There is nothing more intimidating and confusing when you are looking for a new set of skateboard wheels. The vast number of options is overwhelming, not to mention all the different skateboard wheel brands.
Fortunately, there are only a few great brands out there to pick from, the best skateboard wheel brands can be counted on one hand. For those on a tight budget, I added a couple of cheaper options. The best brand also depends on your budget after all.
I picked a couple of brands that are great for technical street skating, cruising, and transition skateboarding. Here’s my list of brands that I recommend.
The top 10 best skateboard wheel brands from best to ‘worst’:
- Spitfire Wheels
- Bones Wheels
- OJ Wheels
- Powell Peralta
- Ricta
- Welcome Orbs
- Mini Logo
- Santa Cruz
- DGK
- Haze
Everyone has their own preference, and the best wheel brand for skateboarding depends on what you want to do. Still, there is a big difference in quality and and some wheels are better suitable for certain styles than others.
I used to think gear is subjective, but in many cases it isn’t. Wheel brands make a difference in performance and durability, unlike decks where the brand is mostly subjective.
Contents
10 Best Skateboard Wheel Brands
Let’s dive into the 10 best and worst skateboard wheel brands. Note that the worst doesn’t mean the wheels are bad, but you pay more than you should. I wanted to start with a relatively new and unknown brand, at the end of this posts you’ll find the absolute premium skateboard wheel brands.
10. Haze
First on the page, but last on the list. Haze is a fairly new brand based in Paris, Europe and was founded in 2010. While they haven’t made u tremendous impact in the US (yet) it’s a brand to consider when they set foot in the US.
Haze offers relatively affordable wheels and quality wheels when compared to the major brands like Spitfire and Bones.
I still owe you an honest review on these as we haven’t tested them long enough to give a final judgement. From what I can tell is that Haze offers great affordable wheels on par with Mini Logo. I will update this post in a couple of months.
Haze offers quality wheels for skaters on a budget. You’d think that Bones and Spitfire master the Urethane formula regarding flatspots, but Haze somehow nailed it. Hard to flatspot, but the harder 101A wheels crumble a little on the side, which happens to many wheels.
Pros of Haze:
- Cheaper than the premium brands
- Solid choice for skateparks and technical street skating
- Very grippy wheels but still allow for powe slides
Cons of Have:
- Tend to crumble on the sides after extensive use
- More expensive than Mini Logo
9. DGK
One thing about Dirty Ghetto Kids I love is their outstanding graphics, even though they fade fast on wheels.
DGK was founded by Stevie Williams in 2002 and made quite a name for themselves. I own one of their Bruce Lee special editions deck and that one is staying on my wall.
As for the skateboard wheels DGK offers, they aren’t the best but certainly not the worst wheels you can buy. DGK wheels are made for street and park skating and offer harder wheels (101A) with a diameter between 48mm and 54mm.
The best thing about their wheels is the wider profile. Just like Orbs wheels, DGK offer wheels with a wider than average contact patch (riding surface) making them very stable and a good choice for street skaters that want extra stability.
At 101A their wheels aren’t great for rough roads, but the skate park is where they really shine. The wheel profile comprises both a flat and rounded side. This means the inside is excellent for locking in grinds.
A more expensive than Mini Logo wheels, but a better choice for those who plan to visit skate parks often.
Pros of DGK:
- Better at locking into grinds on rails and copings
- Their smaller size is great for technical tricks
- very hard and fast wheels
- Affordable compared to the premium brands
- Don’t flatspot easily
- The threaded contact patch provides extra grip
Cons of DGK:
- Only for street and park skaters
- Very hard wheels, not beginner friendly
- Not meant for cruising
8. Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is the oldest skateboard company in the world. They released one of the best affordable and durable skate decks not too long ago (Santa Cruz VX) and their most famous wheel are the Santa Cruz Slimeballs.
