Best ways to measure skateboard wheels

There is no doubt that the skateboard wheels play the most major role in skateboarding. The skateboard wheels allow you to move freely here and there on the street skating. You can control your speed through the wheels, whether you will move fast or slow.

Being an important part of skateboarding, wheels come up in a wide variety, including size range, color, material, durability level, and your preference. Usually, the skateboard wheels are made of polyurethane, a durable material specially made for skating wheels.

The skateboard wheels come up in various sizes that you can choose easily according to your preference. But mostly, people want to be guided in choosing wisely. The reason is that the skateboard wheels are measured in durometer rating and diameter.

For your information, let me explain that the skateboarding wheels’ diameter describes its size; on the other hand, the durometer explains how hard skateboard wheels are. Remember, both of these ways of measuring skateboard wheels depend upon your intent and preference for what you are doing with them.

Today you can easily customize the skateboard wheels according to your personal preference. Even though your skateboard is to be measured skateboard wheels, you can make it according to your usage that either you are going to use it daily or weekly. You can easily approach any online website for customization. Check out our review guide best electric skateboards.

Measuring diameter of skateboard wheels:

Typically the skateboarding wheels are measured in millimeters which ranges from 50 to 75 millimeters. Different skateboard wheels have different diameters of wheels; from 48 to 60mm. In this term, it is believed that the lower the wheel diameter, the smaller the wheel will become.

So if you will remember that fact we mentioned above, it will be easy for you to determine the size of wheels by knowing the diameter of the wheel. Some people ask why the diameter of skateboard wheels is that important; the answer is that it affects your skateboard’s acceleration.

The diameter of the skateboard’s wheels tells about its size, and it is further related to your performance when you ride your skateboard because it controls how quickly and tightly you can turn. The skateboard wheel size matters a lot because it will enable you to track your speed.

The larger wheels offer more speed, and the smaller wheels offer low speed, categorized as being used by professionals and beginners. If you want more grip and a balanced skateboarding experience, then a big wheel bite will help you for sure. Beginners should consider smaller wheels.

Moreover, the height and weight of a rider should also be considered while choosing the best skateboard wheels. The reason is that the bigger riders have high weight and height, and if they choose small wheels skateboard, then it might lead to an accident because it can’t bear your weight and breaks out.

1. Smaller wheels with diameter 48 to 51mm:

If you need a new skateboard for your child who is small in age, then you should choose this diameter wheel bite so that your child can get a smoother ride without any trouble. Additionally, this wheel diameter is best for street skating because it is stable.

The 48mm diameter of skateboard wheels was famous in the late 19s because, at that time, trick riding and street riding were common. Now, most companies are making wheels with at least 50mm as a startup. The skateboard wheels are more likely to get stuck on rough surfaces in this diameter range.

It happens because of a small wheel bite of the skateboard. Today, 50 to 53mm diameter wheels are considered the best skateboard wheels for street skating. But if you are a larger rider of skateboarding, you should avoid considering these size wheels for sure.

2. Average wheel sizes with diameter 54 to 59mm:

If you have a skateboard with these sized wheels, then you can easily roll over rough surfaces because it is good for big and most skateboarders like this size of wheels. This is an average wheel size for skate parks, vent parks, and skating bowls. If you are tall and heavy in weight, this will suit you.

The smooth rides often start with this sized wheel bite because it offers more balance to the rider while skating. If you have already become a pro in skateboarding, then it is impossible to get poor performance with these sized wheels. The right wheels will help you in getting over smooth surfaces.

3. Larger wheels sizes with a diameter of 60mm+:

The wheel manufacturers make big-sized wheels for old-school boards, downhill skating, etc. If you love to do skating at high speed, you should try this size of wheels. These are regarded as pro wheels for performing tricks while skating on rough surfaces.

These wheels are the best wheels for professionals. They offer more grip and balance to the rider while riding it. The bigger wheels have a high surface area to remain stable. Vert skating is usually done by using this size of wheel. It also lessens the wheel bite.

Measuring skateboard wheel hardness:

Measuring Wheel durometer:

To measure the skateboard wheel’s hardness, we should know what the durometer is and how it affects skating performance. Durometer is a term used to define how harder wheels are on your skateboard. It means that a certain skateboard wheel will suit a longboard or skateboard.

A-Scale:

Most manufacturers of skateboard wheels use different scale wheels for durometers. It has an A scale and a B scale. These scales are measured by the 100 points, which elaborate how hard your wheel is. That’s why this is because higher the point of the A-scale, harder wheels will be your skateboard. The average wheel durometer in A-scale is 99.

B-scale:

On the other hand, some builders of skateboards use B-scale for measuring. This scale is 20 points less as compared to A-scale. There is no difference in whether your wheel’s durometer is measured with scale A or B. Both of them are used for describing the harder wheels.

1. 78a to 87a:

The measure skateboard wheels’ hardness, we use various scales in the durometer. This size indicates the softer wheels, which prove to be good for rougher surfaces and street skateboarding. Because for that purpose, the grip is needed over pebbles and cracks, etc.

2. 88a to 95 a:

The skateboard wheel with these points is slightly harder wheels as compared to the softer wheels. But there is a problem with these points, and they offer less grip. It doesn’t mean that it will not provide any grip but average only. It is also done well for rough surfaces.

3. 96a to 99a:

These points refer to hard wheels which offer decent grip and speed with a smoother ride. The large wheels have this durometer size mostly. It is good for beginner skateboard wheel size. If you love to ride over your skateboard for the skate park, this will be good.

4. 101+a:

The contact patch between skateboarding wheels offers a smooth ride, and you can do flip tricks easily. These points refer to the hardest wheels with fast speed. The large wheel of skateboard trucks usually has this durometer. They fall in the professional wheels category.

5. 83b to 84b:

The wheel made by using the B-scale of durometer proved to be very hard compared to softer the wheel. There is no place for a softer wheel in the B-scale wheel because they have fewer points from A-scale. The larger wheel should have high hardness for better grip.

Wheel Shape and Contact patch:

Wheel shape and contact patch are directly related because both of these terms affect each other. A contact patch plays an important role in the proper performance of skateboard wheels. If your skateboard has square wheels, it will make maximum contact with the pavement.

The cruiser wheels are also made in contact with the pavement but differently from rounded wheels. Both of these factors will help you guide skateboard wheels because through this, you can determine your wheels’ performance.

Conclusion:

The standard wide lip wheels offer you the perfect ride with the same hardness as the soft wheels. So we hope this skateboarding wheel article will help you get enough knowledge about measuring skateboard wheels. Once you know the terms diameter and durometer, you can identify which will suit you in the best way.