A Guide to Buying Electric Skateboard Wheels

Who doesn’t know that wheels are one of the essential parts of the skateboard? The choice you make while selecting skateboard wheels and bearing goes a long way when it comes to determining how fast you want to go on a skateboard. Therefore, it's necessary to pick wheels that suit your riding style.

There are two types of wheels for an electric skateboard, namely; Urethane, and Pneumatic. Just a small change in the wheel size and wheel durometer can make you feel different when riding.

The purpose of this guide is to ensure the next time you are choosing a wheel, you choose the right one. If you are a skater or are getting a skateboard for someone, make sure you take note of what I will discuss in this guide.

Urethane Skate wheels

This type of wheel has been a popular item for urethane since the early '60s. Frank Nasworthy changed the game when he introduced the use of urethane for skateboard wheels. Till this present moment, this material is still used in all aspects of skating. Urethane skateboard wheels can absorb noise and vibration while giving you a long service life.

Pneumatic skate wheels

This is different from urethane in a lot of ways. Firstly, they use rubber for their tires. Secondly, there's an air tube inside the tire.

The most significant advantage of pneumatic tires is that they tend to absorb shock and give you a smooth ride over rough terrains.

Let’s then talk about things you should consider to buy a perfect skateboard.

Choosing the perfect size for your skateboard wheels

Skateboard wheels are usually measured in diameter, and most wheels range from 70-75 mm. So, if you need a small wheel, you can shop for 50mm end of the scale while for the big wheel, check out the 70mm end of the scale.

I will be talking about the wheel type, durometer, diameter, and lots more. Follow me as I walk you through everything.

Small wheel

If you are into street skating or technical skating, I will advise you to go for smaller wheels because it allows for a slower ride. They are closer to the ground, which makes it easier for you to control.

Large wheel

If you use skateboard for transportation or vert skating, you should go for large wheels. Their increased diameter gives you speed and balance that you will be needing.

Durometer

It is a way to measure the hardness of the wheel. There are several scales, A, B, D…etc. Most manufacturers prefer to use the A scale, which is a 100-point scale, and quantifies how hard the wheel is. You should note that the higher the number, the harder your wheel. Although, some manufacturers use the B scale, which is 20 points fewer than the A scale.

However, the hardness varies with different companies. For example, the hardness of the wheel for company X might be different for that of company Y, even though they have the same hardness of the wheel. This is so because the durometer is not the perfect measure of wheel hardness. With that said, you should note that hard wheels are faster, while softer wheels are slower with an added advantage of having more grip.

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