Skateboard wheels may look similar to beginners; however, the wheels will vary depending on performance, quality, size, and purpose. You will need to purchase the best skateboard wheels for beginners if you want to learn and cruise around your town or neighbourhood; this way, you are guaranteed the right start.
Different skateboard wheels present diverse riding experiences, but purchasing the wrong one may make your learning pretty difficult and will be troublesome to ride or push. We have researched and knocked off a list of the most suited skateboard wheels for a beginner, together with their pros and cons. We have also included a well-detailed buying guide to help you make an informed decision.
1. Spitfire Four Classic Skateboard Wheels
Spitfire is one of the most famous and popular brands known for making the best skateboard wheels for beginners. The Spitfire Classic series skateboard wheels are most suitable for street boards for street or park skating. The spitfire skateboard wheels come in a pack of four and are medium-sized with a classic shape of a wheel.
The spitfire skateboard wheels have a smooth texture with a polished outers coating that tends to be sticky initially but goes away with time. The wheels feature formula four urethane that gives the rider comfort while riding because it provides more grip.
It has an anti-slick slide and is made with durable material with a great classic shape and the perfect size. The skateboard wheel diameter is 52mm with an average wheel durometer of 99A.
2. Santa Cruz Skateboards Slimeballs
- Get ready to roll in style with Slime Ball's signature line of skateboard wheels and apparel!
Santa Cruz Slimeballs Skateboards has a bright neon green color with some warpaint graphics, logo and trademark that are unique, and it is easy to distinguish them from other wheels. The Santa Cruz has a wide wheel that offers extra stability at high speed.
The Santa Cruz slimeballs have treaded surface with very small contact on the surface. It has a durometer of 97A that gives the rider a stronger grip than the hard wheels and much more slide than other soft wheels.
The wheels are great for beginners or children who will need exceptional control because they give the rider direction on flat surfaces. The good part is that you will not need to add raiser pads to prevent wheel bite.
3. BONES Wheels All-Terrain Formula Skateboard Wheels
- Formula: "ATF" All Terrain Formula
- Hardness: ATF
- BONES Wheels; revolutionizing quality urethanes that help revolutionize the future of skateboarding.
- All BONES Wheels products come with a warranty
The bones wheels all-terrain are the best in terms of performance and quality. The main difference with other wheels is the raw materials used while manufacturing them. These bone wheels are made in Santa Barbara, California.
The All-Terrain Formula Skateboard Wheels from bones are wide and offer great traction and stability. They have a durometer b scale of 80A, making them more versatile, which help the rider have a steady and smoother ride.
The wheels have a smooth and shiny outer coating that will feel sticky or gummy at first but will wear off with time. The All-Terrain Formula (ATF) is great on rough terrain, so, despite the quality of the surface, it will manoeuvre swiftly with an advanced formula to help you have a slower ride.
4. Spitfire Bighead Skateboard Wheels
- Wheel Size: 52mm
- NOTE: Wheels sold in sets of 4 only.
The Spitfire Bighead are the wheels you can buy and learn how to skate with. These are made in the USA with the most precise and durable materials. These spitfire wheels manufacturers give a guarantee against all construction errors or defects.
The spitfire bighead skateboard wheels come in a set of four with a durometer b scale of 99A and a wheel size diameter of 51 mm. The wheels have a wide wheel profile which is great for skating street, skate parks, bowls, and vert ramps. They are among the hardest wheels that are currently available in the market.
Although they are considered harder wheels, they will give a beginner or a child great traction and high stability. There are low chances of slipping out because of the smooth anti slick slide feature that comes with the wheels.
5. Blank Pro Skateboard Wheels + ABEC 7 Bearings
- Set of 4 Skateboard 52mm x 31mm Color Wheels.
- Set of 8 ABEC 7 Speedy Rated Color Bearings
- Set of 4 8mm x 10mm Bearing Spacers
Blank Pro Skateboard Wheels + ABEC 7 Bearings are designed with a unique attraction and a sleek design. It also comes in different colors with a wheel size diameter of 52 mm that gives them the strength to learn to ride on a smooth surface.
They are slower wheels that are perfect for stable riding. These cruising wheels are made of high-quality material, making sure they will give a great grip and increase the wheels' life span. They are considered better than most Larger wheels.
The Blank Pro Skateboard Wheel comes with a pack of four, and they come with a bearing spacer of 8 mm and 10 mm. The most amazing thing is that there are perfect for kids and can also be used by pro skaters on smooth surfaces.
