-way tool didn't seem to work. I used a small Slotted screwdriver to push one out. I nicked the side shield on them. Is that something that just flatten out as they are used?

January 7th, 2017, 07:07 AM	#4
Oicusk82huh Skating 35 years Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Highland NY Posts: 261	Ohhhh, bummer. Don't worry, as long as you can hold the bearing and it still turns the way a wheel would, then I wouldn't be too concerned with some nicks. As long as your wheels are rolling... Yeah, generally speaking I just use my Allen Key and wedge it into the middle of the wheel somewhere and then start banging it on the floor until something happens. I've been doing this for quite a few years and have had no major issues, just a few nicks on the shield occasionally (which never seems to be a problem).

January 9th, 2017, 07:48 PM	#5
thesavo Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 14	It was some operator error. I put my OE wheels back in and they free spun just fine. I think the issue might be that the new wheel hubs are tighter on the bearing than the OEM wheels. The bearings press in to the OEM hub a lot easier than the new one. Also when I swapped the new wheels back in, they spun much better.