Santa Cruz is part of NHS, or turned into NHS which is the main distrubition company for many brands. Orginally, they started out as a surfboard company founded by Richard Novak, Doug Haut, and Jay Shuirman.
To this day, they are still one of the most famous skateboard brands in the world. While Santa Cruz isn’t the best wheel brand, they offer a couple of very interesting wheels that are great for various disciplines.
7 years after Frank Nasworthy invented the Polyurethane skateboard wheel in 1967, Santa Cruz introduced the Road rider wheel in 1974. It was a huge hit, and they sold over a million sets in 1975. History was written.
Santa Cruz offers wheels that are great for beginners, kids, pool/bowl riders but less suitable for hardcore technical skaters. None over their wheels hit 100A.
Pros Of Santa Cruz:
- Small selection, which makes it less overwhelming
- Great for bowl skating, lots of grip and stability
- Great choice for beginners and kids
- Slimeballs come in almost any size and hardness
- Many wheels that are great for cruiser trick setups
Cons Of Santa Cruz:
- Not great for technical skaters that need small hard wheels/
- Very limited selection.
- Rather expensive.
7. Mini Logo
For skaters on a budget that want maximum quality but can’t afford Bones or Spitfire wheels, Mini Logo is a wheel brand to consider.
Mini Logo offers quality wheels for cheap, the Mini Logo C-cut for example only costs around 20 USD which is almost half of Spitfire Classics. Beginners won’t notice any difference between the brands, so they are an excellent choice.
Mini Logo is a part of Powell Peralta which started selling blank setups mid 90s. I might have actually skated one of their blanks back in the day. Shortly after, the blanks complete setups were branded as Mini Logo.
Often you’ll still find brandless wheels on complete setups that are actually Mini Logo wheels.
While Mini Logo isn’t the Wallmart brand of skateboarding, they aren’t the best nor do they try to be. Mini Logo is great for those on a tiny budget but still want something reliable, and that’s what you’ll get.
Mini Logo offers 3 different types of wheels, which also includes softer wheels for those who like to learn how to ride first.
Their most popular wheel is the C-Cut which is around 101A (give or take) and ranges from 50mm to 54mm. Let’s have a look at their formulas.
Pros of Mini Logo:
- Affordable wheels, cheapest you can get but decent quality.
- Lots of choice, but be sure to pick the wheels that match your desired style.
- Excellent choice for technical skaters, cruising enthusiasts.
- If colored wheels are your thing, you have lots to choose from.
Cons of Mini Logo:
- They wear faster than the premium brands, nothing shocking though.
- Avoid power slides, Mini Logo wheels flat spot fast because of the cheaper plastic formula.
Mini Logo Standard Formula
Mini Logo’s Standard Formula are small, fast, and hard wheels which are great for skate parks and smooth asphalt or concrete. At 101A you don’t want to take them out for commuting.
Both Mini Logo A-cut and C-cut wheels are made from the Standard Formula. Where the C-cut has a tiny contact patch (starting at 18mm) and grippy riding surface, the A-cut wheels offer wider contact patch more stability.
Both wheels are great for technical tricks, it’s more of a personal preference which you like best.
C-cuts range from 50mm to 54mm and are specifically for street and parks skating at 101A (very hard wheels).
A-cuts range from 51mm to 60mm and Mini Logo also offers a softer wheel. For those who want a more comfy ride, you can choose between 90A and 95A.
Hybrid Formula
Hybrid Formula is great for those who live near areas with rougher roads or just want a calm and comfortable ride. The 90A option is perhaps a bit too soft for technical tricks like kickflips and heelflips but great for basic ollies and learning how to ride.
If you’re planning on doing more than ollies, 95A is a good start if you don’t have a skate park in the area, or cracked pavements and gritty asphalt. Hybrid formula wheels come in sizes ranging between 52mm and 58mm. The bigger the wheel, the more comfortable the ride at the expense of performing technical tricks.
AWOL Formula
AWOL is your typical cruiser wheel and perhaps the formula that comes closest is Bones ATF.
