If you're a skateboarder, then you know how important wheels are. There are many, many types of skateboard wheels out in the world. What kind of skateboard wheels does a skater want? This short guide should help you generate a much better understanding of the many different kinds of wheels out there.
The very first item you must to understand about wheels is that they can be bought in different hardness's. Skaters call this 'hardness' the wheel's Shore D, or durometer. The durometer scale comes in two types. The D scale is used on harder materials, while the A scale is used for softer materials, such as the polyurethane used in a skateboard wheel.
You have to choose a durometer depending on what you desire in a skateboard wheel. One rule to follow is that 78a to 88a are great cruising or longboarding wheels, as they are extremely soft wheels that can roll over bumps very easily, while 88a to 97a or higher typically make good wheels for street skaters. These harder wheels give a tiny bit more control of the board, and give the skater more velocity on smooth skating spots, such as the concrete in a skatepark. A harder wheel is also less likely to develop a flatspot if you are a powerslider.
The next feature you have to look at in a wheel is the shape of it. There are a couple different shapes of wheels, and each is designed for a different purpose. A 'free ride' wheel is your every day skateboard wheel. Freeride wheels have rounded edges and a rounded front, which makes getting off ledges or coping much easier than it would be if you had conical wheels with a flat back. Downhill longboarders often use soft freeride wheels because it makes it easier to go down a hill. The beveled edges also give you some extra grip whilst carving.
The other type of wheel is the conical wheel. Conical wheels have a reverse volcano shape to them, with a cubed back. (If that doesn't make sense, do a quick image search and you will know what I'm talking about.) Conical wheels are often used for street longboarders, as they're light weight and ride on the street very well. Since they're lightweight, a cruiser or longboarder won't have to push as often as they would with a full wheel.
Next you'll have to think about is the diameter of the wheel. Normal skateboard wheels usually come in sizes from 50 to 54mm. Skateboard wheels aren't often made much smaller than 50mm, as they get too tiny to be useful. Larger wheels are often utilized on longboard or cruiser boards; many longboarders like to utilize a softer wheel that is around 59 to 60mm. Longboarders use larger wheels than street boarders because it makes it easier to roll over bumps or cracks in the street. Extreme downhill longboarders will often buy even larger wheels - up to 65mm or more - because of the speed increase. The larger the wheel, the more speed you will gain on a hill.
The final step you must follow in buying your wheels is to assess what's available to you at your local skateboard shop, and then buy the wheel that is going to suit your needs. If you're a street cruiser, you may want to look at getting some 78a 60mm conical wheels. If you are a skatepark skater, you will probably need wheels that are small and hard - 97a 52mm wheels would do nicely. Before you buy the wheels you're looking at, find out if you can try out a board that has the wheels you were checking out on it. A few skateboard shops have skateboard decks that they will be happy to let you try out.
In conclusion, we talked about what the durometer of a wheel is, how the shape is a factor, and the differences in diameter. If you're still confused after reading all this info, head down to your local skateboard shop. They will be happy to help out a fellow skater.
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