What to Consider Before Purchasing the Best Skateboard Wheels for a Beginner
1. Wheel Types
The first very important factor to check when buying skateboard wheels is the type that will interest you. There are a few types of wheels we will discuss.
a) Cruiser / Soft Wheels
The cruiser wheels are also referred to as soft wheels or filmer wheels and feature a 54 to 60 mm diameter and a durometer of 78 to 90A. The cruiser wheels are designed to use on any surface. They are considered smaller wheels that can roll smoothly and very fast on rough surfaces.
b) Longboard Wheels
The longboard wheels have a durometer of 75A to 85A and a diameter of 60 mm to 75mm and are considered to be the softest skateboard wheels in the market today. They are constructed to be used mostly rough surfaces, not to mean the wheels can not be used for smooth rides,
c) Park / Street Wheels
The park wheels are also known as street wheels and are the best wheels for street skating. They have a diameter of 50 mm to 60 mm and a durometer of 95A to 101A. They are the hardest wheels in the market, but they also have lightweight and can roll quickly on smooth surfaces. These hard wheels are the best skateboard wheels for beginners who want to learn flip tricks, power slides and other skating tricks.
2. Skateboard Wheel Size
The second very important thing to check out is the size of the wheels of the skateboard. Most wheels will normally range from 48mm to around 60 mm. The skateboard wheel size will vary mostly depending on the type of terrain or skateboard you own.
The small-sized wheels that range from 48 to 51 mm are fit for flat terrains and smooth skating because they easily get stuck in rocks or cracks on rough surfaces. The medium-sized wheels have a range of 52 mm to 54mm wheels and are most suitable for street skating. Most skateboards come with this size range from the manufactures. Large wheels will generally range from 55 mm to 60 mm, and they provide a great surface area giving you a more stable ride.
3. Wheel Durometer
Durometer measure estimates how hard the wheels are and is mainly measured with the Duro-A scale. It is very crucial that when you are purchasing the best skateboard wheels for beginners, you will consider how hard the wheels you choose are. The closer the measurements get to the end of the Durometer A scale, the more imprecise the measurement is; this means not all wheels have the exact hardness.
If you get the softer wheels, you will get more grip on the terrain and a sleeker ride. The best skateboard wheels for beginners will be the softer wheels because they will give you more balance and are less noisy even on rough roads. The average skateboard wheel durometer is usually 99A.
4. Wheel Shape
Skateboard wheels come in different shapes. The narrow Outline Wheels are well known, and the most used skateboard wheel shapes; their radius will be small with less contact to the ground. They are constructed for advanced skating technics and are more tender due to the less contact patch.
Wide wheels will be great for speed skating because of the large contact, and they are perfect for skate parks, bowls, and Verts. They give you endurance but are not suitable for professional skating because the weight of these wheels takes a lot of effort to get off the terrain.
Classic Shape wheels are most appropriate for cruiser boards because they will offer grip and speed and maintain their force. However, they are not suitable for technical street skating because they will bouncy, and it can be hard to control them. Wheels will have smaller contact on the surface, whereas square wheels give the highest contact.
5. Contact Patch/Riding Surface
The wheels' contact patch is very significant based on the surface. The riding surface is the section that touches the terrain. If you have larger wheels, the more the contact patch you will have and tends to distribute the skater's weight; if you purchase small contact patch wheels, you will have more mass on the wheels, putting more pressure on the wheels urethane. This will then bring about the opposition, which will decrease the momentum.
It is very important to consider the contact patch because a large contact will distribute your weight across a larger surface area, which may slow you down due to reducing the compression on the urethane and the rolling resistance. That been said, the high the contact pact, the more the grip.
6. Wheel Texture
The wheels that are available today are mostly made from polyurethane; however, they will have different textures. The wheels will be smooth or treaded depending on the method used to make the urethane. For beginners, smooth wheels are most prefered.
Wheels designed with treaded wheels are made for rough surfaces, and you will ride on rocks and branches without bothering about your wheels getting tackled. Gummy or sticky wheels, on the other hand, are best for smooth rides because they offer more grip on the terrain and do not have much noise compared to smooth wheels. They are not sensitive like the smooth wheels.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Skateboard Wheels
1. Are softer wheels better for beginners?
Harder wheels are generally the fastest and are great for technical skating are better for skate parks. On the other hand, softer wheels are slower with a better grip, making them the best skateboard wheels for beginners. They are more suitable for street skating.
2. Is it safe for kids to skateboard?
Skateboarding is okay for children above the age of five years. However, it is good to note that skateboarding could cause injuries, and it is best to get protective gear. Additionally, it would help if you taught your kids the basic road rules.
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