Do rink rats feel like flat tires?

[jpeaslee 30]

So far I haven't seen this covered. If it has been just say so (and maybe point me in the right direction :)) and I'll do some more searching.

Background on me. I'm a big guy (6'2" 245+lbs). I'm currently skating on mission he9500's with sprungs. If i have a rink rat as my first or back wheel, sometimes when i push off or put a lot of weight forward the front wheel flattens out A TON. I know thats the basic concept of Rink rats, but i feel like its hurting my first couple steps rather then helping? I tried switching some regular single pour wheels up to the front and i don't have the problem anymore. Also they don't usually do this at first when i buy them, but do start doing it soon after. When i look at the wheels it looks like somehow part of the adhesion between the inner pour and outer pour has been broken? Has anyone else noticed this at all? Are revisions similar?

[numberthirteen 0]

Background on me. I'm a big guy (6'2" 245+lbs).

You're most likely using completely the wrong durometer, whatever surface you're on. Aim for 82+

[kovalchuk71 212]

Look at 80A Rink Rats or like numberthirteen said, look at the world cup wheels. I find that I had to move up a durometer when using sprungs. I weigh 155 lbs and usually use the 76A RR on regular metal frames. When I moved to sprungs, I ended up using 78A. Also look at dual pour wheels (Hot shots) vs. the tri-pour (Hornets). Keith noted that the dual pour are better for the sprungs.

[jpeaslee 30]

I'm using whatever the hardest ones i could get were. 80A maybe?

[kovalchuk71 212]

What color are they?

[fatwabbit 93]

Find the Rink Rat Worldcups... those are 84A, and are really good.

[jpeaslee 30]

Thanks for the advice on the worldcups. I never realized Hornets were tripour. I've tried hotshots too and they got the same results. And i just verified that they're the 80A. I've got some labeda grippers on front now (white ones). They seem to be working out ok. They're not wearing particularly well, but not terrible either.

[Makoto 3]

What type of surface are you skating on?

[jpeaslee 30]

Its either an outdoor sportcourt or icecourt. However it does the flat tire thing on smooth cement, and i'd imagine anything else.

[fatwabbit 93]

Had the same issues before. Everytime I played outdoors, my wheels felt like they compressed with every push. Didnt help me very much during tournys that were held outdoors.

I went with some outdoor wheels, with duro of about 82A or 84A and it worked out for me. Some of the guys had their hands on some speed wheels (claiming to have a duro of 90! plus..) but I couldnt confirm that.

[Bender 0]

I went with some outdoor wheels, with duro of about 82A or 84A and it worked out for me. Some of the guys had their hands on some speed wheels (claiming to have a duro of 90! plus..) but I couldnt confirm that.

90+ is pressing it, high 80's isn't very common for speed wheels, they tend to sit round mid 80's; not to mention it would be hard enough to find 80mm speed wheels... not saying it's impossible, just very unlikely...

[sdcopp 1]

Thanks for the advice on the worldcups. I never realized Hornets were tripour. I've tried hotshots too and they got the same results. And i just verified that they're the 80A. I've got some labeda grippers on front now (white ones). They seem to be working out ok. They're not wearing particularly well, but not terrible either.

Hornets aren't Tri-pour, they just have a bigger cross section of the softer inner pour. Rink Rats in general are going to give a bit more due to design, and when I was trying I found Formula G's to be a better feel as a single pour wheel than any of the dual durometer wheels. Revisions do feel stiffer than Rink Rats, but if you've got the flat tire feeling then I'd say stick with Grippers if they are working, or try Formula G's.

[kovalchuk71 212]

Thanks sdcopp, I thought they were tri pour.

[sdcopp 1]

Thanks sdcopp, I thought they were tri pour.

Only Hyper has done the tri-pour with the Trinity wheel, and after trying both older and newer models of the wheel I was sorely disappointed with the design, much better that the others have stayed to single and dual pour.

[Fletch 219]

I've never had any problem with the RR's perform on the floor.....I think they're great.

[jpeaslee 30]

I do feel like i need to say that i like how they perform on all the other positions besides the front. It can do the flat tire thing on the back wheel too, but only if i'm standing around and put all my weight on that wheel or somethign stupid like that. Nothing to do with actually playing hockey. I think i may give revisions a go as I'm probably gonna need some new wheels sometime soon anyways. If they're no better I may just stick with RR's for the back three and put a singlepour up front.

[Ray 0]

yeah I'm just getting used to my sprungs and finding I definitely need harder wheels than I was using with my hummr's. The other problem is that I play on both indoor sport court and outdoor sportcourt (inside, in a cold, upstairs in double ice rink). So the best setup for me on the ourdoor sport court on my hummr's is 74 76 76 74 (durometer). I tried all 76's with the sprungs and I think could use the extra grip like I have with the hummr's. I skated on spourt court last night for the first time and I think I need to go all 78 for that. I'm 5' 11" 250 lbs.