Wheel Sizes for Roller Derby
Let’s talk wheel size for roller derby!
Diameter refers to the height of a wheel, the roller derby standard for such is 62mm. There is a direct correlation between diameter of the wheel and top speed. The larger the diameter, the greater the potential top speed (all other factors being equal). The wheel literally rolls out further along the ground for each full rotation, the distance compounds quickly.
ACCELERATION + DECELERATION
The other popular diameter wheel, 59mm, is only 3mm shorter but those 3mm create quite a different feel. It takes more energy to reach the same top speed of a larger wheel (all other factors being equal); however, the advantage is in the responsiveness.
Consider this: When you spin around in circles, you turn slower with your arms away from your body; once you pull your arms in, you spin faster with less effort.
Same thing with the 59mm wheel. The closer that weight is to the rotational axis (hub in the case of a wheel), the less effort it takes to create speed in a spin. And conversely to stop - because physics.
Maneuverability is The width of wheels simply refers to how wide the wheel is, and this also varies. Width affects the contact patch of the polyurethane with the ground. The larger the contact patch, the greater the stability. Conversely, the smaller the contact patch, the greater the maneuverability.
This is pretty simple. The wider the wheel, the larger the contact patch and the more friction you have. Friction equals stability and also means you have a large contact patch to dig in with your plows. It also means that your wheel protrudes more can can get tangled in your wall.
A narrower wheel means draws the weight distribution closer to the midline of the body. This physically changes where your edge is located and how far your plates have to move to be capable of engaging your edges. A narrower wheel also means less friction which means that it is easier to pick up the wheels off the floor. The result is faster feet. Faster feet increases maneuverability.
Widths vary from 35mm-44mm (roll line makes even narrower I believe).
As with all gear changes, there is an adjustment period. Different wheel sizes wheels are fun to play around with! Consider this before only changing up the hardness of your wheels.
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