DRIVETRAIN: WHEELS AND HUBS

WHEELS AND HUBS

The Ultimate Power for your Bot!

Fingertech Lightweight Twist Hubs with snap wheel and silver spark motor

SIZE COMPATIBILITY

Bore size and thickness:

Your wheel and hub have to work together. The hub’s bore must match your motor’s shaft exactly — if the shaft is 4mm, a 3mm or 6mm bore simply won’t fit. Likewise, wheel thicknesses (0.50in, 0.75in, etc.) require the matching hub size. A mismatch means the parts won’t assemble at all — or they’ll barely work, let alone survive in the arena.

Banebots T61 Compliant Wheel Green 30 Durometer

HARDNESS AND GRIP

Grip vs. Precision

Wheel durometer (hardness) changes how your bot drives and survives. Softer wheels offer more grip but tend to pick up debris, which reduces traction over time. Harder wheels stay cleaner and wear more slowly, but they slide sooner and transfer more impact into your shafts and drivetrain.

Pick the hardness that matches your driving style—maximum grip for control, or harder compounds for consistency and durability.

Banebots T61 wheel 1 3/8 Blue- 50 Durometer

WHEEL MATERIAL

Functional tradeoffs for your design

Wheel material affects how your bot handles hits and how it drives.

Foam wheels cushion shocks and help prevent bent shafts.
Solid rubber gives crisp control plus durability but transfers more impact to the drivetrain.
Compliant wheels flex under load, increasing traction.

Choose the material that best balances traction, durability, and hit tolerance for your bot.