Pushing anything, be it in a supermarket or just on the road is made easier thanks to wheels. While the function of wheels is the same on different things, the benefits they offer can vary. Let’s take scooters, for example. Although they are not the most ideal way to get from one place to another, they can be quite beneficial for your health. Burning fat, keeping your heart in good condition, and making sure you get enough exercise for the day are just some of the benefits you get from riding a kick scooter.
No matter if you’re a pro or just someone who wants to have a healthier lifestyle, riding on a scooter can be more than just a way to commute to work. It can be good for your mental health as it helps you unwind while going down a hill or just getting your way around town. Everyone else will be stuck in traffic but you’re going to be whizzing past cars avoiding the turmoil of emotions you get when you’re late and waiting for the light to turn green. But for a kick scooter to be easy to push you’ll need to make sure you get a scooter with the right wheels for the surfaces you’ll be riding it on.
What to Consider in Scooter Wheels?
Core
Something that scooter wheels need to be able to do other than roll around is to provide support. This is where you need to consider the core, as quality wheels for scooters should be able to withstand both your weight and the weight of the scooter without any issues. The core determines how well the wheels will support all that weight and the tougher the core is the more it can beat and the more it will last. Remember though, tougher cores are bigger than softer ones.
Size
When it comes to size, you need to mainly consider the diameter of the scooter wheels. It’s best that you get ones that are compatible with the size of your scooter, but if you want to go bigger or smaller you may gain some advantages. For example, smaller wheels make it easier to accelerate and turn, while bigger wheels provide more stability and better speed maintenance.
Profile
The width of the scooter wheels is what is known as the profile. Ideally, you should go for 24mm wide wheels since they are the industry standard. Keep in mind that the more profile a wheel has the better grip it’s going to provide on the road.
Hardness & Material
There are two types of scooters wheels when it comes to their hardness and material they’re made of – air-filled and solid. Solid wheels are ones made with urethane, which is capable of withstanding quite a beating, and require less maintenance. Air-filled wheels are best for riding over bumpy roads or going through harsh terrain since they offer a better grip, even at higher speeds.
How to Clean Scooter Wheels
Cleaning wheels is the most important part of keeping them working for a long time and at a top-level. In order to clean them, you need certain tools, including a degreaser, speed paste/light grease, rags, circlip pliers, rubber shields/knife blade, and a tray with a lid. Make sure you always clean your wheels for scooters in a well-lit place and nothing in the way.
- Start by taking out the bearings from the wheels. The bearings have small metal balls that run in a circular track. Once you’ve done that, remove the axle nut and then slide the wheel outwards until you have the inner wheel at the end of the axle. Then, take out the bearing from the wheel like you would open a bottle of beer.
- Take out the bearing shields by using the circlip pliers and put all the bearing components in a bowl of acetone or isopropyl alcohol. Let them sit for about 30 seconds in the bowl. After those 30 seconds have passed, take the bearings and balls out and tap them on the bottom. If there is no grit coming out then you’ve done a good job.
- You can place the bearings and balls in a jar filled with degreaser and let them sit for a couple of minutes. This will get rid of even more gunk as you shake the jar thoroughly. Once done, take the bearings and balls out, and soak them in a methylated spirit. After that, hand clean each bearing and ball and place them on a paper towel to let them dry.
- Apply some grease or oil on the bearings but don’t overdo it. After that, put back the seals gently with a light press and lightly coat the metal with a film of grease once they snap into place. When you’re done resealing and lubricating the bearings put them back into place and you’re all done.