Longboard Wheels Blog

Skateboard wheels are attached as a pair at the bottom of a skateboard, held and mounted in place by specialized axles known as trucks. They are normally made from polyurethane, a very hard type of rubber, and range in size between 48 to 100 millimeters. Besides size, skateboard wheels also differ in hardness, as measured by a durometer A scale. The softest ones are at about 75a, while the hardest skateboard wheels are at 99a. Some are also labeled to have ratings of 101a and above but this is inappropriate since the durometer A scale only runs up to 100. For skateboard wheels harder than the hardest skateboard wheels for the A scale, B or D scales are normally used for better accuracy and wider range of hardness.
Kinds of skateboard wheels

Street: Street skateboard wheels measure between 48 to 55 millimeters and are considered to be the smallest in the bunch. They are relatively hard, preventing them from slowing down and absorbing energy but useful for skating tricks like ollies and flips.

Vert: Vert skateboard wheels are specialized for vert skating, which includes landing and jumping on ramps. Sized at 55 to 65 millimeters, they are considered to be one of the hardest skateboard wheels primarily because of their exclusive use on ramps.

Slalom: Slalom skateboard wheels are bigger than vert wheels at 60 to 75 millimeters, with their size allowing them to sustain maximum speeds for a longer period of time. However, they are softer to provide better grips on turns, very important in slalom racing.

Longboard: Longboard skateboard wheels are made for transport and cruising, catering to the primary function of longboards. With sizes ranging from 65 to 100 millimeters, they provide stable and comfortable rides. They normally come with hard plastic cores since using solid polyurethane ones would make them too heavy and too thick.

A quick tip

The softest wheels are ideal for children and beginners. As you go up a skill level, the harder your wheels become.

When choosing a skateboard, most people focus on the size, length, traction, and overall design. While these are all important factors, other details are often overlooked, such as the skateboard wheels. Wheels don’t just keep your board rolling — they are also responsible for keeping you on your feet as you tackle different terrains.

Most skateboard wheels are made of polyurethane, a type of hard rubber. They are designed to withstand high friction and contact with rough surfaces, such as dirt and concrete. They come in different sizes and hardness levels, and choosing the right wheel can greatly improve your performance.

Durometer

Wheel hardness is measured in the durometer A scale, from 75a to 99a. You may see skateboards marked 100a or higher, but don’t be fooled – the A scale only goes up to 99. Street skateboard wheels are usually very hard, which allows them to slow down quickly and store energy as you move along. This makes it suitable for tricks and jumps. The same is true with vert wheels, which are mostly used on ramps, uphill, and upward curves. Softer wheels provide better maneuvering and speed control, making them ideal for slalom racing and longboards.

Size matters

Size is also an important factor when choosing skateboard wheels. As a rule of thumb, your wheels should be appropriate for your body size. For teens and children, the recommended wheel size is 52 to 55 mm. The size for adults should be 56 to 60 mm. The smallest wheels are usually the street wheel type,which measure from 48 to 55 mm. Vert and slalom skateboard wheels range from 56 to 75 mm.

The Loaded Dervish is a longboard made of flexible bamboo wood. Loaded Dervish longboards are similar to skateboards but are generally longer and larger and often used for transportation, or longboarding which may include cruising, downhill racing, slalom racing and tricks. Longboarding has many parallels with surfing and in fact has often been described as surfing on concrete.

A Loaded Dervish Longboard is manufactured by Loaded Carving Systems, the loaded dervish is a carved board measuring about one hundred and five centimeters long (about forty-two inches) and twenty one and a half centimeters wide (eight and a half inches). It has a wheel base of about eighty-four centimeters (thirty-three inches) and weighs about eight pounds when the trucks and wheels are attached. The board is decorated with Persian-Islamic flourishes and designs said to be inspired by the “whirling dervishes”, an order of Muslims who are best known for their practice of whirling as a means of worship and remembrance of the their god.

It is also what is called a drop-through deck which means that the board has holes in it allowing the base of the truck mounting hardware to be placed on top of the board. This allows for a lower ride height resulting in greater stability without loss of responsiveness to turning.

When looked at from the side, the dervish board is convex in shape and is designed to flex when the rider mounts the board or shifts his or her weight around to execute maneuvers or tricks. This flexibility is meant to allow the rider more control over the board and allow for tighter turns when travelling at slower speeds. It is also meant to make maneuvers such as slides easier to execute. While a stiffer board is more ideal for faster speeds, Loaded maintains that the board can be used in speeds of up to fifty kilometers per hour. The dervish is available in two “flex” settings. The stiffer board (called Flex 1) is meant to accommodate people weighing one hundred seventy to two hundred thirty pounds. Lighter users may also use the stiffer boards should they want more stability at higher speeds. The Flex 2 board is meant to be used by people weighing one hundred to one hundred eighty pounds.