AWOL’s are a bit more expensive compared to the other Mini Logo formulas, but cheaper compared to Bones ATF formula.
You can still hop curbs around town, but because of their bouncy nature, AWOL all terrain wheels will cause sketchy landings when attempting more difficult tricks.
With that said, you can pick 3 sizes, 55mm, 59mm, and 63mm. 59mm and 63mm require rise pads! All wheels are 80A which means you will have a very smooth ride and won’t be bothered by pesky pebbles or twigs.
Lastly, the AWOL formula wheels are very wide, offering maximum stability and comfort.
6. Welcome Orbs
Orbs is part of Welcome skateboards and founded in 2010. Orbs don’t offer many wheels, which makes the choice a lot easier if they match your style.
Orbs Specters, for example, are great all-around wheels with a wider than average contact patch, comparable to Spitfire OG’s but less durable.
Orbs are great for both street and transition skateboarding, and beginners will benefit from the wider riding surface.
Orbs are pretty affordable, most of the wheels are around 27 USD which is a steal. If you are on a budget and looking for a custom setup for street and parks skating, these wheels are the better picks. There is a reason they made it to my list of best skateboard wheels.
Pros of Orbs:
- Jack of all trades, great choice for beginners.
- Great for park and street skating.
- Very affordable, not the cheapest, but a good Spitfire alternative.
- Easy to choose a wheel, you won’t be drowning in options.
Cons of Orbs:
- Limited choice in shapes
- Not great for bowl skating
- Not much variation on the Durometer scale
- Not meant for cruising
Orbs offers 4 types of wheels:
Orbs Specters
Cheap all-around wheel for parks and street, great for beginners and intermediate skateboards. They lock in quite nicely when doing ledge, rail, and coping tricks because of their conical shape.
Specters are only 27 USD and you get decent quality wheels that will last for a long time. Made from their plasma urethane formula (whatever that means), Orbs Specters are 99A and come in sizes 53mm, 53mm, 54mm, and 56mm.
Orbs Coral
Orbs Coral has a full rounded shape, they are great for sliding and have a durometer of 99A. They come in sizes 52mm, 53mm, 54mm, and 56mm. They cost about the same as the Orbs specters and the only difference is the shape.
Great for street skating and parks, less suitable for cruising, though they feel softer compared to 99A Spitfires. Another great option for beginners and intermediate skateboarders on a budget.
Orbs Coral wheels come in 52mm, 53mm, 54mm, and 56mm. Another quality wheel on a budget (27 USD) for beginner and intermediate skateboarders.
Orbs Apparitions
Orbs Apparitions are pretty similar to Corals. The difference is that they are slightly less rounded, making them a good all around wheel for technical flip tricks and lock-in tricks.
Another good option for beginners and more experienced skateboarders on a budget. Apparitions are 99A and come in sizes 52mm, 53mm, 54mm, and 56mm.
Orbs Ghost Lights
The hardest wheel at 102A with a larger plastic core. The benefit of a larger plastic core is faster rolling speed because there is less core and bearing deformation. This makes the overall ride more stable because of even weight distribution.
The downside is that you have less meat on your wheels and you have to replace them more often.
Orbs Ghost Lights sizes are 52mm, 54mm, and 56mm but aren’t cheap, at 44 USD they are the most expensive in the Orbs line up.
5. Ricta
Another label under the NHS umbrella, Ricta is both loved and hated by the skateboard community. One side claims these aren’t skateboard wheels but filmer wheels, not meant for technical tricks. New skaters, on the other hand, love them for their smooth ride and stability.
Here lies the answer. Ricta caters the beginners needs and the wheels are great for those who want to learn how to ride properly at first. Once you go down the technical route, they might be a bit too soft for your taste and feel bouncy.
Good news is that Ricta not only offers softer wheels but also has a lineup for technical skaters that need small and hard wheels.
Pros Of Ricta:
- Lots of choice, greay variety in style and hardness
- Awesome beginner wheels.
