Skateboarding
Skateboarding
The ultimate guide to skate wheels: Everything you need to know
Finding the right wheels for your board is all about identifying your skating style and rolling with your preferences.
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As cool as they look, skateboard wheels are more than funky designs spinning underneath your skateboard. They also shape your maneuverability and speed. Your wheels also determine your ability to land tricks and how smoothly you ride on different types of terrain. Switching out the right wheels is key to tackling new terrain and mastering new tricks.
And no matter what brings you to skateboarding, selecting the right wheels is key to a good ride.
Vincent Matheron during recording of "Field Day" Season 3
© Christian Vankelst / Red Bull Content Pool
"I think the more you travel the more you progress because you constantly change skateparks; you are inspired by what's happening elsewhere,” skateboarder Vincent Matheron shared. “You see different things, you grow and you evolve your skateboard."
Whether you’re trying to conquer new tricks or you just want smooth rides down the sidewalk, this skateboard wheels guide can help. Below, find everything you need to know about choosing a skateboard wheel size that gets you one step closer to your goals.
01
Types of skate wheels
Street/park wheels
As you might have guessed, these wheels are made for riding on the street or at a skatepark. The diameter of these wheels ranges between 50mm and 60mm.
Skateboard detail
© Tyrone Bradley / Red Bull Content Pool
To measure the hardness of a wheel, manufacturers use the Durometer A scale, in which the lower the number, the softer the wheel. Street and park wheels are the hardest, with durometer measurements between 95a and 101a. Though wheels over 100a aren’t great for slick surfaces, they can get you up to a pretty high speed on concrete. The best of these wheels have a round or conical shape.
Cruiser
Cruiser skateboard
© Dan Farrell on Unsplash
These wheels are heavier than street wheels and glide well on rougher surfaces. Cruiser skateboard wheels still maintain speed well, but they’re better suited to gripping the pavement or ground because of the wider surface area they cover. Cruiser wheel diameters range between 54mm and 60mm, and their hardness ranges between 78a and 90a, making them great for what their name suggests: cruising. Cruiser wheels with rounded outer lips are common, and those with a wide contact patch provide the most grip.
Longboard
Mitch Thompson at Red Bull Side Winders at Iwaki Skyline in Japan in 2017
© Suguru Saito / Red Bull Content Pool
Longboard skate wheels are the largest and have the most grip. Though most commonly 70mm in diameter, they can range between 64mm and 80mm. They’re the softest type of wheel, with a hardness of between 75a and 90a. Because of their grip, they’re great for general transportation or riding downhill or on paths with lots of curves. Square lips are most suitable for these wheels, as they make pushing on your board easier.
02
How to choose skate wheels
Style of skating: Here are the wheels that are best suited for the different types of skating.
- Freestyle skating. If performing technical tricks on flat ground is your preference, wheels around 98a work well. These best wheels for freestyling are commonly between 54mm and 55mm.
- Street skating. If the pavement is your preferred riding surface, you’ll fare best with wheels of at least a 99a durometer rating. Street skaters often use the hardest wheels because they minimize friction and maintain speed well, especially on smooth surfaces.
- Vert skating. Also known as vertical skateboarding, this style involves moving from a horizontal surface to a vertical one. Speed, tricks, and air are key to vert skating, and wheels with a hardness of between 95a and 100a are best for these. That’s because they’re low-friction, so you can quickly accelerate to get the most amount of air time. Selecting wheels with a diameter of at least 56mm is ideal too since you won’t have to pump as hard.
Participants at Red Bull Deshuesadero in Mexico City in 2013
© Mauricio Ramos / Red Bull Content Pool
Skating surface
Since your skate wheels are in direct contact with the ground, they play a big part in your riding experience. For example, larger, softer wheels are best for riding on rough surfaces. Their weight helps keep your board planted on the ground when small bumps or pebbles are in your path. Smaller wheels with a high level of hardness are better for pulling off your best tricks. They’re light and can help you make precise movements.
Personal preference
At the end of the day, you might need to try out a few wheels before you find what works for you. While the pros will recommend certain wheels for certain types of skating, these are really just a starting point. Maybe you’ve gotten used to riding with soft wheels at the skatepark or commuting to work on a board with small wheels. Ultimately, you’re the expert at what feels best for you.
03
Skate wheel maintenance and care
Cleaning your wheels
Ryan Sheckler during the EOLO project in Spain in 2017
© Sebas Romero / Red Bull Content Pool
Your skate wheels will — quite literally — go through a lot, from gravel to dust, oil, and dirt. Cleaning your wheels is key to keeping them looking fresh and spinning at their best.
Soak your wheels in soapy water and give them a good scrub with a wire brush to remove any gunk. Let your wheels dry thoroughly before putting them back on your board and taking them out for a spin. That last part is super important, since more dirt sticks to a wet wheel, and rougher rides are all but guaranteed with wet wheels. Plus, you certainly don’t want rusty bearings or a soggy skate deck.
Lubricating your bearings
Skateboard bearings
© Tyrone Bradley/Red Bull Content Pool
The bearings on your board fit inside your wheels to reduce friction and help your wheels roll smoothly. This is why, to keep your wheels spinning well, you’ll need to periodically clean your bearings and lubricate them.
Acetone or alcohol works great to loosen up any dirt or grime. From there, use a silicone-based lubricant to grease them. This gives your wheels the most amount of rotation and the best performance when you get back to shredding.
Checking for wear
No matter which terrain you ride on, your wheels will go through a lot of wear and tear. This means you should give your wheels a quick look-over after every skate session. You might find that one of them is a bit loose or picked up, say, a piece of gum along the way. Tightening the screws and cleaning off the gum sooner than later should keep your board in top shape.
Every few months, you should also rotate your wheels. Just as with a car, rotating your wheels evenly distributes wear across them and gives them a longer lifespan. Moving each wheel to its diagonal opposite position is best during rotation. If you notice irregular shaping or flat spots on any wheels, it’s time to retire them and hit the shop for some new ones.
Finding the way you roll
With all their sizes, shapes, colors, and designs, skate wheels add another layer of customization to your skating experience. Finding the right wheels for your board is all about identifying your skating style and rolling with your preferences. Perhaps the most important part, though, is not to overthink your decision. After all, the ultimate goal is simple: Getting out there — and getting your board in motion.
