Buying Skateboard Wheels

Choosing which skateboard wheels you should get depends on your personal skateboarding style, but smaller wheels are typically used for street and smaller riders, while bigger wheels are used for park and vert. Read more about wheel size and durometer to find the right wheels matching your needs.

Skateboard wheels come in different sizes, ranges of durometer or hardness and colors for you to pick between. In general, they are made of polyurethane (PU) which is a special type of plastic with good elastic properties, providing the wheels with bounce. This means that the wheels respond better to the energy transferred from the user to the wheels compared to if they were made of normal plastic. Choosing your skateboard wheels with the right durometer and size is therefore important since it will affect how the wheels turn and thus your skateboarding style.

Wheel size

The wheel size is measured in the diameter and affects how fast the wheel can go and how fast it can accelerate - that is, how quick you can gain speed. In general, the following applies:

• Bigger wheels provide higher speed but less maneuverability.
• Smaller wheels provide less speed but better maneuverability.

50-53 mm: Smaller wheels with these measures are typically used for street and street influenced parks, as well as small riders and boards. With wheels in these sizes, speed is not the goal, but being able to come closer to the ground and the grind edges in order to make it easier to pop tricks.

54-60 mm: Wheels with these measures are the most regular wheel sizes and are used by both beginners and experienced skaters. They make it possible for you to skate on ramps and in vert influenced parks where you need speed to go high up on the ramp. The wheels also provide you with a more versatile ride, making them a good all-around size.

Wheel durometer

The durometer or hardness of the wheels at SkatePro are indicated accordingly to the A-scale with a number followed by the letter A. There are also other durometer scales, such as the D scale. The thing that applies for all of them is that a higher rating equals a harder wheel. This means that a wheel with a durometer 100A is harder than a 90A wheel. In general, the following applies:

• Harder wheels provide higher speed and a longer lifespan, but less grip and less shock absorption.
• Softer wheels provide more shock absorption and grip, but less speed and a shorter lifespan.

95-100A: This durometer range is usually popular among skaters - no matter whether it’s for street, park or ramps. So choosing wheels with this durometer can be a safe choice.

For transportation: If you primarily use your skateboard for transportation, softer wheels with a bigger diameter are preferable, since your ride becomes more comfortable.

For tricks: If you primarily use your skateboard for tricks, harder wheels are preferable since they are more responsive, meaning that you get better control of the board.

Choosing wheel durometer is basically a matter of personal preference. If you therefore prefer soft wheels, you should go for a lower durometer and if you prefer harder wheels, you should choose a higher durometer.

Tip: White wheels last longer than colored wheels

Colored wheels for skateboards contain dye, which wears out faster than PU plastic. White wheels, however, do not contain any dye and you, therefore, obtain the purest level of PU, making white wheels more durable than colored skateboard wheels.

See our wide selection of skateboard wheels

Contact our customer support for further advice, should you still have any questions. We are always ready to help :-).