Hello everybody! I suppose I’ll begin my first post by introducing myself and explaining what this page is all about.
I go by the name of Allen and I’ve decided to write a guide on longboard wheels, mostly because I find them to be the most important component that makes up a complete longboard. Also, longboard decks and trucks typically outlast the wheels after some heavy skating so more than likely, you will have to replace your wheels at some point. With that being said, knowing about longboard wheels and what’s out there will certainly help. If you are interested in any of the wheels featured on this site, you also have the option of buying them on the sales offer side bar.
Here is some general information about longboard wheels and what effect their characteristics have on your skating. Typically, longboarding wheels are designed with speed and traction in mind. Longboard wheel hardness or softness is specified by the durometer. Lower durometer urethane compositions like 75A are used for improved “grippy-ness”. However, lower durometers mean the wheel is softer so under the weight of the rider, the wheel doesn’t maintain perfect roundness which affects its ability to roll which is why higher durometer wheels are typically favored for speed. You need to find a balance between traction and speed that meets your skating style. The contact patch, which is the length of wheel that’s in contact with the ground, is typically higher to achieve more contact area with the ground. The front profile of the wheel can vary depending on what discipline it’s used for. For hard carving where traction is a priority, the wheel profile is square to give an edged lip to prevent the wheel from slipping sideways. Some people are looking for wheels that break traction easier for sliding maneuvers and look for wheels with rounded edge profiles.
To be honest I could go on forever about longboarding wheels so I’ll end this post now, and I’ll be posting information about other longboarding wheels such as Orangatangs and Abec 11’s in the future. Hopefully this guide will help you select the best longboard wheels that fit your skating style.
By the way, if you are by any chance new to longboarding, check out this awesome video brought to you by the guys of Loaded Longboards. This is Adam S. Riding a Loaded Vanguard with R-II randals trucks and Abec 11 Gumballs.
Ride Safe. xD
