Size Guide - Skateboard Wheels
Choosing the right size wheel diameter.
The diameter, or size, of your wheels affects your board’s top speed, acceleration and ability to turn. Skate wheels are measured in millimeters and typically range in size from 49-75mm. Bigger wheels will give you a faster ride, because a single rotation will cover more distance. However, it’s more difficult to make sharp turns on larger wheels and they don’t accelerate as fast as their smaller counterparts. Small wheels are also more effective for street skating maneuvers such as powerslides and blunts, so take your style of riding into consideration, as always, when deciding on a new set of wheels.Here are some suggestions for wheel size based on your type of riding.
If you ride vert: You want faster wheels, so go with some biggies. Try out something between 55-60mm, but you may find that you want to go even larger down the line.
If you ride street: Think small if you like to do technical tricks. Smaller wheels equal a lighter board with a lower foundation, ideal for street riding. Pick out wheels with a diameter somewhere between 50-55mm. If you are an all-around rider: As discussed in the durometer section, all-around skaters will need to find a middle ground when it comes to wheel size. Select some mid-sized wheels – somewhere between 54-60mm – and you’ll find that you can tackle most terrain comfortably.
If you cruise/longboard: Longboarders and other riders who like to carve out sections of road on big, fat boards tend to require larger wheels to give them speed and stability. Longboard-specific wheels are generally about 64-75mm in diameter, but there are even larger wheels out there if you so desire.
Bottom line, the larger the wheels, the faster you go; the smaller the wheels, the closer to the ground you’ll ride and the lighter your board will be. It should also be noted that smaller people tend to do better riding on smaller wheels, while larger people might feel more comfortable on bigger wheels. This is all a matter of riding style and personal preference, so use these ranges as a starting-off point and determine the best fit for your own set-up.
The diameter, or size, of your wheels affects your board’s top speed, acceleration and ability to turn. Skate wheels are measured in millimeters and typically range in size from 49-75mm. Bigger wheels will give you a faster ride, because a single rotation will cover more distance. However, it’s more difficult to make sharp turns on larger wheels and they don’t accelerate as fast as their smaller counterparts. Small wheels are also more effective for street skating maneuvers such as powerslides and blunts, so take your style of riding into consideration, as always, when deciding on a new set of wheels.Here are some suggestions for wheel size based on your type of riding.
If you ride vert: You want faster wheels, so go with some biggies. Try out something between 55-60mm, but you may find that you want to go even larger down the line.
If you ride street: Think small if you like to do technical tricks. Smaller wheels equal a lighter board with a lower foundation, ideal for street riding. Pick out wheels with a diameter somewhere between 50-55mm. If you are an all-around rider: As discussed in the durometer section, all-around skaters will need to find a middle ground when it comes to wheel size. Select some mid-sized wheels – somewhere between 54-60mm – and you’ll find that you can tackle most terrain comfortably.
If you cruise/longboard: Longboarders and other riders who like to carve out sections of road on big, fat boards tend to require larger wheels to give them speed and stability. Longboard-specific wheels are generally about 64-75mm in diameter, but there are even larger wheels out there if you so desire.
Bottom line, the larger the wheels, the faster you go; the smaller the wheels, the closer to the ground you’ll ride and the lighter your board will be. It should also be noted that smaller people tend to do better riding on smaller wheels, while larger people might feel more comfortable on bigger wheels. This is all a matter of riding style and personal preference, so use these ranges as a starting-off point and determine the best fit for your own set-up.