Skateboard Wheels Buying Guide
How to Choose the Right Set of Skateboard Wheels
Probably the most important part of the skateboard setup since they are the ones that will actually allow you to ride the board! Wheels will also determine what kind of set up you have and the discipline you will be able to perform with it, as well as the speed you will be able to get from the board and the surfaces you will be able to ride on!
They are measured by diameter and durometer. The first one being the size of the wheel and the second one determining how hard the wheel is. Both of these factors are a matter of personal preference, and the skateboarding discipline you are looking to practice. There are massive amounts of combinations you can choose from when you create your own set up, but if you are new to this, don't worry, after you read this guide you will have everything you need to know in order to get the right set of wheels!
Which size of wheels should you get
Skateboard wheel size is measured in millimeters most wheels range from 50-75 mm, the lower the number, the smaller the wheel and the larger the number the larger the wheel.
As mentioned above, the diameter of the wheel will be of huge impact when it comes to the speed you board will be able to achieve and how fast will you be able to turn, if you go for a smaller size of wheel you won't be able to get as much speed as what you could get with a larger set
Smaller wheels are primarily used for street skateboarding and to perform technical tricks that do not require much speed but more stability and the larger wheels are recommended if you are just using the board as a transportation alternative making them a great option for cruisers!
These are some of the aspects to keep in mind when you are getting the wheels for your board there are hundreds of colors brands and styles you can get, but other than the aesthetic aspect you need to focus on the technical aspect because this is what will actually help you to develop your skateboarding skills in the future.
|
50-53mm |
Small, slower wheels; stable for trick riding and smaller riders skating street, skate parks, and bowls. |
|
54-59mm |
Average wheel size for beginners and bigger riders skating street, skate parks, bowls, and vert ramps. |
|
60mm + |
Skating longboards, old-school boards, downhill, and dirt boards; made for speed and rougher surfaces. |
Top Selling Wheels!
Skateboard wheels also come in different cuts including narrow or wide lip, and cruiser wheel shape. If you’re looking to ride the board with less friction and weight, the narrow lip wheels are the best option for you, they’re also much more responsive to quick movements and could help you finally pull off that trick you've been trying to get for weeks!
The Durometer Of The Wheels
The durometer of the wheels is measured on a scale which goes from 1-100 to measure hardness. Other companies use the B Scale which measures 20 points lower, allowing the scale to be extended by 20 points for harder wheels. For example, an 80b durometer is the same as a 100a durometer. Once you understand the hardness of the wheels and their specific applications, and you have ridden a few sets, you will be 100% sure of the wheels you will need in the future!
Some brands also experiment with dual-durometer wheels for a more tailored skating experience. In a dual-durometer skateboard wheel, the inside of the wheel could measure different hardness than the outside of the wheel. This practice often allows for more speed and durability in your skateboard wheels, since it gives them a combination of strengths from both ends of the measurement’s spectrum, but they are rarely used and could be very expensive, if you are beginning just stick to your regular durometer wheels.
To break it down a little bit for you, harder wheels are faster, and softer wheels are slower with the advantage of having more grip to them, these are better suited to street skating and harder wheels are better for smooth surfaces like the ones featured in most skateparks. Once again, it all comes down to how you prefer to skate or in which settings you will be developing your skateboarding skills.
The following graphic will explain the hardness and speed ratio in a very specific way, check it out!
|
78a-87a |
Soft wheels good for rough surfaces, longboards, or street boards that need lots of grip to easily roll over cracks. Designed for smooth rides, cruising, longboards, hills, and rough surfaces. |
|
88a-95a |
Slightly harder and faster but with less grip, it is still a good good grip tho. Good for street and rough surfaces. |
|
96a-99a |
Very good speed and grip, recommended for beginners skating streets, skate parks, ramps, pools. |
|
101a + |
Hardest and fastest wheel with the least grip. Ineffective on slick and rough surfaces. These are made for the pros. |
|
83b-84b |
Wheels using the B scale are extremely hard, measuring 20 points lower than the A Scale in order to allow the scale to extend another 20 points for harder wheels. |
The Wheels Contact Patch
This is a very important feature to keep in mind when we discuss wheel performance. It refers to the area of the wheel that actually makes contact with the pavement. If you have large longboard wheels, your contact patch will also be large and your weight will be distributed over a larger area which reduces the pressure made on your wheels and reduces rolling resistance, which can slow down your wheel.
The shape also affects the contact patch. Rounded wheels make less contact with the pavement, while square wheels make maximum contact with pavement.
Maximum contact patch can be found specifically in larger cruiser and longboard wheels which will provide you with much more friction when skating uneven surfaces and also a lot of speed!