Originally Posted by
berlinonaut
The thing is that skate wheels lack the dampering. No doubt the roll better than the Brompton wheels (if have skate wheels on my Bernds folder) but the main issue with rolling the brompton is rather the axle width than the wheel size. Skate wheels do not damp, so when rolling extensively may damage the "ears" through vibration alone. Let alone you problem during flight. I'd rather recommend the new standard wheels - they roll about as good (or a tiny bit better) than the former ez-wheels but offer dampering. And they are lightweight.
My rolling wheels, that get most use, are directed laterally and are mounted on right angle alu pieces, see one on the corner of the rack in the first post. If something were to go bad, it would be the alu pieces getting the hit, so I might be OK there going with the skate wheels in your argumentation. On the other hand, along that line, I should hold on with replacing any of the remaining 3 EZ-Wheels. In suitcases indeed every once in a while a wheel goes but then they get so much more abuse than the Brompton rolling wheels.
Originally Posted by
berlinonaut
PS: Regarding suitcase wheels: There may be a lot to say about this. My strategy was to buy a Rimova suitcase and you are done. Best wheels I ever had on a suitcase despite being the same form factor than other ones.
I have luggage donts arrived at by evolution and I do not do zippered suitcases. However it is good to hear that there is something to aim at there regarding the wheels.