Because of its flexibility, low ride height and ability to make tight turns, the dervish is ideal for negotiating curved roads and avoiding obstacles when using it as a means of transport within the city and for longboarding events such as hills carving, dancing and sliding.

Skateboarding is a great recreational physical activity that has gained huge popularity in the past few years. Many people do not try it, thinking it to be a dangerous sport. Little do these people know that if they are careful, they can easily avert injuries while skateboarding. Skating in the appropriate areas, using the right skateboard and wearing pads for protection allows you to evade many injuries. In fact, skateboarding enhances your overall flexibility and fitness. It is also good for cardiovascular fitness.

A good and right skateboard is mandatory for safe skateboarding. Standard dimensions of a standard skateboard are a length that varies between 30 and 33 inches and breadth between 7 and 9 inches, while longboard skateboards can be up to 47 inches in length. Generally, the decks are made of Canadian maple which is seven-ply hard. Trucks are mounted at the board’s underside that comprise in axles to which the wheels are attached.

The rage for skateboarding has increased tremendously among the youngsters as they love the thrill and excitement in trying out various stunts and tricks of skateboarding. The board is pushed by one foot while the other stays over the board. Though skateboarding is an exciting sport, many people also employ it to cover short distances.

Mark and Bill Richards from California were the people who introduced skateboard marketing. Both of them started off selling pieces of wood with the wheels of roller skate attached. The sales were made in the Val Surf outlets owned by them. Kevlar, fiberglass, plastic, bamboo, carbon fiber, resin and many other materials were also used to make skateboards in 1970s in an effort to make them more flexible and durable.

How to buy the right skateboard?

So, once you have decided to buy a skateboard for yourself, it is important to take into consideration a few things so as to make the right choice. Width of skateboards is one of the foremost things that need your attention at this time. In case, you are a little short in height like somewhere around 5 feet, a board that has a width of maximum 8 inches would be a good idea. For people with the height of almost 6 feet, the width of their board should be a minimum of 8 inches. The right choice of skateboard would ensure that you feel proportionate and comfortable when you try to stand over it.

Trucks that should be paired with your skateboard are the next thing that should be taken into account. Trucks are also available in varying widths. Turning radius of a skater is shortened if the trucks are wide and the landing over the surface is also quite stable in that case. Thin trucks are lighter in weight and thereby make it easy for skaters to do their stunts and tricks. Also, when you try to grind or slide alongside any edge with your skateboard by employing your trucks rather than your deck or wheels, you must ensure that main bolt in truck does not create any trouble for you by sticking up with grinding surface.

Wheels of the board should also be considered while buying a skateboard. The hardness levels and size of wheels vary a great deal. A small wheel that is around 55 millimeters in size or less and is quite hard is an appropriate choice for skaters who love street skateboarding. You can also look for a hard and larger wheel that is in the size ranging from 55 millimeters to 65 millimeters. However, if you are a complete longboard enthusiast, there are exclusive wheels available for longboards. These wheels are usually the largest and are in the size that varies between 65 millimeter and 100 millimeter for a comfortable and easily balanced ride. Longboard skateboards can be a choice for those who are mainly interested in using it for transport and cruising purposes.

Skateboard bearings also play a crucial role in ride and performance for skateboarding tricks. It is these bearings that are responsible to keep the wheels spinning while you have stopped to make an effort to push the board anymore. ABEC is the value according to which the speed of the bearing or rather your skateboard is determined.

“AA” bearings refer to the slowest kind of bearings. Generally, if you purchase cheap skateboards from any shop rather than a skate specialist, you might have to put up with sub-standard bearings that will restrict the board’s performance. It is best to go for bearings with either ABEC 5 or 7, which have better ratings.

Sometimes super-fast bearings are not the best choice for an absolute beginner who wants to learn tricks. This makes riding a skateboard a little dangerous and may also cause landing tricks to be more difficult for you as the skateboard may slip away from your feet every now and then.

Modern skateboard graphics give skateboards a professional look and increase the fun factor. The shape of deck will also help you choose the right skateboard for you. A decent mounted curve near the kicktail can be a smart choice, especially for tricks or riding ramps and bowls.

Where to purchase?

To ensure complete safety, it is better not to buy cheap skateboards from superstores and toy stores. An Online skateboard shop is often the best option available nowadays. Simply browse through the online catalogue and the board will be delivered at your doorstep. The longboards and skateboards purchased from superstores might be poorly made with wheels and trucks that could break easily.

