What to Look For in Skateboard Wheels
If the wheels you buy aren’t up to
snuff, there can be dire consequences. At best, they could break and leave you
unable to ride the board for a while; at worst, they cause an accident that
sees you injured.
When looking for wheels, you should
evaluate their size first. With a longboard, the wheels start at 54 mm and go
up from there. The smaller the diameter, the slower you’ll go, but the easier
it will be to accelerate. A larger wheel will allow you to go fast, but the
acceleration will be much slower. If you’re a beginner, anything from a 54 to 59
mm is perfect for you. They’ll allow you to easily skate through the street, as
well as learn the ropes of the skateboard. Anything 60 mm and up is designed
for uneven terrain, making it perfect for downhill boards.
Next, you should look at the shape
of the wheel. Ensuring you have the right shape for your board can be crucial.
It’s the difference between gliding smoothly through a turn or wiping out. There are three different shapes: the square
edge, beveled edge, and round edge. The square edge have great grip and are
made for downhill riders. The beveled edge wheel shape is right between the
square and round; it gives you a point of contact at the edge of the wheel,
making them great for turning. Finally, the rounded edge wheels are great for
carving and sliding, and provide less friction with the ground.