Skateboard Wheel Size
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.
Skateboard Wheel Durometer (Duro)
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!