Also, you can’t upgrade these boards. That is to say, in case one of their parts fails, you would need to buy a new board altogether. If you cannot afford to buy an expensive skateboard, you need not resort to such cheap skateboards. Simply go for moderately priced boards at askateboard shop online. You can also find an array of longboards and mountain boards at skateboard shops online. So, now that you know how to choose the right skateboard and where to purchase your board, what are you waiting for? Hurry and grab one today!

Skateboard wheels are designed in many different sizes and hardnesses. Skateboard wheels are made of a rubber-like material called urethane. The size and hardness of the wheels affect the smoothness of the ride on a skateboard, how well it handles, and its speed. Skateboard wheels are normally 52 mm to 60 mm and have their own ball bearings built in. Street skateboard wheels are usually very hard, which allows them to slow down quickly and store energy as you move along. Park wheels are usually made of a softer urethane for better bite and handling. Modern skateboard wheels are bidirectional, meaning that they can be attached in either direction unlike the wheels on a car or the back wheel of a bicycle. This means that if the edges start to wear, you can flip the wheels and use them on the other side. Skateboard wheels are attached to the trucks by hex head axle bolts and ABEC (or another company’s) ball bearings to provide the free-spinning movement of the wheels.

Skateboard Trucks


Trucks are axles attached to a baseplate. Most trucks are made from an aluminum alloy and they are very strong. Trucks come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. Trucks are made from cast metal and allow the skater to turn the board. Depending how tightly the nut on the kingpin is secured, the trucks can be loose or tight just like the suspension on a car. The main purpose of having trucks that are not fixed is to enable you to turn or “carve” without lifting your front wheels off the ground. The looser your trucks are, the further you will be able to lean in one direction or the other.

Skateboard Wheels

Wheels don’t just keep your skateboard rolling — they are also responsible for keeping you on your feet as you tackle different terrain. Wheels attach to the axles of the trucks with a hex bolt and there are 8 bearings, two inserted into each wheel with a spacer between. The wheels come in a variety of shapes, from 50 to 55 mm, and different hardnesses. Most skateboard wheels, like mentioned above, are made from urethane, and have a hardness rating stamped on the wheel (for example: 95a, or 100a – always with an “a” after the number). The higher the number, the harder the wheel. For example, a 101a wheel is harder than a 95a. So a good choice for street riding might be a 100a or 101a. A 95a would do well on ramps and in a skateboard park.

So, a skateboard is made up of three main parts: the deck, the trucks, and the wheels. The deck is the flat part on top (or mostly flat) where you plant your feet. The trucks are bolted to the bottom of the deck. This is your suspension and axles for the deck and wheels. The wheels bolt onto the ends of the trucks and include wheel bearings so the wheels can spin. Wheels come in different sizes and hardnesses to help you custom tailor your ride.

Skateboards for sale come in different lengths, with different depths. For the amateur, they may all seem the same. But for professional skateboarders, the type of skateboard makes a tremendous difference. For this reason, many professionals design their own skateboards to optimize their performance.

Skateboards consist of three main parts: the deck, the wheels, and the truck. The deck is the board on which one stands. The wheels can differ based on whether a longboard or a shortboard is used. The truck is the apparatus on the underside of the deck. It can vary widely in shape, size, color, and style.

The two main types of skateboard are long and short. Longboards are used for downhill racing or cruising around town, while shortboards are used for more street style skating, like ramps and pipes, and for tricks. Shortboards are generally shorter than 33 inches (84cm), while longboards tend to be longer than 35 inches (89cm), even up to 60 inches!

Longboards use larger wheels than shortboards so they can just roll over any obstruction, which fits their purpose for travel. Smaller wheels need to spin faster to maintain the same speed. There are also trucks that are specific for longboards and downhill racing.

There are also many different shapes and depths, for both longboards and shortboards. For tricks with shortboards, the deck must be concave, referring to the curvature of the board between the nose and tail. The degree of concavity depends on the preference of the rider, but it ranges from shallow to deep.

A deeper curve allows for more precision tricks and the curvature is also important for mastering ramps. Beginning skateboarders should start with less concave boards, since they are easier to learn and safer. The deeper the concavity of the board, usually the more expensive the board is and the more easily damaged it can be. Longboards may not have any significant concavity, since they are intended for cruising.

Skateboard decks can be made from wood, plastic, fiberglass, or aluminum. Wood is by far the most common material because it tends to have the best responsiveness, but it is also most easily damaged.

Skateboards for sale offer the opportunity for many different activities, and the type of skateboard depends on how it will be used.