How to Select Skateboard Wheels
It may be obvious that you need four wheels to make your skateboard roll properly, but it's not as easy as just grabbing whichever ones you think are pretty. You'll need to select them by size and hardness depending on how or where you will be skating. Luckily, they are sold in sets of four, so that part is done for you. Read on to learn the rest.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Pick a Wheel Height
-
1
Skate the street with smaller wheels, of 56 mm or less. Wheels are measured by the diameter. Freestyle and street skating need small, light wheels.
-
2
Transition smoother with skateboard wheels measuring 57 to 60 mm, although you may want to go as high as 65 mm. Larger wheels roll faster, which is what you want for ramps. Beginners should start with 60 mm and try out different sizes as their skill progresses.
-
-
3
Surf the world with large, soft wheels built for longboards or cruising. A good size for cruising is between 65 and 75 mm. Remember that you might need special trucks or risers to keep larger wheels from hitting the deck.
-
4
Select 50 to 55 mm wheels with a hardness of 97 to 101 for a good balance of speed, weight and firmness for moving between street and ramp. A few companies make all-terrain wheels that do not list a hardness rating.
Determine the Correct Durometer
-
5
Pick a hard wheel for a quick, smooth ride and a strong pop for flipping tricks. Anything over 90 a (measuring the durometer) is considered hard. The current trend leans toward hard wheels measuring 97 to 100 a.
-
6
Stick to softer wheels, measuring around 87a, for cruising and longboards. Soft wheels keep you rolling over rough, uneven surfaces.
-
7
Select the wheels most pros use with a hardness rating of 100 a. Wheels with 100 to 101 durometer reading have very little grip and don't work well on rough or slick surfaces.
-
8
Buy 95 or 97 a wheels for a good everyday ride. Most skaters will be quite happy with this firmness rating, so this is a good hardness for beginners.
Choose Wheels to Customize Your Skateboard
-
9
Check out Bones's formula wheels for easy choices without worrying about the hardness (see Resources below). These wheels are custom designed for use in skate parks or on streets, so all you have to do is decide where you'll be spending the majority of your time.
-
10
Look at Gravity for colorful wheels that come in a range of sizes and hardnesses (see Resources below). The Fu Manchus are popular for cruising.
-
11
Save money by choosing blank wheels in a color of your choice. Companies like Blank Skate Supply let you customize your deck without picking a brand or skater to advertise (see Resources below). Blank wheels are great for creating a truly unique skateboard.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Wheels from 52 mm to 54 mm, with a hardness rating of 99 a, work well for most skaters.
Some companies produce wheels with a hard core and softer outside so the bearing won't get crushed. While this doesn't happen very often, it is a design feature you should consider when buying softer wheels.