- Solid choice for trick/cruiser setups
- Great performance on rough roads
Cons of Ricta:
- The softer wheels are sticky and can flat spot
- Not much choice for experienced skaters
Naturals
The Naturals are an all around beginner wheel that is great for the beginner street skater. They come in a slime and a wide version, meaning the former is great for flippy technical tricks and the latter offers more balance because of the wider contact patch.
At 99A they aren’t exactly smooth but suitable for slick asphalt and concrete parks. The 101A version is faster but less comfortable on rougher surfaces. Naturals are small wheels and not great for cruising: 51mm, 52mm, 53mm, 54mm.
Cores
By now you probably know what the purpose of larger plastic wheel cores. It makes wheels faster and offers more stability. I think these are one of the best looking wheels on the market. I really like the design.
Cores have lots of different hardnesses, which makes it harder to pick the right wheel. 78A, 86A, 92A, 95A, 99A, that’s a huge range. Just remember, softer wheels are for cruising and harder wheels are for tricks.
You can pick from the following sizes: 52mm, 53mm, 54mm, and 56mm. With the right combination of size and durometer, these wheels are suitable for all styles.
Speedrings
Speedrings are a very interesting design, perhaps best described as a hybrid cored none-cored wheel. They look great but also offer a smooth and less noisy ride, given your bearings aren’t rusty.
Available at 51mm, 52mm, 53mm, and 54mm at 99A. great for those who love speed on concrete and smoother asphalt.
Clouds
Clouds might be a bit over-hyped but offer a very stable and comfortable ride. The 92A version is perfect for a cruiser/trick setup and caters the needs of beginner skateboarders.
They also come in 78A, 86A, which offers an even smoother ride but technical skaters should stay away. Ricta Clouds come in an lot of sizes ranging from 51mm to 60mm.
4. Powell Peralta
Powell Peralta is a company with an impressive history. With their innovative technology and quality urethane, they are still serious competitors on the skateboard wheel market. Powell also offers many other products, like the almost indestructible Flight Deck.
Powell Peralta is the parent company of Bones. Founded in 1979 by Stacy Peralta (former manager of the famous Bones Brigade) and George Powell, a pioneer for inventing many skateboard products and developing new technologies.
Powell Peralta offers a wide range of wheels for many styles. They offer big and soft 75A cruiser/longboard wheels and hard street skateboard wheels. Great for both cruising, longboarding, downhill and technical skating ranging from 53mm to 72mm.
Powell Peralta offers four different formula’s; Soft Slide, Bomber, Classic, and the Pro Series.
Pros of Powell Peralta:
- Lots of options to choose from
- A brand to consider for cruising, downhill, and cruiser/trick setups.
- A brand with a history like this always makes for a great conversation.
- They offer re-issues for old school skaters
Cons of Powell Peralta:
- Not much choice in the street skating category.
- Softer wheels are prone to chunking.
Soft Slide Formula (SSF)
Soft Slide Formula is interesting because a single while comprises multiple hardnesses. The problem with softer wheels is that they wear fast because of their grip.
Powell Peralta solved this problem by developing wheels with a soft outside and making them harder in the middle. This results durable in wheels that also roll fast and still give a comfortable riding experience.
The Soft Slide Formula offers wheels with a durometer of 75A and 85a. While the former is great for cruising and long distance longboarding, the latter is great for short commutes. Powell Peralta Snakes, for example, are one of the best cruiser wheels I ever tested (but they chunk easily on power slides).
The larger plastic core makes them more durable, faster, and provides more stability compared to smaller wheel cores. Sizes 56mm, 59mm, 66mm, 69mm, 72mm.
All Terrain Formula
Very similar to the Bones ATF wheels, but they come in a different shape, perhaps a bit too pricey for what you get as people find them mushy and a bit too sticky.
