Best Roller Skate Wheels (2024)

The best roller skate wheels are the Sure-Grip Boardwalk wheels.

One of the first pieces of advice most students are given by their roller-skating instructor is to swap out their wheels. Most roller skates come with subpar wheels that throw off your performance and cut down on your learning capabilities. Fortunately, I have you covered.

I chose the Sure-Grip Boardwalk wheels as the best because they boast a smooth performance on rough surfaces, have good traction, and are very durable.

These wheels may not meet your requirements particularly if you are looking for the top indoor wheels. This is why I have included some of my other preferences here. Let’s get started.

Best Roller Skate Wheels

Here are my top picks for roller skate wheels:

Sure-Grip Boardwalk Wheels – Best Overall

Specs:

• Type: Outdoor wheels
• Size: 65mm
• Hardness: 78A

Smooth Performance

I have experienced the smoothest glide with these roller skate wheels. With just a little push, you can glide effortlessly across various surfaces. This includes ground scattered with pebbles, cracks, and more.

The only downside is that these wheels are strictly for outdoor use and you will need another option for indoor skates.

Good Grip

At the same time, as these wheels boast an excellent glide, they also offer plenty of traction. They have just the right amount of stickiness to make sure that you don’t roll away when executing turns or trying to pull off tricks.

Highly Durable

These wheels have been designed to withstand the great outdoors and they hold up well to expectations. You can use and abuse these wheels as much and often as you want and they will still last.

RollerBones Teams Wheels – Best for Rink Skating

Specs:

• Type: Indoor Wheels
• Size: 57 and 62mm
• Hardness: 98A

Great for Indoor Surfaces

If you enjoy rink skating or skating on any indoor surface, these skate wheels will do the trick. As they have great gliding ability, they allow you to pick up speed with just a little bit of push. It also takes less effort to keep skating.

The only issue with these wheels is that they can be difficult to insert in with the bearings.

Good Traction

Of course, good indoor wheels need plenty of traction as well, and this is precisely what these wheels offer. Despite their smooth performance, they are plenty grippy on smooth surfaces so that you don’t feel you are going to slip and slide.

Lightweight Feel

A lot of wheels with this level of hardness can feel heavy and like they are weighing you down, especially for new skaters. This isn’t the case with these wheels, though. They are lightweight and allow you to glide around freely.

Bont Evolve Wheels – Best for Speed Skating

Specs:

• Type: Indoor Wheels
• Size: 62mm
• Hardness: 88A, 94A, 96A, 98A

Easy to Pick Up Speed

These wheels were designed for an extremely high roll and this is immediately noticeable when you first take them off. You can pick up speed in no time at all and with minimal effort. Once you get going, you can keep moving. This will allow you to cover distances more quickly.

The only issue I have with these wheels is the cost. The price is high for just four wheels – you will need to replace all your wheels at the same time or get a few extra just in case.

Great Cornering

Take a closer look at these wheels and you will notice a super rigid structure courtesy of CAD machining. The result of this is excellent cornering even when skating at high speeds. I can take the corners smoothly without losing my route.

Good Grip

I was surprised at how much grip these skates boast. Not only do they help you stay on course, they also make it easy to stop on a dime.

FOMOTEAM Roller Skate Wheels – Best for Indoor and Outdoor Use

Specs:

• Type: Indoor and Outdoor wheels
• Size: 58mm
• Hardness: 82A

Good for Indoor and Outdoor Skating

If you like to switch from one surface to another without any fuss, these wheels are just what you need. They perform equally well on smooth and rough surfaces. Even when faced with uneven ground and cracks, you will be able to glide over them easily.

My only concern is that these wheels may not hold up as well or as long as outdoor specific wheels.

Great Performance

These wheels offer an all-around great performance. Not only do they improve balance and control no matter where you are, they also absorb the impact from rough surfaces. This makes for a safer and more comfortable ride.

Good Traction

These wheels have just the right amount of grip. This is true for whether you are indoors or outdoors. This allows you to stay on course at all times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the most commonly asked questions about roller skate wheels:

1. Does Roller Skate Wheel Size Matter?

Yes, size corresponds to the type of skating. Thinner wheels are good for artistic skating while larger wheels help with speed.

2. Can You Use Any Wheels on Roller Skates?

No, you have to match the size and hardness to your weight, the surfaces you are skating on, and the kind of performance and responsiveness you are looking for.

3. When Should You Replace Roller Skate Wheels?

When your skates begin to feel sluggish or difficult to control, it is time to get new wheels. You can read more here on how long roller skate wheels last.

Conclusion

The Sure-Grip Boardwalk Wheels are undoubtedly the best. They offer a smooth performance on rough surfaces, have just enough grip to keep them safe, and are durable.

I would recommend checking out all the wheels on this list. The more options you have, the better your chances of finding the right wheels.

Once you find the right wheels for you, you can read our post on how to change your wheels to learn how to change them.