ABEC 5 bearingsvsABEC9

Bearings are used for all kinds of things, not just skateboard wheels. The higher an ABEC rating, the more accurate and precise the bearing is. When companies make bearings, sometimes they cheaply slap them together, and sometimes they very carefully design and assemble them with as little space as possible between the parts.

ABEC stands for Annular Bearing Engineers' Committee and is the U.S. method for rating the accuracy and tolerance of bearings. ABEC standards are set by the American Bearing Manufacturers Association.

ABEC 5 bearingsmeaning

Not all skateboard bearings use the ABEC, ISO, or DIN rating systems. The manufacturers Rockets, Ballistech Missiles, and Bones Bearings all use their own systems to rate their bearings. Most bearings used in skateboards were never designed with skateboarding in mind. These companies have developed and built their bearings specifically for skateboards.

Skateboard bearings often have an ABEC rating that indicates the level of precision and durability. But skaters are often confused about what that means and how to get the best bearings for their board.

ABEC 5 bearingsreview

ABEC 5 bearingsvsABEC7

When bearings are used in expensive and important machines, companies spend hundreds of dollars on just one bearing because it has to be perfect.

But skateboards need much less precise bearings. All the slamming and sudden starts and stops a skateboard must take would ruin an expensive, delicate bearing.

ABEC isn't the only way to rate skateboard bearings. There are also the International Standards Organization (ISO) system and the German National Standards Organization (DIN) system. This chart can help you compare the three systems: