What Are Skateboard Wheels?
Skateboard wheels are the four polyurethane wheels attached to your trucks.
They are the part of your skateboard that directly interacts with the ground.
Skateboard wheels come in different:
- Sizes
- Hardness levels
- Shapes
- Contact patches
- Urethane formulas
These differences affect how your skateboard rolls and responds.
Skate Supply India currently offers wheels for different riding styles, including standard Skateboard wheels and larger soft wheels designed for cruising.
What Size Skateboard Wheels Should You Get?
Wheel size is measured in millimetres.
You'll commonly see Skateboard wheels around 52 mm, 54 mm and 55 mm, while cruiser wheels can be considerably larger.
For example, Skate Supply India's current wheel collection includes 52 mm wheels, 54 mm wheels, 55 mm wheels and larger 65–70 mm soft cruiser wheels.
The size you choose depends on how you ride.
Smaller skateboard wheels
Smaller wheels can feel responsive and are commonly used for street skating and technical tricks.
They're also generally lighter.
Medium-sized wheels
Wheels around the mid-50 mm range are a versatile option for many skaters.
They can work well for everyday street skating, parks and general riding.
Larger wheels
Larger wheels can roll over rough surfaces more easily and maintain speed well.
They're particularly useful for cruising and certain longboard setups.
However, larger wheels can also require consideration of wheel bite and truck setup.
What Does Skateboard Wheel Hardness Mean?
You'll often see a number such as:
99A
printed in a skateboard wheel's specifications.
This number refers to the wheel's hardness rating.
In general, harder wheels feel faster and more responsive on smooth surfaces, while softer wheels can provide more grip and a smoother ride over rough surfaces.
But hardness isn't the only thing that matters.
The wheel's urethane formula, shape and riding surface also influence how it feels.
Hard vs Soft Skateboard Wheels
This is one of the most important decisions when choosing wheels.
Hard wheels
Hard wheels are popular for street skating and skateparks.
They can provide a fast, responsive feeling on smooth concrete.
Hard wheels are also commonly preferred by skaters who want to perform technical tricks.
For example, Skate Supply India lists 52 mm / 99A wheels designed for beginner-to-intermediate street and everyday skating.
Soft wheels
Soft wheels are generally more comfortable on rough surfaces.
They can absorb more of the vibration caused by imperfect pavement and are popular for cruising.
Skate Supply India currently offers larger soft cruiser wheels, including 65 × 51 mm and 70 × 51 mm options.
If your local roads are rough and your main goal is getting around comfortably, softer wheels may be worth considering.
What Skateboard Wheels Are Best for Beginners?
There isn't one wheel that is perfect for every beginner.
Your choice should depend on where you plan to skate.
If you want to learn tricks
Look at a traditional skateboard setup with smaller, harder wheels.
A setup around the low-to-mid 50 mm range is a common starting point.
If you mainly want to cruise
Consider larger and softer wheels.
They can make rougher surfaces more comfortable.
If you want both
A medium-sized wheel can provide a useful compromise between responsiveness and comfort.
Think about where you'll actually spend most of your time skating.
What Wheels Are Best for Rough Roads?
If you're riding on rough pavement, cracked concrete or uneven roads, very hard and small wheels may feel uncomfortable.
Larger, softer wheels can roll over imperfections more comfortably.
That's one reason cruiser setups often use wheels that are much larger than traditional street skateboard wheels.
However, don't choose wheels based only on road quality.
Your riding style matters too.
If you want to learn technical tricks and also cruise occasionally, you may prefer a more traditional wheel setup.
What Wheels Are Best for Skateparks?
Smooth skatepark surfaces generally work well with harder skateboard wheels.
A smaller-to-medium wheel can also feel responsive when performing tricks.
For street and park skating, you'll commonly see wheels in the low-to-mid 50 mm range.
The ideal choice ultimately comes down to your personal preference and skating style.
What Wheels Are Best for Cruising?
For cruising, larger wheels are often more comfortable.
Soft cruiser wheels can make rough surfaces feel smoother and can maintain momentum well.
Skate Supply India offers dedicated soft-wheel options designed for cruiser setups, including 65 mm and 70 mm wheels.
If your goal is simply to enjoy a comfortable ride around your city, these types of wheels are worth considering.
What Does 99A Mean on Skateboard Wheels?
If you see 99A on a skateboard wheel, the number refers to its hardness rating.
A 99A wheel is considered a hard skateboard wheel and is commonly suited to street skating and skatepark riding.
For example, Skate Supply India's Piston 52 mm wheel specifications list a 99A durometer.
The important thing to remember is:
Higher hardness isn't automatically better.
It's better for some types of skating and less suitable for others.
Wheel Size vs Wheel Hardness
These two specifications are often confused.
They describe different things.
Wheel size
Measured in millimetres.
It tells you how large the wheel is.
Wheel hardness
Usually represented by a number such as 99A.
It tells you how hard the wheel's urethane is.
So a wheel can be:
52 mm / 99A
or:
70 mm / soft
These are describing two different characteristics.
Can You Put Any Wheels on Any Skateboard?
Not necessarily.
Before changing your wheels, consider:
- Wheel diameter
- Truck height
- Deck setup
- Wheel bite
- Riding style
Very large wheels can potentially cause wheel bite on some skateboard setups.
Wheel bite happens when the wheel contacts the deck during a turn.
Depending on your setup, riser pads or other adjustments may sometimes be necessary.
If you're unsure, check your board setup before moving to significantly larger wheels.
When Should You Replace Skateboard Wheels?
Skateboard wheels don't have a fixed replacement schedule.
How long they last depends on:
- How often you skate
- What surfaces you ride
- How aggressively you skate
- The wheel's urethane
- How much you slide
You may want to replace your wheels when they become significantly worn, damaged or no longer feel the way you want them to.
Flat spots are another common reason to replace wheels.
What Are Flat Spots?
A flat spot happens when part of the wheel wears down unevenly.
Instead of remaining perfectly round, one section becomes flatter.
Flat spots can make a skateboard feel rough or vibrate while rolling.
They can also affect how smoothly the board turns.
If your wheels have severe flat spots, replacing them can restore a smoother ride.
Do Skateboard Wheels Make You Go Faster?
Not necessarily.
A larger wheel can maintain momentum well, but speed depends on many factors.
These include:
- Wheel size
- Wheel hardness
- Urethane formula
- Bearings
- Riding surface
- Rider
- Setup
A wheel that feels fast on smooth concrete might feel completely different on rough pavement.
That's why choosing wheels based purely on a claim of "speed" isn't enough.
What Wheel Setup Should You Choose?
Use this simple guide.
Street skating and tricks
Smaller + harder wheels
Good for responsiveness and technical skating.
Skateparks
Small-to-medium + harder wheels
Good for smooth surfaces and tricks.
Everyday cruising
Medium-to-large wheels
A good option when comfort matters.
Rough roads
Larger + softer wheels
Better suited to uneven surfaces.
Surfskating
Choose wheels based on the surfskate's truck setup and intended riding style rather than simply copying a traditional street skateboard setup.
Skateboard Wheels: The Simple Answer
Don't choose Skateboard wheels just because they look good.
Think about where you skate and what you want to do.
If you're learning tricks:
Look at smaller, harder wheels.
If you're cruising:
Consider larger, softer wheels.
If you want a balance:
Look at a versatile medium-sized setup.
Your wheels should match your skating.
Find the Right Skateboard Wheels
Skate Supply India offers Skateboard wheels for street skating, parks and cruising, including standard skateboard wheels and larger soft cruiser wheels.
Explore the Skateboard Wheels collection and choose a setup that matches the way you ride.
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