If you are interested in skateboarding, you should be aware of the various types of skateboard wheels available in the market. In order to help you learn about all the Different Types Of Skateboard Wheels, we have put together a complete guide in this article which will help you decide which ones are the best for you. Let’s go!
Types of skateboard wheels
There are different types of skateboard wheels which you can find on the market. In this article, we will be describing some of the major types for you.
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Street wheels
Street wheels have a small diameter in the range of 49 to 53mm. This helps make them lightweight and therefore much more responsive. They roll well when skateboarding on smooth surfaces. This makes it easier for you to perform tricks such as heelflips, kickflips, and virials. On the other hand, wheels with bigger diameters might get you stuck when you’re grinding.
The hardness of these wheels can lie between 99A to 101A when measured on the durometer scale. Hardness of the wheels gives you greater stability because softer wheels will cause your skateboard to be instable if you’re trying a new trick.
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Cruising wheels
Also known as filmer wheels, these wheels are way softer as compared to street wheels. They work pretty well when you’re skateboarding on rough pavements with cracks. They provide an incredible amount of grip on the floor which makes them the best choice for skateboarding on asphalt.
They ensure minimum vibration when moving on rough surfaces. This means that you will be able to enjoy a smooth ride. The hardness of thesewheels ranges between 78a to 98a on the durometer. Therefore, their hardness ranges from soft to relatively hard. However, don’t expect them to be super hard.
The diameter of cruising wheels is wider as compared to street wheels. Their diameter ranges from 54 to 59mm. Due to their wider diameter, you might find it difficult to fit them onto a regular skateboard. Make sure you add a riser to the board if you are using cruising wheels otherwise these wheels might cause wheel bite to the board.
When wheels grind against the board while skateboarding, it is referred to as wheel bite. This may result in accidents.
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Longboard wheels
Longboard wheels are one of the largest and softest wheels available on the market. Their diameter ranges between 60 to 75mm while their hardness can go up to 85a. This shows that these wheels are quite soft.
These wheels can be used over all kinds of pavements. These wheels are incredibly grippy which means that they are the best choice when it comes to going around corners. Available in various sizes and shapes, these wheels allow you to practice racing, sliding, and even carving.
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Ramp wheels
For skateboarding on your local ramp, you will need skateboard wheels with a diameter between 53 to 55mm. These wheels will not only help you skateboard on ramps but also let you transition to the street. The hardness of these wheels lies between 96A to 101A.
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Vert wheels
For vert skateboarding, you need some specific type of wheels with a slightly larger diameter. This will ensure better grip over the ground and so you will not slide unnecessarily. Their diameter lies in the range of 54 to 59mm whereas their hardness can range between 96A to 101A on the durometer. These wheels have greater contact with the ground and are round-lipped with a smooth structure.
Factors to consider
Following are some of the factors that you need to consider before you pick a specific type of skateboard wheels for yourself.
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Diameter of wheels
Wheels with a smaller diameter are lightweight and very responsive. This makes them the perfect choice for technical skating as well as street skating. On the other hand, increased speeds can be achieved using wheels with bigger diameters even though they are heavier. This allows them to roll better on rough pavements. For this reason, wheels with bigger diameters are preferred for transportation and bowl skating.
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Wheel contact patch
This is the surface area of the wheel that is in direct contact with the ground. It is also referred to as riding surface. The greater the riding surface, the more grip the wheels will have on the ground. Narrower wheels are preferred by street skaters as they help make it easier for users to perform tricks. For skating bowls and transportation, wider wheels are preferred as they improve grip even at high speeds.
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Wheel profile
How a pair of wheels lock into grinds, their weight as well as their grip may be affected by the shape or profile of the wheel’s edge. For easier sliding, we would recommend a more rounded edge. Sharper edges allow for increased grip on the ground and allow you to lock into grinds much better without much slipping.
Conclusion
We have tried our best to explain different types of skateboard wheels in this article. We have also included some of the factors that need to be considered when picking a pair of wheels for your skateboard. We hope you can now pick the best skateboard wheels for yourself. Good luck!
Different Types Of Skateboard Wheels FAQ :
1. What are different types of skateboard wheels for?
Answer: Different types of skateboard wheels vary according to their uses. For example, some will work better indoors as compared to outdoors.
2. What kind of wheels are best for skating?
Answer: This depends on your kind of skating. Street wheels work better in the streets while cruise wheels are better for rough surfaces.
3. What are the 3 types of skateboards?
Answer: The three types of skateboards are longboard skateboards, cruiser skateboards, and carve skateboards.
4. What are 4 types of skateboarding?
Answer: The 4 types of skateboarding are freestyle, vert, street, and park.
