Wheel Bearings

WHEEL BEARINGS

Bearings are the small, metal rings with tiny balls inside that help the wheel on a skate to spin smoothly. They help reduce friction and allow the wheels to roll easily and fast. Each wheel on a skate uses two bearings, one on each side of the wheel’s core. They fit inside the center of the wheel and are held in place by the skate’s axle.

Bearings have different ratings, usually by the ABEC scale. The ABEC rating determines the tolerance, allowing for smoothness and speed. The most common ABEC ratings are ABEC-3, ABEC-5, ABEC-7 and ABEC-9. The higher the number, the tighter the tolerance, the smoother the ride, and the faster you will roll. Speed skates typically come with higher-rated ABEC bearings than beginner or everyday recreational skates. Other rating systems are those such as BEVO which also use the higher the number- the smoother, faster, and more precise.

See Our Selection of Wheel Bearings Below!