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Essential Tips for Purchasing Skateboard Wheels
Your performance relies heavily on skateboard wheels, no matter if you’re just starting out or are a seasoned professional. They can dramatically alter your skateboarding experience, and changing to a different wheel type can revolutionise your skateboard setup. Due to this, it is wise to contemplate the options at your disposal when selecting skateboard wheels.
This guide is crafted to offer insights when on the lookout for new skateboard wheels. Check the sections outlined below and head straight to the information you are keen on so that we can assist you in discovering the ideal wheels for your skateboard.
Overview
Overview
Selecting the Right Skateboard Wheels
Two primary aspects to deliberate upon when selecting skateboard wheels are size and hardness. Choosing appropriately sized skateboard wheels is essential to steer clear of dilemmas like wheel bites.
Aside from size and hardness, consider aspects like shape, which determines the contact area with the ground, and the wheel material, affecting grip, rebound, and weight.
Your personal taste and riding style will significantly influence these considerations. Ultimately, the optimal skateboard wheels cater to your style and preference, promising the utmost enjoyment, whether you're just starting out or have mastered skating!
Below, discover more tailored advice for selecting the perfect skateboard wheels fitting your requirements.
Skateboard Wheel Dimensions
Skateboard wheel dimensions are gauged by their diameter, substantially affecting speed, acceleration, and control.
Nimble and technical skateboarders tend to favour smaller wheels, whereas larger wheels are ideal for cruising or vertical skating. Here's a breakdown of small versus large skateboard wheels:
Smaller wheels:
- High agility and maneuverability, perfect for tricks. Despite being slower than larger wheels, they offer greater responsiveness.
- Less forgiving, vulnerable to abrupt stops if encountering small stones.
- A mellow pop-angle, demanding less effort for executing flip tricks and ollies.
- Smaller wheels compatible with low trucks, allowing you to keep the centre of gravity close to the ground.
Larger wheels:
- Capable of reaching higher speeds with slower acceleration, but less agile.
- Offer forgiveness when encountering small stones or surface irregularities.
- Have a steeper pop-angle providing leverage for big tricks but demand more effort for popping. Bigger wheels compromise agility.
- Potentially need higher trucks or riser pads to prevent wheel bites.
Mainly ranging from 52-56 mm, most skateboard wheels fall within this size scope unless your focus is largely on heavy vertical tricks or cruising; you're likely to find suitable options within these dimensions.
Here is a chart depicting skateboard wheel sizes, offering a succinct glimpse of wheel diameters alongside skateboard disciplines each size commonly caters to.
| Size | Size in mm | Recommended for |
| Medium-sized wheels | 50-53 mm | Street, park |
| Medium-sized wheels | 53-56 mm | Street, park, bowl, mini ramp |
| Large skateboard wheels | 56-60 mm | Cruising, vert |
Filter through our variety of skateboard wheels by diameter to discover the wheels that align with your requirements:
The Durometer Scale: Understanding Skateboard Wheel Hardness
Hardness of skateboard wheels is noted using the durometer scale, commonly seen as a number followed by an A, like 100A which implies greater hardness than 99A. Sometimes, the durometer uses a B rather than an A, deducting 20 units from the A-scale; for example, 83B corresponds to 103A.
You may find these principles handy in deciding whether to consider harder or softer wheels than what you currently have:
Harder wheels
- Faster with improved durability
- Reduced grip and shock absorption
- Prone to vibrations and noise on rugged surfaces
- Swift and reactive on smooth surfaces
- Ideal for executing tricks in streets or skateparks
Softer wheels
- Increased grip at the cost of speed and lifespan
- Absorb irregularities of uneven terrains
- For filming, softer wheels are preferred to reduce shaking and noise
- Excellent for cruising around
| Hardness | Durometer | Recommended usage |
| Very soft wheels | 78A - 90A | Cruising, filming, commuting, beginners |
| Medium soft wheels | 90A - 97A | Cruising, rough surfaces, commuting, beginners |
| Medium hard wheels | 97A - 99 | Street skating, mini ramps, skateparks |
| Hard wheels | 99A + | Technical skateboarding |
While exploring our collection, filter results by hardness and other significant specifications to see wheels that match your criteria:
Understanding Skateboard Wheel Shape - Contact Patch & Lip Design
Regarding skateboard wheel shapes, the contact patch stands as a critical aspect. A 'contact patch' is the section of the wheel engaged with the ground during skating.
Narrow contact patches result in elevated responsiveness, less friction, and greater susceptibility to sliding (advantageous for blunt slides!). With slim wheels, the weight is concentrated over a smaller area, accentuating vibrations from coarse surfaces. Additionally, narrow wheels weigh less due to reduced material presence on sidewalls.
Conversely, a broader contact patch delivers increased grip and stability, making sliding more challenging compared to narrower contact patches. However, broader patches decrease responsiveness and increase the wheel’s weight.
Moreover, a rounded lip shape makes navigating copings and avoiding hang-ups during transition skating easier.
Wide contact patch:
- Offers more grip and stability
- Less likely to slide
- Reduced responsiveness
- Heavier wheels
Slim contact patch:
- Enhanced responsiveness
- Less friction
- More prone to sliding
- Elevated vibrations on rough surfaces
- Slender wheels are lighter
What Are Skateboard Wheels Crafted From?
Made from polyurethane, skateboard wheels undergo continuous enhancement as manufacturers innovate new urethane blends to improve wheel performance. Altering the urethane composition can modify hardness, durability, smoothness, rebound, and sliding capabilities of the wheel.
The Bounce of Skateboard Wheels (Properties of Urethane)
Initially made from metal or ceramics, skateboard wheels had an overhaul with the debut of urethane wheels. Being able to bounce was the game-changing property distinguishing urethane wheels from their predecessors. As a urethane wheel impacts a hard surface, it momentarily deforms but readily returns to its former shape, creating the characteristic bounce. Owning to this bouncing ability, urethane wheels have reshaped skateboarding, thus paving the way for the modern-day skateboarding experience.
Rigorous specifications in manufacturing processes dictate the quality of skateboard wheels. Innovations centre around PU formulations, moulding methods, curing, and baking temperatures. When choosing skateboard wheels, size, hardness, and shape are key considerations. Nonetheless, selecting quality wheels from reputable brands is advisable, as refining PU formulas and manufacturing techniques significantly enhances wheel quality.
Top Skateboard Wheels for Park Setups
Park skating wheels should have small to medium dimensions (generally 50-56mm) with a hardness rating (durometer) between 99A to 101A for a smooth and reactive performance on smooth surfaces. A rounded design facilitates versatile manoeuvrability for tricks and transitions, whilst high-grade polyurethane construction ensures durability and excellent grip on ramps and bowls.
Superb Skateboard Wheels for Street Use
For street skating, wheels should span small to medium sizes (50-56 mm) and fall within a hardness range (durometer) of 97A to 101A to attain optimal responsiveness and command over urban terrain. A larger contact patch augments stability for movements like slides and grinds, whereas a conical or rounded design guarantees quick acceleration and nimbleness. High-grade polyurethane is a must for durability and reliable grip on surfaces of concrete and asphalt.
This guideline pertains to street skating. However, if you’re cruising the streets, larger wheels offer smoother rides over harsher surfaces. Opt for wheels softer than 97A (choose wheels between 78A - 85A if you're solely cruising!).
