As the name states, these are the wheels on the skateboard. Wheels are what causes the deck to glide across the surface you skate on. Most wheels are made of polyurethane with a hollow hub for bearings to fit in. They come in a range of sizes, colors, and durometer (hardness). Each style is made to serve a different preference.
To see what wheels we have in stock, click here
Size & Hardness
These 2 features are the main focus of a wheel. Size is the outer diameter of a wheel. The size range is from 48mm-60mm. Wheels that go past 60mm are most likely longboard wheels, for more info on those please refer to the longboard wheel buying guide. Durometer of a skateboard wheel affects the ride just as much as the size does. The range is measured in A units and B units. The a-scale range is roughly 75a – 101a. The b-scale range is usually in the 80s (i.e. 84a). Most shortboard wheels have the size & durometer printed on the wheel, but that's not always the case. As long as you can find the right numbers for both measurements, you can find the perfect wheel!
Size
SMALL (48mm-51mm): Smaller & slower. More stable for performing tricks. More ideal for smaller decks and shorter skaters. Still works great in parks and on the streets.
AVERAGE (52mm-56mm): Most common sizes, great for performing tricks and becoming airborne. These wheel sizes work well with almost every deck, from thin to wide. Great for skating parks, streets, ramps, and bowls; however, these sizes are the most ideal size for street skating.
LARGE (57mm-60mm): Larger wheels reach higher speeds and are great for anyone looking a smooth ride through a skate park. These are not ideal for someone looking to get airborne. The wheels are great for skating pools and slopes in the skateparks.
Durometer
SOFT (75a-87a): Soft wheels are usually wider/cylinder shaped wheels. They are usually cruiser & longboarding wheels. Wheels within this durometer range are designed for a smoother ride, better grip, longer distances, and going over rough surfaces as they absorb a lot of the vibrations produced.
MEDIUM (88a-95a): Not extremely soft, but not too hard. These wheels are harder and faster, but lose some of the grip found in softer wheels. These wheels don’t absorb as many vibrations as the softer wheels, but are still good for rough surfaces found when skating the streets.
MEDIUM/HARD (96a-99a): These wheels are the most common durometers found in skateboard wheels used for shortboards. Great speed and good grip, these wheels are a good choice for someone looking to do tricks, skate parks, but still want something good for the streets. These wheels are great for beginners who are unsure that type of wheel they are looking for. On longboard wheels and cruiser wheels, this is considered hard.
HARD (101a+): These wheels are the fastest choice, but they sacrifice the grip you get with softer wheels. These wheels are not ideal on rough surfaces, and riders should be conscience when riding on slick surfaces. These are not recommended for beginners, but are more of a specialty wheel that skaters change to when they what something harder than the typical skateboard wheel. After 100a, a-ratings start losing accuracy, so thats why the b-rating is used for wheels harder than 100a (most of the time).
HARD (81b-84b): The b-scale rating is 20 points less than the a-scale rating (81b=101a, 82b=102a, 83b=103a, 84b=104a). The specs are the same as the hard wheels using the a-scale.
Cruiser Wheels
Cruiser wheels are designed specifically for cruising. They are bigger, wider, flatter, softer wheels. The bigger diameter allows for faster speeds. The wider contact patch allows for farther distances with less push. The flatter surface is the help grip the ground, which helps you stay on your path. The softer durometer helps absorb the vibrations from rougher surfaces. The most common durometer for cruiser wheels is 78a, but can go up to around 83a. All of those reasons are why cruiser wheels are the choice of someone who wants to cruise around but doesn’t want to get a longboard.
To see what cruiser wheels we have in stock, click here
Old School Wheels
Old school wheels are very similar to cruiser wheels as far as size and width, but where they differ is hardness. Old school wheels are harder and are directed more towards skating pools and parks. They range around 85a - 104a, but the most common durometer is 97a. This give the board a nice smooth ride when on smoother surfaces. Unfortunately, they don’t absorb the vibrations caused by rougher surfaces found in the streets. Simply put, the reason to choose old school over cruiser is if you plan on skating parks and pools.
To see what old school wheels we have in stock, click here