How to Rotate Wheels on Roller Blades

Regularly rotating the wheels on your roller blades will extend the life of the wheels. How often you rotate the wheels depends on how often you skate, your style of skating and your weight. Most of the wear will be on the inside of the wheels, and when this is noticeable, it's time to rotate them. The basic rotation for four- and five-wheel roller blades takes a matter of minutes.

Things You'll Need

  • Wrench
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Instructions

  1. Four-Wheel Rotation

    • 1

      Loosen and remove the four wheels on the left skate with a wrench. Place the wheels off to the side, maintaining the order in which they were removed, toe to heel.

    • 2

      Loosen and remove all four wheels on the right skate. Set the wheels off to the side, maintaining the order in which they were removed, toe to heel.

    • 3

      Change the order of the wheels before reinstalling them on the skates. Reorder the four left wheels that were set off to the side. Move the first and second wheels to the third and fourth positions, respectively. Move the third and fourth wheels to the first and second positions, respectively.

    • 4

      Reorder the four right wheels that were set off to the side. Repeat the reordering process by using the same method as in step 3.

    • 5

      Reattach the wheels to the skates. Use the left wheels and attach each one in order to the right skate, toe to heel. Attach each right wheel in order to the left skate, toe to heel. Secure each wheel with the wrench, making sure the worn edges are facing outward.

    Five-Wheel Rotation

    • 6

      Loosen and remove the five wheels on the left skate with a wrench. Place the wheels off to the side, maintaining the order in which they were removed, toe to heel.

    • 7

      Loosen and remove all five wheels on the right skate. Place the wheels off to the side, maintaining the order in which they were removed, toe to heel.

    • 8

      Change the order of the wheels before reinstalling them to the skates. Reorder the five left wheels that were set off to the side. Move the first and second wheels to the third and fourth positions, respectively. Move the fourth and fifth wheels to the first and second positions, respectively. Move the third wheel to the fifth position at the heel.

    • 9

      Reorder the five right wheels that were set off to the side. Repeat the reordering process by using the same method as in step 3.

    • 10

      Reattach the wheels to the skates. Use the left wheels and attach each one in order to the right skate, toe to heel. Attach each right wheel in order to the left skate, toe to heel. Secure each wheel with the wrench, making sure the worn edges are facing outward.