Nonetheless, these are great cruiser wheels available in 78A and 80A. Not suitable for technical skating, but great for those who like to cruise and carve a bowl now and then. Available in 56mm, 59mm, and 63mm in various transparent colors and one special Skate-Aid edition.
Pro Series Formula
The Pros Series is an homage to old school skaters like Ray Rodriguez, Steve McGill (invented the McTwist). They come in 56mm and 59mm in 90A and 103A, but the lineup varies from time to time.
Bomber Formula
Bombers are great for versatile skaters that ride damp concrete sidewalks, asphalt and slippery sandy boardwalks. At 85A or 90A they also allow you to hop a few curbs while still offering a comfy ride.
3. OJ
OJ’s wheels are one of the many brands NHS inc (Santa Cruz) and they sold their first wheels back in 1977.
OJ is not just some random brand, they have quite the history, expertise, and offer great but affordable wheels. In 1980, OJ was one of the most popular skateboard wheel brands. they collaborated with famous skateboarders like Christian Hosoi, Steve Olson, and vert pioneer Steve Schneer (RIP).
OJ produces wheels for many disciplines, like street, park, vert, bowl, and even cruising.
For a while it was a bit quiet around OJ, but NHS gave the brand a boost with a killer line up.
Pros of OJ Wheels:
- OJ offers wheels for all disciplines
- Reputable wheel brand for decades
- Great for skateparks, street, bowl, or cruising
- Beginners will appreciate the stability
Cons of OJ Wheels:
- The softer wheels can chunk on sharp ledges
- Hard to pick the right will because of the wide variety
Let’s look at their formulas and wheels.
OJ Mini Combo Shape Formula
The Mini Combo Shape is OJ’s latest formula and designed with the street and park skater in mind. Long-lasting rolls, flat spot resistant, this shape is great for all around skaters (not cruising).
The conical shape and relatively wider contact path provide extra stability and more sliding control, and as a bonus, better lock-ins on grinds and ledge tricks. They offer one of the few 53mm wheels with a 20mm contact patch! You can choose 53mm, 54mm, 56mm, or 58mm at 101A.
OJ Hardlines
OJ hardline shape is great for those who want to ride transition, the extremely wide contact patch (starting at 22mm) offers great stability. Bowl skaters will appreciate the 56mm Elite Hardline 99A which offers both speed and grip.
Available in 53mm, 54mm, 56mm, and 58mm at 99A and 101A.
OJ EZ Edge
If you’re looking for a narrow wheel and focus mainly on technical (flat) tricks, The EZ Edge are a great choice. Their slim profile offers lots of responsiveness and is great for street skaters that love to tre-flip all day.
Both the 53mm and 54mm have a contact patch of 18mm, the 54mm comes with an 18.5mm contact patch and 56mm offers a 20mm contact patch. All wheels are 101A.
Less stable for those who like transitions skateboarding, but a skilled skateboarding won’t really mind.
OJ Nomads
OJ Nomads are great for those who love tricks like grinds, locking onto ledges, copings and flat bars/rounded rails. At 95A the will feel a bit more bouncy compared to the OJ EZ Edge but more forgiving on rough surfaces. Not to be confused with cruiser wheels, but still offer a comfy ride while being able to do technical tricks.
OJ Super Juice
Looking for an affordable cruiser wheel? Look no further! OJ Super Juice wheels are amazing. They offer one of the smoothest rides without spending an arm and a leg.
You can pick 55mm or 60mm wheels, but I personally see no point in riding 55mm wheels at 78A. If you want to cruise, you’ll need at least 60mm wheels and you might want to add 1/8” riser pads to prevent wheel bite.
The Keyframes
OJ Keyframes are great for those who need wheels that offer a smooth ride but still want to do basic tricks. Not great for skate parks but a good choice if you want a comfortable ride or only have rough roads to ride.
This is also a wheel beginners should consider. At 87A, they offer lots of stability and you won’t be thrown off your board when you hit a pebble. Sizes range from 52mm to 58mm.
