You probably know that you need a 53mm skateboard wheel to use the wheels on your skateboard. But how do you know what size is right for you?
You don’t have to worry about that too much, as there are many different sizes and brands out there. You can even buy wheels from as many different brands as you want, so long as they all screw onto the same hub.
But if it comes down to which wheel fits your board best, there are a few things you should consider.
First, the actual width of your skateboard deck. This is the widest part of your skateboard. For example, if you have a 14″ deck then you should look for a 53mm wheel with a width of between 14-16″ if possible (14″ × 48mm) because this will give enough room for your board and still have clearance for your wheels when parked. This is also great because you can use it with multiple decks if you prefer (e.g. 7″ or 8″ decks).
The second thing to consider is whether or not you really need to go over an inch in width on both sides of the deck (e.g. 16″). If so, then choose a larger wheel size and get some bigger trucks too — these will fit snugly on both sides of your deck without causing any damage to it unless it’s an exceptionally narrow deck (like 18″), but at least one side will be wider than the other side which should allow for more room for your board and storage space behind it on those boards where this extra width doesn’t matter much at all (e.g. 7″ or 8″).
The third thing to consider is whether or not heavy-duty wheels are needed — we think they are not necessary in most cases but we do advise buying them if they would be helpful — even though they might be slightly more expensive than lighter ones in most cases, they will last longer and require less maintenance over time so they usually pay off in the long run anyway! So just go ahead and get some good quality heavy-duty wheels if yours are starting to wear out! This should be done before choosing a brand though because price and availability change frequently depending on each brand’s popularity and stock availability — hence our advice above about brands and sizes!
Skateboard Wheel Size Guide
Not all wheels are created equal. While you might think that a 53mm wheel would be ideal for your skateboard, this isn’t always the case. For example, if you ride a Surly Long Haul Trucker, you probably don’t want to get a 53 mm wheel either.
The best way to find out is to ask yourself some questions:
- What kind of riding style are you interested in? Do you like technical terrain? Would you rather ride on rough pavement or smooth trails? How much do you weigh?
- What kind of riding style do you have? Do you like power on smooth pavement or downhill surfaces? Is it more important that your wheel can handle uneven terrain or steep hills and switchbacks?
- How fast do you want to go and how much do you want to push your boundaries through the park?
To get started, grab a set of Caliber wheels (they’re available at Target) and write down your answers. Then, we will break down the answers into component parts. Remember that what works for one person may not work for another – that isn’t always true so when in doubt, err on the side of caution.
The Best Skateboard Wheels for Beginners
I wrote a previous article about skateboard wheels here . While I don’t believe you can have it all (though we did manage to do that with skates), I also don’t think you can have it all and not make compromises.
One of the best ways to determine which skateboard wheel size is right for you is to find out what kind of terrain you are going to be skating on. Is it a street? Do you need more of a grip? Do you want something that will glide over the street? Are you going to be skating at speed or not? The answers to these questions will help guide your choice, as well as knowing exactly what kind of grip you want.
Now that we know what kind of terrain we are going to be skating on, let’s go over some other things that will help us determine which wheels are right for us:
- The diameter of the skateboard wheel:
While there is an assumption that larger wheels roll faster, in reality there are many factors at play here including: the number of teeth on the rim, which helps catch and hold onto the board; the thickness and width compared to the board itself; and any extra padding or support provided by the wheels themselves. All these things affect how fast your board goes when in motion, as well as how much energy goes through them when they get hit. Let’s break this down by foot size:
- Smaller skaters usually ride on 20″ wheels with flat treads that are 6″ wide or less (20-22″)
- Medium skaters typically ride on 22″ wheels with flat treads that are 8″ wide or more (22-24″)
- Large skaters typically ride on 24″ wheels with flat treads that are 10-12″ wide (24-26″)
So if you want your board to glide smoothly over smaller surfaces like concrete, asphalt, dirt and gravel – go for smaller ones since they won’t be able to do so easily if they need bigger tires. If you want it to slide better over larger surfaces like snow, sand or rocky terrain use larger ones since they will be able handle those better.
If your goal is speed and gliding over large surfaces then going with a larger wheel should be your best bet but watch out for anything else mentioned above – both because small less resilient wheels may fail under heavier loading than bigger ones but
How to Find the Perfect Skateboard Wheels for You
We call our blog “Skateboard Wheel Math” and it has been a very popular resource for people trying to find the perfect size skateboard wheel for their board. In fact, we’ve seen it used more than any other guide in this space!
In the world of skateboarding wheels, there is a wide range of sizes besides 53mm, and that’s because there are so many different shapes, sizes and brands. The result of all those different styles and brands (and sizes) is that finding the right one is not always easy. That’s where we come in!
Please check out our list of the best skateboard wheels (with their comparison to 55-53mm) so you can start finding your perfect wheels today!
The Right Size Skateboard Wheels for You
You have a choice of skateboard wheels, and it’s called a wheel. A wheel is the part that connects the skateboard to the truck. It has a rim (the part in front of the axle) and a hub (the part that connects the rim to the axle), like a bike’s rear wheel or an automobile’s front wheels.
The size of your skateboard wheel should be determined by how far you want to travel with your wheels, as well as what kind of skating you plan on doing. If you plan on riding all day, then get a 53mm or 55mm wheel. If you plan on cruising quickly down a hill, then get something smaller like 51mm or 52mm, while if you want to do tricks and spins then go for a larger 58-61mm size.
You might also consider choosing between different colors; those who recommend blue wheels say they can do everything from tight turns to high-speed slides without getting too hot when they’re riding.
Final Thoughts
Another week, another (not-quite-final) roundup of the best startup content from the last 7 days. Let’s put that list to bed by wrapping up this week’s topic.
I’m sure we will see a lot of new startups do innovative things in this space but it is likely that the key factors for success are strong product and market fit, non-traditional distribution channels and a well thought through value proposition. Given all that, I don’t think we need to pay too much attention to other aspects of launch day (e.g. how many people you are talking to or which third party you want to work with).
The bottom line is: great marketing matters! We need to find ways of doing our marketing better, so we can do it better and get more traction on launch day and beyond.
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