The 10 Best Skateboard Wheels
When it comes to skateboarding, the right wheels can make all the difference in the way you skate. Whether you’re looking to skate street, transition, or just cruise around, your choice of wheels will impact your experience. But with so many options out there, how do you know which wheels are right for you? In this guide, we’ll go over our top picks for the best skateboard wheels of 2024. Afterward, we break down the details of skateboard wheels and how to find the perfect set for the way you skate.
The 10 Best Skateboard Wheels
- Spitfire Formula Four Classic Wheels
- Features: Known for their unbeatable durability and performance, Spitfire’s Formula Four Classic Wheels are a favorite among professional skateboarders. With a selection of durometers ranging from 93A to 101A, these wheels provide the perfect balance of speed and control. The classic shape is versatile, making them suitable for both street and park skating.
- Why We Love Them: Spitfire's Formula Four urethane offers unmatched flatspot resistance, ensuring your ride stays smooth no matter how hard you skate them.
- Powell-Peralta Dragon Formula Wheels
- Features: These wheels are engineered with Powell-Peralta's specialized Dragon Formula, which offers a unique blend of speed and grip. With a durometer of 93A, they provide excellent control, especially on rough surfaces, while offering the right amount of slide when skating ledges.
- Why We Love Them: The Dragon Formula wheels are incredibly durable, providing a long-lasting ride with minimal wear and tear, making them perfect for all terrains.
- Bones STF Wheels
- Features: Bones STF (Street Tech Formula) wheels are designed for street skaters who demand high performance. These wheels are hard, fast, and slide like a dream.
- Why We Love Them: The Street Tech Formula offers superior slide control, making these wheels ideal for technical tricks and slides on smooth surfaces.
- OJ Double Duro Wheels
- Features: OJ Double Duro wheels feature a dual durometer design, combining a hard outer core with a softer inner layer. The inner core provides smoothness and impact absorption, while the outer core still allows for fast slides.
- Why We Love Them: The innovative Double Duro design lets you comfortably roll on various terrains, making them versatile for both street and park skating.
5. Orbs Specters Wheels
- Features: Orbs Specters wheels are designed with a conical shape, offering a wider contact patch for better grip. Orbs typically offer harder durometer wheels, ensuring speed and control for street skaters.
- Why We Love Them: The unique shape and high-quality urethane make these wheels perfect for skaters looking for both performance and style.
6. Snot Boogerthane Wheels
- Features: Snot is run by Heroin Skateboards owner and artist, Fos. Snot Boogerthane wheels feature a classic shape for a smooth ride with plenty of grip. They’re ideal for street and transition skating.
- Why We Love Them: These wheels are perfect for skaters who want a blend of speed and control.
7. Spitfire Radial Wheels
- Features: Spitfire Radial wheels are built for speed with a rounded edge and various options for a contact patch. They’re designed to handle high-speed skating for street and transition.
- Why We Love Them: The radial design makes these wheels incredibly fast, ideal for skaters who want utmost control at higher speeds.
8. Ricta Cloud Wheels
- Features: Ricta Cloud wheels are soft (78A-86A), making them perfect for cruising and filming. They absorb vibrations and provide a smooth, comfortable ride on rough surfaces.
- Why We Love Them: If you’re looking for the smoothest ride possible, Ricta Cloud wheels are the way to go. The softness ensures a cushioned ride, even on the roughest roads.
9. Portland Wheel Co.
- Features: Portland Wheel Co wheels are built for skaters who need reliability and control. The conical shape provides a wider contact patch, enhancing stability during turns and tricks.
- Why We Love Them: The conical shape and various options in durometer makes these wheels well-suited for different types of skating environments, from smooth park surfaces to rougher street conditions.
- Slime Ball Wheels
- Features: Slime Ball wheels are known for their retro style and high performance. With a durometer ranging from 78A to 99A, they’re versatile enough for cruising, park, and street skating.
- Why We Love Them: The nostalgic design combined with modern performance makes Slime Balls a favorite among skaters who appreciate ‘80s skateboarding.
Understanding Skateboard Wheels
Here are the four most important things to consider when choosing skateboard wheels:
Wheel Shapes
Skateboard wheels come in different shapes and have distinct characteristics that suit different skating styles. From the width of the wheel to the sharpness of its edges, these factors affect how a skateboard handles slides, speed, turns, and landings. A wheel’s shape can also determine how stable it feels and how much grip or slide it provides when you’re riding on smooth or rough surfaces. Below are some of the most popular wheel shapes you will find in skateboarding.