2. Bones Wheels
Bones was founded by George Powell in 1977 and turned into one of the most innovative skateboard wheels offering technology no brand could match. I tested many of the Bones wheels and if I had to pick between Spitfire or Bones; I don’t know which to recommend more. They are very on par and both offer wheels for lots of disciplines.
What started as cooking self made skateboard wheels in a kitchen with george Powell as the chef turned into a skateboard wheel brand which came up with one of the best formulas for skateboard wheels. The brand name Bones comes from the bone like color the wheels represent.
Before Bones introduced their white polyurethane wheels, most brands offered transparent wheels. nowadays, many skaters prefer white wheels (though colored wheels are making a comeback).
Depending on which type of formula you pick you pay between 29 and 49 USD for a set of four bones wheels. While they aren’t exactly the cheapest wheels, they will last for ages.
Bones is part of Powell-Peralta and also offers one off the best and affordable skateboard bearings you can get; Bones Bearings.
Bones wheels are durable, reliable, and fast! Bones offers wheels for different disciplines:
Bones offer the most variety of any skateboard wheel brand categorized into different formulas; STF, SPF, ATF, and Original.
Pros Of Bones:
- Bones offers wheels for almost all disciplines like transition, street, bowl, and cruising
- Grippy enough for most styles
- One of the fastest wheels you can get
- Last longer than most brands
Cons Of Bones:
- The hardest formula isn’t great for bowl and vert skateboarding
- SPF and ATF aren’t comfortable on gritty asphalt
- Beginners will have a harder time learning to ride the harder wheels
- Expensive
Bones STF (Street Tech Formula)
Bones STF wheels last for ages, during our (not very scientific) tests I noticed they last longer than Spitfire Classics.
They offer enough grip for both street and skateparks though some find the 103A versions a bit to hard and slippery in specific conditions like bowl skating. The 99A version is always a safe choice. They are fast enough for both street and transition skateboarding, and still allow you to power slide with ease.
- Best used for technical street skateboarding
- Great wheels for skate parks
Bones Skatepark Formula (SPF)
One of the best transition (skate parks) wheels you can get. Bones SPF wheels come in both 81B (101A) and 84B (104A), they are extremely fast and great for those who love to ride skate parks and skate mini ramp. Bones SPF are one of the hardest wheels you can buy, but not very beginner friendly.
If you are used to slower wheels it will take some time to adjust to their speed, especially when you skate a lot of transition. The grip could be better but is manageble.
While they are flatspot resistant it doesn’t mean it’s impossible but you’ll have a hard time flatspotting these wheels.
Bones All Terrain Formula (ATF)
Bones ATF wheels are my favorite for cruising and tricks (and Ricta Clouds). Rough Riders (80A), for example, offer a very smooth ride but still don’t feel too bouncy when hopping curbs or basic ollies.
Combined with some quality bearings Bones ATF will turn your skateboard into a smooth ride that even can handle bowls. Just great for carving a bowl though, coping tricks are a challenge.
Very grippy wheels that can handle rough patches, a bit of gravel, and never worry about cracks in the pavement again. Solid choice for those who want a smooth riding experience and stick with the basics.
Original Formula
This formula is the latest iteration of the original MDI-polyurethane formula developed by Bones. Original Formula is also very affordable for those that are looking for skateboard wheels on a budget. Bones 100’s for example are great wheels for street skating, last for a long time, and very flatspot-resistant. For about $28,95 you get a lot of value for money.
1. Spitfire Wheels
Spitfire is a wheel company found in 1987 by Jim Thiebaud. Part of Deluxe Distribution (Ermico Enterprises) which also sells brand like Thunder, Real, Krooked, Anti Hero, and Venture.
I had a hard time deciding to place Spitfire as the number one wheel brand over Bones. I have to make a choice here. Even though Spitfire’s line up is less impressive compared to Bones, their wheels are just the best you can get. They won’t flat spot, are made of the highest quality polyurethane and are great for street, parks, bowls, vert, and they even offer a cruiser wheel.
