Skateboard wheels have gone through a long process, from clay to metal materials. People who have used these different wheels should be able to verify the improvements in speed, grip and other sliding properties of modern polyurethane wheels. This should apply to the elasticity of polyurethane wheels, which can quickly return to their original state after twisting.
Modern polyurethane is more elastic than the original. This can be verified by throwing the wheel on the ground and observing its rebound height. This function can greatly reduce the resistance when the wheels turn. When sliding on the skateboard, the leading edge of the wheel is under pressure. When this end rotates backwards, its elasticity releases the forward power of the wheels. When the wheels are too soft, the process is relatively slow and does not work. If it is too hard, the wheel will not deform much, and the impact of rebound on the asphalt pavement will be slow, wasting elastic potential energy.
The high-quality pulleys produced by the regular skateboard wheel manufacturers use plastic wheel cores to place the bearings, and can release the heat generated by the high-speed rotation of the bearings through the wheels, preventing the polyurethane material of the wheels from melting. When the phenomenon of “top falling” occurs, the danger is even greater. The heat dissipation effect of the exposed wheel core is better than that of the built-in wheel core.
At the same time, the wheel core can also ensure the roundness of the wheel and prevent local wear. A wheel with a large core can keep the wheel in a rotating state when it slips, and it can maintain its shape for a longer time than a wheel without a core. The sliding speed of the core wheel on a smooth surface is faster and the deformation is small, while the sliding speed of a large core soft wheel on a rough surface is slower.
When the skateboard wheel slips sideways, lateral wear will occur. At this time, the wheel stops rotating, causing local wear to be greater than other parts of the wheel, just like a screeching noise when a motorcycle runs laterally. Side-slip can be used to slow down, and if it is not well controlled, it can also drive people out. In order to prevent this from happening, it is possible to avoid complete side slipping when sliding, and to repair or replace the pulley in time.
