Best Skateboard Wheels for Street In 2020: Buying Guide and Review
Skateboarding is one of the most popular games among kids and teenagers. The skateboard you use can determine your performance as well as safety. Apart from the skate deck, the skateboard wheels for street are important when you are planning to skateboard on the roads. Not all wheels are suitable for streets because the wear and tear is significantly more than other conditions. The following is the list of the best skateboard wheels for street that you can attach to your skateboard for safe and convenient ride.
Table of Contents
- Best Skateboard Wheels for Street: Buying Guide and Review
- Skateboard Wheels for Street – Our Top Picks
- 10. Slick Revolution Cruiser Wheels
- 9. Blood Orange Morgan
- 8. Sector 9 Skateboard Wheel
- 7. Magneto SLIDERZ
- 6. Bones Wheels Rough Riders
- 5. Orangatang Caguama
- 4. Spitfire Bighead Wheels
- 3. Powell Peralta Rat Bones
- 2. Ricta Clouds Skateboard Wheel
- 1. Shark Wheel California Roll
- Buying Guide for the Best Skateboard Wheels For Street
- Conclusion – Wrapping It Up!
Best Skateboard Wheels for Street: Buying Guide and Review
Skateboard Wheels for Street – Our Top Picks
![Blood Orange Morgan Pro Series Freeride Longboard Wheel [All Durometers & Colors]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41r+qoHsxlL.jpg)
Last update on 2020-01-18 / Source: Amazon Affiliates / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
10. Slick Revolution Cruiser Wheels
Sure, these aren’t the cheapest of skateboard wheels. They are, however some of most functional. With a diameter of 110mm, they can take virtually any terrain.
Slick Revolution comes with ABEC 7 bearings to make sure that you skate smoothly for hours. Plus, the robust construction offers a reliable performance whether you’re a seasoned or amateur skater trying to learn the ropes of the game.
These wheels have a hardness rating of 85A to eliminate friction. The ripple effect is a firm grip on the surface, whether you’re skating on gravel or tarmac. Slick Revolution will last and last.
They feature heavy-duty polyurethane material that is puncture resistant. Those who’ve used them say they can go for more than five years, even with regular skating.
Slick Revolution is available in a pack of four. We love the black color that makes them compatible with most skateboards, even the multi-colored options. Be sure to check them out – there’s a reason many skaters have positive vibes about it.
9. Blood Orange Morgan
![Blood Orange Morgan Pro Series Freeride Longboard Wheel [All Durometers & Colors]](https://genericsurplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blood-Orange-Morgan-Pro-Series-Freeride-Longboard-Wheel-All-Durometers-Colors-300x300.jpg)
Blood Orange is a product of Caliber Co, a trusted brand name in skateboard circles. These are available in 60, 65 and 70 mm diameters, making them of the best skateboard wheels for pavements and streets.
The first thing you’ll notice with these babies is the granular feel they provide once you step on your skateboard. More specifically, the wheels adjust to the texture of the pavement you are riding, allowing you to enjoy predictable hookups and controllable slides.
On top of that, they boast a super supportive core, complete with consistent urethane to make sliding more comfortable. Further, they are reasonably wide, so you don’t have to worry about finding your stability.
Blood Orange comes in a collection of four colors – red, seafoam, lavender, and coral. And so you may know, these wheels can fit standard skateboard bearings (608). The bearing axle size is 8mm.
The core hardness rating ranges from 80a to 82a and 84a depending on the size that you choose. With what they have to offer, we reckon that the Blood Orange Morgan skateboard wheels will indeed take your free ride experience to the next level.
8. Sector 9 Skateboard Wheel
Sector 9 skateboard wheels thrive on reliability. Reviewers say they can withstand well over five years of use! Now, that’s what we like to call giving value for your money – and that’s not even the best part.
Great for beginner, these measure 69mm, so you can bet they won’t roll as fast, enabling you to perfect your skills. The super thoughtful shape is almost side-set, which makes it easy to slide, irrespective of the surface.
Meanwhile, the smooth-edged inner and outer ends stretch up to the core, so you don’t get hung up on cracks. That way, you can maintain a consistent slide for hours without losing balance.
You can count on Sector 9’s urethane to provide a predictable and smooth ride that leaves your color on the surface. The idea is to allow you to track your way, and by extension boost your confidence.
