In need of some new wheels for your skateboard?
There are so many to choose from on the market today, so we took the liberty of listing some of the best options of 2018. Whether you need something on the cheaper side or the highest quality and price out there – there is an option on this list for you.
How We Chose Our Ratings
To make sure we are providing you with the best and most honest choices possible – there are a few different aspects of the product that we look at before including it in our list. We want to make sure our reviews are as honest and trustworthy as possible.
In order to provide you with a complete overview, we will be looking at the pricing and how it compares to the quality, the aesthetics, and what the wheel works best for as far as tricks and abilities are concerned.
Buyer’s Guide
Making sure that you have the best wheels for your particular board is a process. It’s important to consider several aspects before purchasing them.
Speed is something vitally important that will need to come in mind when choosing the best product. Skateboard wheels are the most important part of determining the speed you will be able to achieve on your board. Let’s take a look at what determines your speed and quality of your ride on your skateboard.
Diameter
Diameter is something you will definitely want to think about while looking for your best skateboard wheels choice.
This is a measurement that comes in millimetres (mm). The normal range that you will see on your skateboard wheels is between 50 – 75mm.
If you end up choosing a smaller diameter size, your ride is generally going to be slower – larger ones will, in turn, be much faster. The diameter is of course directly proportional to your board’s speed, and this also directly affects how fast you can accelerate and how sharply you will be able to turn.
Still having trouble figuring out what size diameter will be best? If you’re brand new at skateboarding, you will want to look at between 50 – 53mm, and a beginner to intermediate rider will want anything from 54 – 59. If you are a professional rider or someone who rides longboards, you’ll want anything above 60mm. Something that large is made for speed and can roll over basically any terrain you attempt.
Durometer
Now that we have looked at the actual size of the wheel, we are going to talk about the importance of measuring its hardness. The higher the durometer, the harder the wheel.
You measure this number with something called the Durometer A Scale, which consists of 100 points. The best durometer level, in general, is going to be the 99a. There is also a B scale, too, however, which some manufacturers use instead. It simply measures 20 points lower and allows the scale an additional 20 points for harder wheels. A 90a durometer wheel would be the same thing as a 70b wheel.
So how does this measurement affect your speed?
The harder the wheel, the faster it is going to go. Having a softer wheel will allow you more grip on whatever surface you’re riding on, making you slower. For something like street skating, you are better off with softer wheels – they allow you a smoother ride on the road and other places like skate parks.
Contact Patch
Something else to give quite a bit of consideration to is the contact patch.
This simply refers to the area of the wheel that actually makes contact with the ground. If you have a smaller contact patch, your body weight is distributed over a smaller area than with a larger one. A small contact patch also increases the compression of urethane in the wheels which will eventually decrease the rolling resistance, causing the wheel to slow down quite a bit.
The shape, which we will look at next, greatly affects the size of your contact patch. If you go for a completely round wheel, less of it will make contact with the pavement. Whereas a squarer wheel makes much more contact.
Shapes
For shape, you do have a few different options.
You have the sharp-lip shape, which is perfect for cruising and carving – they offer significantly more grip, especially if you are making some really sharp turns. Round-lip shape is also a viable option as well. These are fantastic for performing carves, surf slides, and learning powerslide because they offer you the best finish.
Now that you have a pretty good idea of what you’re looking for – let’s pick some wheels.
The Top Ten Best Skateboard Wheels
Here are our top ten favorite choices, ranked in no particular order.
- Wheel Diameter = 60mm
- Wheel Width = 44mm
- Hardness/Durometer = 90A
- Wheel Suggested Use = Ditches
- Country of Origin: USA
The Powell Peralta Rat Bones Re-Issue Skateboard wheel is definitely a fantastic choice for anyone really focused on aesthetics. This sleek, black design would look good on pretty much any skateboard you can find.
They are also incredibly durable with a level of 95a, which as we discussed before, is pretty high. Their contact patch is also excellent – they have a width of 44mm. The wheel’s diameter is 60mm. This is definitely a product that has been adapted for really rough terrain that you could basically ride anywhere.
This is a relatively affordable product, you can buy a 4 pack of them from Powell Peralta’s website for $36.00.
Let’s take a quick look at any downsides these wheels may have.
The only ones that really caught our eye were the fact that these wheels would definitely not be ones to use in the streets – they are more suited for rougher terrain. So if you need something softer, these are not the wheels for you. The only other downside would simply be that they would not be the best wheels for beginners.
However, if you are an expert rider that needs these for a rougher terrain – these are definitely one of the best skateboard wheels for you.
- 1 set (4 wheels) of Sector 9 Butterballs 65mm 80a White Wheels
- Stone Ground - Great for Sliding
- Round Edges, Center Set
- 1 Full Set (8 Bearings) of SL Abec 5 Bearings Included!
This is a really nice-looking wheel that pops with color. They have a durometer of 80a and a diameter of 65mm. The contact patch is 38mm.
One unique aspect of these skateboard wheels is the fact that the urethane that they’re made of is butter based – meaning that even when you have them completely broken in, they will still slide easily. That factor makes them an ideal choice for really fast skateboarding.
This wheel will cost you about $38.00 for a four pack of the wheels on Amazon.
Just like the last wheels we looked at, the only real cons of these wheels are that they aren’t really ideal for a beginner or for skate parking.
