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Skateboard Wheel Buying Guide
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When looking to buy a new skateboard, there are many specific parts of that skateboard that one should consider: the deck, the trucks, and the wheels. In this guide, I will be focusing on how to choose the right skateboard wheels for your skateboard.
A skateboard has four wheels, with two wheels in the front and two wheels in the back. The wheels are what connect the board to the ground, so they are very important for your skateboarding experience. Almost all Skateboard wheels are made from polyurethane. However, just because they are made of the same material, the wheels can be vastly different from one to the next. The formula behind skate wheel making varies from company to company so it is best to stick with companies that you know when looking for the perfect wheel.
Small and circular in shape, skateboard wheels range in sizes from 48 to 100 millimeters. Wheels also cary in creation from soft to hard. A harder wheel is going to make it more difficult to travel on rough surfaces and a softer wheel will make it easier to travel on rough surfaces. Also, softer wheels grip the road better, whereas harder wheels tend to slide a lot more.
Along with hard and soft wheels, there are differences in width for certain wheels. The wider wheel is more appropriate for ramp and park skating where the ground is much more smooth and firm. Wider wheels also provide more stability and balance to set up tricks off of large ramps and to land these tricks after they are performed. As opposed to wide wheels, thinner wheels are more appropriate for street skating. Thinner wheels are not as heavy and are good to perform smaller flip tricks on the street or off the curb.
Remeber, the firmness of the wheel is also to be considered. If you will be riding on rough surfaces, then soft wheels are recommended, because they will form to the contour of the ground as you ride. Hard wheels work best for smooth surfaces, and are generally much faster than soft wheels, but can slide very easily. The firmness of a wheel can be found written in the hardness category. A wheel of 87-A has very good grip and is very hard so it is good for long distance riding, usually on a longboard. A wheel of 95-A is good for hard surfaces and is also good for long-term riding, but it is a little softer than the 87-A wheel so it loses some grip. A wheel of 97-A is good for smooth surfaces, such as ramps and pools. The 97-A wheel has a good balance between grip and speed. The 100-A wheel is the wheel that most pros choose, but is the hardest wheel to learn how to skate with. The 100-A wheel does not absorb any vibration and it has no grip and is made for surfaces that are not too rough or too smooth.
When choosing the right skateboard set-up, think about exactly what type of skating you want to be doing. Do you want to skate long distances with speed or do you want to do flip tricks at a skatepark? The difference in wheels will be the thing that most affects your skating experience, so choose wisely! As always, whatever wheel you decide on, you can find it at OutdoorPros.com.
Shop for Skateboard Wheels
How To Choose The Right Skateboard Wheels
When looking to buy a new skateboard, there are many specific parts of that skateboard that one should consider: the deck, the trucks, and the wheels. In this guide, I will be focusing on how to choose the right skateboard wheels for your skateboard.
A skateboard has four wheels, with two wheels in the front and two wheels in the back. The wheels are what connect the board to the ground, so they are very important for your skateboarding experience. Almost all Skateboard wheels are made from polyurethane. However, just because they are made of the same material, the wheels can be vastly different from one to the next. The formula behind skate wheel making varies from company to company so it is best to stick with companies that you know when looking for the perfect wheel.
Small and circular in shape, skateboard wheels range in sizes from 48 to 100 millimeters. Wheels also cary in creation from soft to hard. A harder wheel is going to make it more difficult to travel on rough surfaces and a softer wheel will make it easier to travel on rough surfaces. Also, softer wheels grip the road better, whereas harder wheels tend to slide a lot more.
Along with hard and soft wheels, there are differences in width for certain wheels. The wider wheel is more appropriate for ramp and park skating where the ground is much more smooth and firm. Wider wheels also provide more stability and balance to set up tricks off of large ramps and to land these tricks after they are performed. As opposed to wide wheels, thinner wheels are more appropriate for street skating. Thinner wheels are not as heavy and are good to perform smaller flip tricks on the street or off the curb.
Types of Skateboard Wheels
- Street Skateboarding Wheels - These are the smallest type of skateboarding wheel, which measure anywhere from 48 to 55 millimeters. These are normally more hard, so you can increase your speed. They are good for performing skateboarding tricks like flips and other aerial stunts.
- Vert Skateboarding Wheel - The second type of skateboard wheel is the vert or ramp skateboard wheel. These wheels are designed specifically for vert skating or skating that involves jumping and landing on ramps. These wheels have sizes that range from 55 to 65 millimeters, allowing skaters to go fast and ride long distances.
- Slalom Skateboarding Wheel - For slalom skateboarding, one is racing and gripping the road so the skateboard needs a type of wheel that will accommodate that kind of movement. Slalom skateboard wheels are used mainly for slalom racing and skating, where the skater does all sorts of stunts in an obstacle-type race. Size ranges between 60 to 75 millimeters, allowing racers to skate through long distances at fast speeds.
- Longboard Wheel - Longboard wheels are made especially for longboards, which are boards used for transport. Longboard wheels have a size of up to 100 millimeters, allowing for a smooth ride. The larger the wheel, the easier it is to obtain and maintain speed with your board, while still being able to keep your balance.
Remeber, the firmness of the wheel is also to be considered. If you will be riding on rough surfaces, then soft wheels are recommended, because they will form to the contour of the ground as you ride. Hard wheels work best for smooth surfaces, and are generally much faster than soft wheels, but can slide very easily. The firmness of a wheel can be found written in the hardness category. A wheel of 87-A has very good grip and is very hard so it is good for long distance riding, usually on a longboard. A wheel of 95-A is good for hard surfaces and is also good for long-term riding, but it is a little softer than the 87-A wheel so it loses some grip. A wheel of 97-A is good for smooth surfaces, such as ramps and pools. The 97-A wheel has a good balance between grip and speed. The 100-A wheel is the wheel that most pros choose, but is the hardest wheel to learn how to skate with. The 100-A wheel does not absorb any vibration and it has no grip and is made for surfaces that are not too rough or too smooth.
When choosing the right skateboard set-up, think about exactly what type of skating you want to be doing. Do you want to skate long distances with speed or do you want to do flip tricks at a skatepark? The difference in wheels will be the thing that most affects your skating experience, so choose wisely! As always, whatever wheel you decide on, you can find it at OutdoorPros.com.
Shop for Skateboard Wheels