- Classic Shape: These are the most versatile wheels, suitable for various styles of skateboarding. The rounded edges allow for smooth transitions between tricks and grinds, reducing the likelihood of getting stuck on obstacles. This shape is particularly popular for street and park skating because it offers a good balance of speed, control, and stability. Whether you're doing kickflips on flat ground or grinding ledges, the classic shape is a reliable choice for most skaters.
- Conical Shape: These wheels feature a wider contact patch (the amount of wheel that touches the surface you’re skating) with a conical cut on both sides, offering extra grip and control, particularly for technical skating and transition skating. Skaters who prefer a more locked-in feel when riding or grinding often choose conical wheels. Additionally, the conical design helps distribute weight more evenly across the wheel, which can enhance durability and reduce flatspots. These wheels are a great option for those who focus on street or transition skating.
- Radial Shape: Radial wheels have a rounded outer edge, making them an excellent choice for skaters who prioritize speed and smooth riding. The edges are more rounded than a classic wheel and allow a more responsive slide. A Radial wheel with a larger contact patch is perfect for transition skating, while a slimmer Radial contact patch helps with more technical street tricks.
Durometer (Hardness)
Durometer is a measurement used to determine the hardness of skateboard wheels. Most skateboard wheels are rated on the A scale. The higher the number, the harder the wheel. Some manufacturers also use the B scale, which measures 20 points lower than the A scale (e.g., an 84B wheel is equivalent to 104A). While the A scale is more common, the B scale is used for wheels that are exceptionally hard.
Durometers have a significant impact on how your skateboard performs, influencing factors such as speed, grip, control, and the overall feel of your ride. Whether you're a street skater, park rider, or cruiser, understanding wheel durometer is essential to choosing the right wheels for your skating style and the terrain you skate on. Below you can find some durometer guidelines to follow, based on your skateboarding preference.
- 78A-87A: Soft wheels, ideal for cruising, carving, and rough surfaces. They absorb vibrations and provide a smooth ride.
- 88A-95A: Medium soft, these wheels offer a balance between grip and speed, making them suitable for rough surfaces for street skating or park/transition skating.
- 96A-99A: Harder wheels, excellent for technical street skating and park skating. They offer less grip but more speed.
- 100A and above: Extremely hard wheels, designed for smooth surfaces like skateparks and smoother street spots. These wheels slide easily and are perfect for advanced tricks.
Size (Diameter)
Skateboard wheel size refers to the diameter of the wheel, typically measured in millimeters (mm). The most common skateboard wheels range from 50mm to 60mm in diameter, with different sizes suiting different styles of skateboarding. The larger the diameter, the bigger the wheel, and the smaller the diameter, the smaller the wheel. This measurement directly affects how the wheels handle speed and maneuverability. You can use the helpful tips below to find the best skateboard wheel size for you.
- 50-52mm: Smaller wheels, perfect for technical street skating and tricks. They provide better control but less speed.
- 53-56mm: A versatile size, suitable for street and park skating. They offer a balance of speed and control.
- 57mm and above: Larger wheels, ideal for cruising and skating rougher terrain. They provide more speed and handle rough surfaces well.
Wheel Formula:
Skateboard wheel formulas, made from various blends of urethane, impact a wheel's hardness, grip, slide, and overall performance. Each brand uses proprietary formulas, tweaking them to cater to specific skateboarding styles and terrains. For more advanced skaters, the formula you use can directly affect the way you skate.
- Polyurethane (PU): Nearly all skateboard wheels are made from PU. However, the quality and additives in the PU mix can vary, leading to differences in grip, rebound, durability, and slide.
- Rebound: How quickly a wheel bounces back after pressure is applied. High-rebound wheels are faster and smoother.
- Grip and Slide: Different blends offer varying degrees of grip and ability to slide. Some wheels are designed for maximum grip, while others are optimized for smooth sliding.
- Durability: Formulas that resist flatspots, chipping, or premature wear.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right skateboard wheels depends on your skating style and the terrain you plan to ride. Whether you’re looking for speed, grip, or a smooth cruising experience, there’s a perfect wheel out there for you. This list includes some of the best options available in 2024, ensuring you’ll find the right fit for your setup. If you still aren’t sure which wheels are best for you, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to help.