How stable are these wheels? Well, they offer a 49mm contact patch with the road, so they’re pretty steady. The hardness rating stands at 78A to add some flexibility when riding or sliding on ramps.
7. Magneto SLIDERZ
Introducing SLIDERZ, premium skateboard wheels with a couple of tricks up their sleeves. Highly rated, they’re available in 70 and 45mm sizes with a hardness if 83A.
The SLIDERZ is super sturdy (as you can tell by the hardness). We vouch for them as the best skateboard wheels on this list of urban riders. Yes. These make an excellent choice if you like gliding on the city streets. They will also serve you well if jumps and slides are your things.
Reviewers say that they “slide like butter” around corners.
Their level of comfort and stability is on point too. In essence, this means that controlling your skateboard is easy and fun, even when cruising at high speeds.
SLIDERZ provides a contact patch of 39mm. While we’re not taking anything away from these wheels and what they can do, it is essential to note that they don’t work on rough surfaces unless you’re a pro skater. In other words, they don’t feature a threaded design like their counterparts by Slick Revolution.
Even then, SLIDERZ is a good option for an expert who’d love to showcase his/her skating skills.
6. Bones Wheels Rough Riders
The Rough Riders will take on any terrain from smooth to rough and anything in between. The special soft urethane design is the reason behind their five-star performance.
With a diameter of 56mm, we can tell that these wheels are big enough to provide the control you need when skating. We couldn’t help but notice the hub, chemically bonded to the wheel’s interior for a secure hold.
Besides, the hub is relatively smaller to boost the smoothness of the ride while widening the core. That way, you can increase the speed on rough terrain without using a lot of effort. The Rough Riders have a hardness rating of 80A, so there’s no question about their durability or ability to handle the rigors of everyday use.
The Rough Riders are relatively heavy compared to most wheels on this list. On the flip side, they’re all-terrain wheels. Think of the heaviness as a way to counter the beatings of rough surfaces.
And, if you have the power to ride, they work perfectly well on longboards. You will have to contend with slow speeds though. This, however, doesn’t overshadow the fact that Rough Riders are great cruiser wheels.
5. Orangatang Caguama
The Caguama ticks all boxes the best skateboard wheels should – and more. First of all, these have a diameter of 85mm (one of the biggest on this list). With such a size, they will allow you to hit maximum speed without losing balance.
The Caguama has a 56mm contact patch (again, one of the widest of any skateboard wheels).
By extension, this translates to a better grip on surfaces. Meanwhile, the subtly rounded edges allow you to glide smoothly on the streets and across pavement cracks.
The Caguama is available in three vibrant colors. The essential thing to note here is that each shade varies in hardness. The blue wheel has a hardness rating of 77a, the orange one 80a while the purple option stands at 83a.
These skate wheels have got you sorted if you love speed. The 46mm fully exposed core works to reduce weight while offering the acceleration power that you need to gain momentum quickly.
The Caguama is a perfect choice if you’re in for large and supportive wheels for your electric skateboard.
They’ll come in handy for long distance pushing, carving, commuting and pumping.
4. Spitfire Bighead Wheels
The Bighead skateboard wheels are in a class of their own – in every sense of the word. With a durometer of 99a, they’re some of the hardest you can find on the market. Indeed, these can take the roughest of terrains. There are also good for park skating.
The Bighead sports the classic wheel shape. They have treads to provide better traction and grip of smooth surfaces. This design makes them ideal for seasoned and amateur skaters alike.
Those who have used the Bighead wheels say they roll smoothly and provide enough balance to keep you on course. Most remark that they glide well over pebbles and cracks. Their durability is also a noteworthy highlight with many skaters.
The size is reasonable too. With a diameter of 52 inches, these wheels are quite sizable. The Spitfire Bighead come in colorful prints including yellow, red, green, purple and blue, complete with the brand’s logo.
Apart from the brilliant performance, you’ll want to grab these if you’re going to add an appealing touch to your skateboard.
We recommend the beautiful orange option.
3. Powell Peralta Rat Bones
Powell Peralta has honed the art of churning out trailblazing skateboards and related products since 1978. Now, that’s over four decades of reliability, and that’s precisely what you get with the Rat Bones.
These have a durometer of 90a, making them one of the most versatile skateboard wheels you can get. They have a 60mm diameter and a significantly wide (44mm to be specific) to provide increased traction and stability at high speed.