- Wheel Size: 54mm
- Durometer: 83b
- Construction technology: Street Tech Formula
- NOTE: Wheels sold in sets of 4 only.
The Bones STF Street Tech Formula skateboard wheels are another excellent choice. These wheels have a diameter of 52mm, a durometer of 83b, and a contact patch of 34mm.
This wheel has very high resistance and does not flat spot easily. It is an ideal choice for skateboarding in streets, and has a threaded surface as well.
These wheels are very affordable as well, only costing you right around $30.00 on various websites. The only cons we saw for these wheels were the lack of any shape or color variety – the design you see is really all you get.
- 59mm
- 78A
- Penny original wheel
These wheels definitely have more of a vintage, 1970’s look – which is fantastic if that is the aesthetic you are looking for.
The variety for these wheels is incredible, they come in fourteen different colors including red, yellow, green, and white among many other choices. They have a diameter of 59, and a durometer of 78a.
This is a perfect choice for beginners, as they offer perfect balance and are suitable for a larger variety of different weights. A four pack of these wheels will cost you about $36.00 on Amazon. The only downsides we really came across were simply that they were not great for rough terrain, as their durability is fairly in the middle. They also aren’t the fastest choice on the list. However, if you are a beginner, these are definitely a viable choice.
- BONES STF V5 ANNUALS 52mm WHITE WHEELS SET
For those of you who are really focused on the aesthetics of your wheels – Bones has a great product for you. These wheels are a sleek, dramatic design with multiple colors. They have a diameter of 51mm, a contact patch of 28, and a durometer of 103a.
These wheels are perfect for extremely smooth rides and are perfect for riding in the streets. The vivid colors also don’t fade easily, so the look of them does not change over time. Bones also offers a warranty to give the buyer peace of mind when purchasing these as well.
Downsides for choosing this wheel include no color varieties to choose from – although the design they have still looks pretty great. They also are not the best idea for beginners to start with, mostly because their contact patch is smaller – the wheels offer less balance and are not ideal for long, drawn out rides or rough terrain.
- Spitfire BIGHEAD 63mm WHT W RED Skateboard Wheels
A great thing about the Spitfire Bighead skateboard wheels is the fact that they come in different sizes – they range from 48mm to 63mm. This makes them a great choice for both expert skateboarders and beginners. They also come in different shapes and color choices as well.
They are advertised as the first handmade skateboard wheels created in the USA, making it possible to adapt them to the dynamism of skating. The wheels offer incredible speed and balance, making them a very popular choice as well.
These are wheels that will not flat spot, they are very durable, and offer a very high-speed, smooth ride.
The only downside really mentioned are the fact that they aren’t the best choice for rough terrain. Other than that, they’re really perfect for anything.
- Manufactured by Pig Wheels.
- A brand-new, unused, and unworn item (including handmade items) in the original packaging (such as the original box or bag) and/or with the original tags attached.
Pig Wheels offers some of the best wheels for your skateboard that you can find on the market today. They are extremely hard with a 100a durometer, and their diameter ranges from 50mm to 60mm.
The design is wrapped in icy white polyurethane, giving the wheels a clean look. They also have a grooved surface, which provides the user with better traction, stability, and speed. These are also fairly affordable, costing you around $30.00 for a four pack on Amazon.Overall, the only downside we see to using these wheels is that they aren’t really meant for beginners. You’ll have no issues using them as an experienced or even intermediate skateboarder.
- 1 set (4 wheels) of RAD Advantage Race Wheels
- 74mm 78a
- Width: 58mm
- Contact Patch Width: 58mm
- Brand New
These uniquely bright and colorful wheels are made to provide the rider with a fantastic, fast experience. They have a 39mm contact patch, making them wider and a much better option for balance than some of the other wheels mentioned.
The wheels are incredibly durable and hard, providing you with a fast ride and the ability to ride any kind of terrain you want.
As for cons? These wheels are terribly expensive compared to the other choices on our list. These will cost you right around $50.00 for a four pack.
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Looking for something a little out of the ordinary? Check out the Shark Wheel California Roll.
These are square shaped wheels that look like they would give you an incredibly bumpy ride – however it’s one of the smoothest you will be able to find from a wheel. They are 60mm in diameter, and their durometer is 78a.
The wheels also have a neat aesthetic, since the wheels are so riveted and brightly colored.
The Shark Wheel offers a lot more grip, control over sliding, better traction, and are perfect on any terrain and any weather.
For cons, these are a little more expensive. They will cost you anywhere from $40 t0 $60 for a four pack on Amazon.
- 70mm diameter
- 38mm contact patch
- 76a durometer
- Center set core
Last but not least, we have the Remember Collective Hoot Freeride wheel.
This product is perfect for those who want to go extremely fast. The wheels come with a diameter of 70mm, making them the perfect size for speed.
They come in some interesting colors as well – the company offers avocado green, lemon yellow, and bubblegum pink.
It’s a great choice for beginners, as the ride will be very smooth and the wheels have 38mm contact patch. They are also very affordable, costing you $34 for four of them.
The only real pro that we came across was the fact that they only come in three colors.
Time to Pick
We hope this guide was helpful in assisting you with your best skateboard wheels choice. Which ones on the list did you like the best? Were there other choices you would have listed?
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