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Don’t overthink it!
Skateboard truck sizing comes down to personal preference, and you’ll dial in what works for you as you gain experience.
If you’re just starting out, a good rule of thumb is to match the axle width of the trucks to the width of the skateboard deck below. At the end of the day, pick a color/graphic you like and have fun!
The diameter of a skateboard wheel is measured in millimeters. There’s no clear-cut best for beginners wheel size, but generally 52-56 millimeter wheels offer the most versatility and forgiveness when you’re learning to skate.
| Wheel Size | Style of Skating |
| 50mm – 52mm | Technical street skating |
| 52mm – 55mm | All-terrain skating, geared more toward street |
| 55mm – 60mm | All-terrain skating, geared more toward transition |
| 60mm – 65mm | Transition skating or cruising |
| 65mm – 70mm | Cruising/longboarding |
| 70mm + | Downhill longboarding |
- Smaller wheels are lighter and sit lower to the ground making them a great option for tricks and more-experienced technical skating.
- Larger wheels are great for speed and will roll over small cracks and debris more easily. They are a great option for cruising and transition skating.
If a wheel is too big for the truck height on a board then wheel bite (when your wheel comes into contact with the underside of the skateboard deck) can occur when turning or landing.
If you select a larger wheel (above 56mm), we recommend adding a riser pad to create extra space between the deck and the wheels. Our board builder will let you know if a riser is needed based on your wheel selection.
The hardness of a skateboard wheel determines how much grip the wheel has and the amount of shock it can absorb. A softer wheel will compress when pressure is applied to it, giving it more grip and allowing it to absorb more shock. A harder wheel will barely compress under pressure, giving it less grip, and less shock absorption.
How hard a skateboard wheel is is called its durometer. The durometer of a wheel is measured using the “A” scale. The higher the “A” scale number of a wheel, the harder the wheel. A skateboard wheel with a lower “A” scale number is a softer wheel.
| Durometer | Style of Skating |
| 78a – 87a | Soft & grippy, good for longboards/cruisers |
| 88a – 95a | Harder & faster, but still soft enough to cruise over bumps |
| 96a – 101a | Hard & fast, most common for street & park skating |
| 83b – 84b | Hardest wheels on the scale, typically used for street/park skating |
How hard or soft a wheel you skate is up to personal preference. Harder wheels tend to be better for street and transition skating and softer wheels are a great option for cruising.
Still have questions? Check out our full Skateboard Buyer’s Guide!