Skateboarding is not just a sport; it's a lifestyle. And when it comes to our beloved skateboards, we want nothing but the best, including the bearings. Skate bearings play a crucial role in the performance and smoothness of our rides. But there's a long-standing debate about whether ABEC ratings truly matter for skateboarding. In this article, we're going to dive deep into the world of skate ratings, debunk the ABEC myth, and explore what actually matters when it comes to choosing the right bearings for your skateboard. What are ABEC Ratings? ABEC is an acronym for the Annular Bearing Engineering Committee, a standard established by the American Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA) to measure the tolerances in manufacturing ball bearings. The ABEC scale ranges from 1 to 9, with higher numbers indicating tighter tolerances. However, what ABEC ratings actually measure is limited to dimensional tolerances and has no bearing on load handling, speed, materials, or lubrican...
