Best electric skateboard wheel
After a few years of testing gear and trying out new ones, it’s time to showcase the perfect skateboard wheel for any style. This list grows and evolves as more wheels need to be tested, but now you have the right wheels for things that float on the board, such as cruising, streets, transitions, and parks.
At SkateboardersHQ, we actually buy and test most products and give a fair opinion. There are no sponsors. If there is something that can be reviewed for free, I will mention it. There is always prejudice and often results in personal taste, but good skateboard wheels make a difference.
I limited my choices to absolutely the best wheels and divided them into different styles. I chose premium wheels, but I’ve also added some suggestions for those on a budget and beginners. Remember that cheap wheels are flat spots and wear fast!
In the long run, premium wheels are a better investment, but you can upgrade whenever you’re ready. Let’s start with the street wheel.
The best skateboard wheel for street skating
Obviously, the wheels that dominate them all depend on the actual road surface, not just one. For coarse asphalt, you need a more forgiving and softer wheel. For smooth concrete, you need something that is hard and slippery.
Spitfire Formula Four 101A
The finest wheels and Spitfire provide the highest quality skateboard wheels available for purchase (don’t exclude bones). Spitfire Classics are very popular wheels on street skateboards, but they are expensive. In the long run, it’s cheaper because it passes through two sets of mini logos faster than one set of Spitfire wheels.
These wheels are for enthusiastic skateboarders who eat, sleep, and dream of skateboarding. It’s a very technical wheel and a must-have for anyone who loves dangerous street skating.
Depending on the surface of the skate, it may feel a little slippery at first, but once interrupted it becomes very fast and slippery. Once interrupted, it not only provides enough grip to prevent slipping, but it also works well for sliding.
And a flat spot? Nothing happens with a power slide, but you’re more likely to scrape the surface you’re riding on than flat-spotting these wheels. The 99A Classic is more likely to be a flat spot if you work hard enough, but you can ride on unfriendly asphalt. 101A is no longer tolerant.
When using a lock-in wheel in the grind, make a deep cut inside for a longer and more stable grind. If you need faster speed and agility, get a standard-shaped wheel. The radial cut is thinner, but the tread and side cuts are larger. Due to its large surface area, it is ideal for a smooth and stable grind and a balance when riding.
Spitfire Formula for Full Conical 99A
Another Spitfire wheel? Yeah, these are about the best wheels you can get, they’re not cheap, but they last a long time and perform much better than budget wheels. The Spitfire F4 Conical is a bit softer than the 101 above and is ideal for streets, parks, bowls, and transition skateboards.
Hardness
The most important factor in choosing the right hardness (and size). Soft wheels can handle rough surfaces much better than hard wheels. It can be anything between 78A and 92A. The 78A wheels provide the smoothest ride but are not well suited for tricks. The soft wheels are very elastic and the board bounces when you land a trick.
Not everyone has access to smooth roads, so if you want to cruise or do some tricks, the 92A is for you. You can pull off some technical stuff and still have a relatively comfortable ride. Keep that in mind as they are by no means good.
Size
Size is important. The larger the wheel, the more momentum it has, but the slower the acceleration. The smaller wheels accelerate much faster, but you need to push them more often to maintain speed.
The wheel size of a decent cruiser should be 58-65mm, the smaller the wheel, the more often you need to push. Larger ones mean that you need to install a larger riser pad to prevent the wheel from biting. Large wheels are also wide and stick out. As long as you have enough clearance, it won’t be a big deal.
If you have extremely few tracks, you may need a riser pad for new cruise wheels over 59mm. I can’t see your setup, so you have to figure this out for yourself. Cruise and carve a little to see if the deck is blocking the wheels. Riser pads are cheap anyway.
Conclusion
Oh, this was a long post, and I’m always afraid to write them. It’s hard to say which wheel is best, and the more options I offer, the harder it is to choose the best skateboard wheel.
Hope it’s easier to split them into styles, but to be honest, all the wheels here are fine. Keep in mind that cheap can be more expensive in the long run and beginners shouldn’t ride on ultra-hard wheels.
