Slim Wheels

Slim wheels tend to be favored by skaters like a smaller contact patch.  The contact patch is, literally, what contacts the ground when you skate – not just the width measurement, but the width minus beveled edges, so really, how much of the urethane actually touches the ground. A slimmer contact patch can mean a faster wheel with better roll, because there is less urethane to cause drag and offer traction.  Narrow wheels also offer better slide and can help skaters feel more agile, and they can cut down on wheel lock, as well. The slimmer shape can help reduce drag for extra quick hops. Slim wheels - especially with nylon hubs - tend to be the lightest, as well.

The flip side of slim wheels is that they tend to wear faster than a comparable wide wheel, especially in softer compounds.  The smaller contact patch means that the skater is putting the same weight and pressure over a smaller area of wheel – which leads to faster wear on the urethane. Slim wheels reduction in drag also means a reduction in traction (aka grippiness) in a similar wide wheel, as well.  Slim wheels also tend to offer a more squared-off lip, which can reduce drag and grippiness if it leads to a firmer lip shape, as well.  For more information about how wheel features affect performance, check out our advice pages!