Unlike some wheels on this list, the Powell Peralta has a smooth outer surface.
That way, they have less surface friction and are easier to ride. We vouch for them if you like part skating or cruising at high speeds on city streets.
Reviewers point out that the Powell Peralta is soft enough to allow you to skate without making a lot of noise and smooth to enable you to pick up speed as you slide down the tarmac. The construction material is sturdy to assure you of extended use.
Powell Peralta skateboard wheels come in a collection of three colors – black, green and blue. You have to buy the bearings separately though.
2. Ricta Clouds Skateboard Wheel
Don’t allow rugged and rough surfaces to keep you away from skating. Grab Ricta Clouds and get to it! Made using soft urethane, these make a good pick if you’re rolling on tough spots or just looking for a smoother ride.
Modern shaped and lightweight, Ricta Clouds feature an ultra-soft 78a durometer rating.
With a reduced diameter of 52mm, they also tend to be the skateboard wheels of choice for filmmakers as they provide unrivaled smoothness (ideal for helping maintain stability during shooting).
Besides, Ricta Clouds are small enough to fit into smaller cruiser boards and regular decks without the need for huge risers.
The soft urethane means maximum grip irrespective of the surface. The inner nylon core ensures that the wheels can maintain integrity and shape.
As is the case with any wheel over 55mm in diameter, we suggest that you choose mid to high profile trucks with the Ricta Clouds. These offer a contact patch of 54mm, so you can also use them on rough terrain if you’re an expert skater. It is necessary to mention, however, that you won’t attain maximum speed on such surfaces.
1. Shark Wheel California Roll
California Roll by Shark Wheel top our collection of the best skateboard wheels 2020 – and rightfully so. These last 15% longer when cruising, making them great if you skate on a regular basis.
The other thing that sets California Roll apart when pitted against the close competition is the ability to handle all terrains. The innovative sine wave design provides superior lateral grip while pushing small objects right and left as you roll.
California Roll generates 60% less friction.
The wave pattern on the wheels helps maintain a thin contact patch. The result is reduced friction, resulting in a faster ride.
You will love California Roll’s alternating function that works to minimize hydroplaning. It channels liquid, gravel and sand two to three centimeters from the wheel to maintain a firm patch with the ground.
California Roll has a 30% approach angle.
What this means is that the wheels allow you to slant your skateboard as you go over a speed bump. Of course, this reduces shock and enables you to enjoy a smoother ride.
Buying Guide for the Best Skateboard Wheels For Street
The following list contains the points to keep in mind for a buyer.
Shapes and Type:
Skateboard wheels can come in different shapes like conical, core, radial, and cruiser. If you want wheels with a wider contact area, then a conical will be a perfect preference. It is ideal for skating ramps, and you can easily lock it for better coping. The core is made of plastic and looks like spokes. This is lightweight and has better stability. Radial is the opposite of conical and is in a standard shaped design. It offers a better surface and makes sure there will be a smooth ride. Cruisers have low durometer and are unsuitable for tricks.
Diameter:
The diameter is one of the most important factors that you need to keep in mind. The diameter depends upon the size of the wheels. Smaller wheels let you have better control and give you the advantage of turning quickly. Larger wheels can reach high speed, and you can even use it for rough terrains.
Durometer:
The durometer is the hardness of the wheel. If you want a skateboard wheel that lets you use it on rugged surfaces, then go for the one that comes with soft wheels. It will be perfect for everyday use and lets you tackle gravels and cracks. Most of the brands come with a durometer having A scale. Some may even come with dual durometer wheels. Harder wheels are faster, but if you want it for streets, then soft wheels are better.
Contact Patch:
The contact patch lets you decide the type of the surface. It distributes the weight of your body on wheels so that there will be better resistance. This also depends upon the construction. Larger contact patch can be perfect for tricks and streets. If you want even distribution of weight, then go for the one that comes with larger contact patch and ensures there will be maximum rolling resistance.
Conclusion – Wrapping It Up!
There are different types of skateboard wheels available for different applications such as smooth surfaces, rough street, and likewise. If you are done with skateboarding on smooth surfaces, it is time to hit the streets, and for that, the skateboard wheels for street are important. There are too many low-quality skateboard wheels available, and we have handpicked the best ones for you.