Everyone loves their Classics. I have never heard a single complaint about their performance. I LOVE their Conical Fulls that really boosted my bowl riding skills. Turns out quality wheels make a difference. Their line-up is impressive and I’m not going to mention them all. This post is long enough as it is.
- Classics
- OG
- Lock-ins
- Conical
- Conical Full
- Radial Slims
Pros of Spitfire
- Very Reliable wheels
- Durable, ride them for over 100 hours on gritty surfaces and they still work
- Very grippy, though at 101A they offer less grip and won’t work for vert.
- Great for almost all styles except cruising
Cons of Spitfire
- Absolutely none, okay they’re expensive but they last twice as long as cheaper wheels.
Let’s Look at a selection of the Spitfire lineup:
Classics
The single best street and park skate wheel you can buy. It has a slim to medium contact patch with rounded edges on both sides. One of the most durabable wheels you can buy and they will last for a year if you skate asphalt 3 to 5 times per week. Pretty good investment!
They only come in 99A and 101A. Even though these wheels are pretty hard, they really offer a lot of grip for a wheel at the end of the durometer A scale.
99a are a bit more comfortable for different typees of surfaces and maintain their grips in parks and bowl. 101A are fast and super hard, still they offer enough grip.
Lock-Ins
The flat shape on the inside of the wheel benefits skaters that love to grind rails, copings, ledges, or anything that requires a stable lock-in. Again, only available in 99A and 101A, and they come in 52mm,53mm, and 55mm.
Conical Full
If there’s one wheel to rule them all, this is it. Conical Fulls are currently my favorite wheels, one of the best wheels for bowl skating. They have a wide contact patch, are grippy enough for dusty bowls (at 97A). great for technical skating and ride comfortably.
Sure not a commuter wheel, and the wider riding surface makes locking in a bit more challenging, but overall one of the best wheels you can get. I currently ride 97A because we have some nasty ashpalt over here, and I love bowl and mini ramp skating. Absolutely recommended! comes in 97A, 99A and 101A in almost all sizes.
Do Skateboard Wheel Brands Matter?
There is a vast difference in quality between premium and cheaper brands. Spitfire and Bones are the top skateboard brands that offer the best urethane formula. Even though you pay more, they last longer than 2 and sometimes 3 sets of cheap wheels.
Which Wheel or Brand Should You Choose?
There isn’t a simple answer to this because it depends on what you want to do. There is no wheel to rule them all, but a few come close. As a beginner you shouldn’t worry too much, 99A at 53mm is always a safe choice, you just have to pick the wheel you like.
Let’s briefly divide wheels by style and the recommended type of wheels.
Wheels for Technical Street Skating & Skate Parks
Bones STF, Spitfire Classics are the premium wheels to pick. Want a faster ride go with 100A/101A. Want a bit more grip? Go with 97A or 99A.
Cheaper options are Mini Logo C-cuts and Orbs Specters, can’t go wrong.
Wheels For Bowl Skating
Typically, you want a larger and slightly softer wheel for extra speed and the much needed grip. From the top of my head you should consider Spitfire Classics or Conical Fulls at 56mm and durometer 97A are great. Same goes for Santa Cruz Slime balls with the same specs.
Wheels for Cruising
Big soft wheels are essential for a smooth and fast cruising experience. OJ Super Juice 60mm/78A are great. The same goes for Orangatang Fat Free 65mm 77A, these are a dream to ride. There are so many options for this that it requires a post of its own.
Wheels For Cruising and Tricks
You should take a look at OJ wheels or Ricta wheels, both offer great wheels in this category.
Ricta Clouds 56/92A allow you to do basic tricks and have a comfy ride without too much bounch. OJ Nomads 54mm/95A are better at tricks than cruising but still offer a very smooth ride. Any wheel between 54mm to 56mm and a hardness between 92A and 95A will work.
You’ve finally reached the end of this post, thanks for reading.