Are you surprised when you see Skaters put the wheels backward on their skateboards? Are you a new Skater and do not know the reason behind it? Well, you might think there is some fancy reason for it but to your surprise, it is pretty simple and common.
Most new skateboarders put the wheels backward because of two reasons. First, they find the graphics on the wheel distracting while performing stunts and second, it prevents the graphics from wear and tear. Hence, they last longer.
See, I told you it has a straightforward reason. To know more about it, continue reading till the end. I will answer various questions about the skateboard wheels and I am sure you will discover some new things when you read them.
Why Do Skaters Flip Their Wheels?
Usually, Skaters flip the wheels because the outside edge of the wheels wears down quickly. So, to increase the life of your wheels, flip them so that the outside facing part becomes the inside facing part.
However, apart from flipping, there is one more thing that the skaters take care of when it comes to wheel maintenance. This is the practice of Wheel Rotation. This further helps in increasing longevity and preventing coning.
But what exactly is the coning of Skateboard wheels? It generally happens when the wheels are left unrotated. When skaters power slide or take a certain turn, the wheels start to wear off. This causes a smaller riding surface in the future which eventually affects traction.
Generally, an X Pattern is followed to rotate the wheels. To know more about it, read the steps mentioned.
- Remove the wheels by loosening the nut.
- Now, follow an X Pattern of rotation to change the position of wheels. This means that now your right front wheel should become the left rear wheel.
- Make sure to check all the bearings and replace the damaged ones.
Now there are many other skateboarders who flip their wheels as they find the graphics distracting when performing slides or different stunts.
Moreover, since it is hard for people to find their favorite brand’s wheels without the graphics, they prefer turning them inside. Also, it gives a different look to the skateboard.
Which Way Should Skateboard Wheels Face?
There is no rule when it comes to which way your skateboard wheels face. As long as the wheels have the same shape, you can put the graphics outside or inside according to your wish.
However, few skaters preferred graphics inwards because they thought of it as a distraction. Some also believe that it prevents the wearing of the wheels. Seeing this, many other skaters followed and now it has become an unsaid rule of the skateboarding world.
Should You Flip Skateboard Wheels?
While there is no rule, I will still advise you to flip your skateboard wheels to prevent the wear and tear of wheels while skateboarding. This way, your wheels will last longer and your ride will be smoother.
So if you agree with me, flip your wheels periodically and I am sure you will be able to see the results yourself.
Should Skateboard Wheels Be Tight or Loose?
It is a very important question when it comes to skateboarding. There is no set answer to this question, however, make sure that your skateboard wheels are not so loose that they wobble on the truck’s axle. You can easily check this by flicking the wheel with one hand.
In case the wheels are unsteady, you need to tighten them so that they can spin without constraint. To do this follow the simple steps mentioned below:
- Clean your bearings or you can buy new ones. After this, insert them into each wheel of your skateboard.
- Put the wheels on the truck’s axle with the graphics facing inward.
- Put the washer and begin tightening the nut in a clockwise motion.
- Once it is done, use an adjustable wrench and finish the tightening.
- Now check again by spinning the wheel with one hand.
Now, if you are worried about over-tightening your skateboard wheels, I have a solution for that too. Just stand on your skateboard and push for a few minutes. If you find it hard to push or your skateboard comes to a halt automatically, it means you need to loosen them.
You can loosen your skateboard wheels by rotating them anticlockwise. Do this one by one to all the wheels and check again.
If you ask me, it is a Trial and Error Method honestly. You have to repeat the process to tighten and loosen it until the wheel spins freely but it is not unsteady or wobbly.
Why Do Skateboard Wheels Turn Yellow?
Most skaters go for white wheels for their skateboards as they shine and give an aesthetic appearance to their skateboards. That is why it is heartbreaking for such skaters when the wheels become pale yellow.
Have you gone through a similar experience and want to know the reason for it? Then, read on.
Nowadays skateboards use urethane wheels because of their astonishing properties. First, urethane has great abrasion resistance. Second, they provide a good grip to skaters on the ground.
However, the most important feature here is that urethane is most suitable when exposed to dirt, grease, and oils. Thus, urethane wheels are designed for harsh environments.
But, with constant use of the skateboard in sunlight, the urethane material starts degrading and eventually the wheels are exposed to all the dirt, and oils on the ground.
This turns the wheels from sparkling white to pale yellow. But there is nothing to worry about as it does not affect the stability and longevity of your skateboard!
Still, if you want those gleaming white wheels back, remove the wheels from your skateboard and clean them. Here are a few tricks and tips to clean the wheels:
- Soak the skateboard wheels in hot water and then scrub them with dishwashing soap.
- Use a toothbrush to clean the wheels as it reaches the unattended corners of your wheels and removes all the stuck oil and dirt.
- Removing dirt around the bearings is the most difficult part. Make sure you do not neglect it and clean them properly.
Also, make sure to buy good quality wheels rather than cheap ones. Not only do cheap wheels turn yellow fast, but they are also not durable.
How Can I Make My Skateboard Wheels Last Longer?
Have you ever noticed that the size of your wheels is not the same after a while compared to when you first bought them? Well, this is what multiple skateboarding sessions do to your skateboard wheels. They cause wear and tear and affect its longevity.
But what if I told you, you can increase the durability of your skateboard wheels by following simple three methods the next time you skateboard. Want to know what they are? Read below and see for yourself.
Method 1: Rotating the Wheels
Well, rotating your wheels from time to time is as important as flipping them. You may notice that the size of all your wheels becomes uneven after some use. This happens when you tend to do a similar type of slide often. In this case, your entire body weight is on one side of the slide, causing unequal wear and tear.
The simple way to prevent this from happening is by rotating your wheels. Just replace the larger wheels with the smaller ones. This way, eventually all the wheels will become of the same size and thus increase longevity.
Method 2: Sliding under 90°
When you slide at 90° the wheels stop spinning but they continue to slide. Basically, this causes partial wearing off of wheels and creates a flat spot. If you continue sliding at 90°, there will come a time when these flat spots won’t allow you to ride steadily.
In the end, you will have no other option but to replace the wheels. However, you can save yourself from this by sliding under 90°. Just keep your legs and shoulders pointed down the hill while sliding and your wheels will last longer than you expected.
Method 3: Avoiding Thane Lines
If you are a fan of trends, you might also know about the trend of leaving a lot of thane lines when longboarding. Well, if you ask me, I would suggest you forget thinking about thane lines.
A wheel that makes a lot of thane lines also wears quickly. If you do not want to burn a hole in your pocket by buying new wheels in a short period, go for resilient wheels that will last for months.
Although resilient wheels are a little expensive, isn’t it better to have a long-lasting set of wheels rather than spending every week on new wheels? So, I will leave it up to you!
How To Choose The Right Skateboard Wheels?
Simply put, the right skateboard wheel should be your topmost priority. This is because they help you determine how fast you can skate. So here are a few points you should keep in mind before buying the skateboard wheels:
- The Diameter of the Wheel
First, let us talk about the basics of a skateboard wheel diameter. The diameter of a wheel is measured in millimeters. The lower the diameter, the smaller the size of your wheel.
Now, why does it matter? Wheel Diameter is important for acceleration and sharp turns when you skateboard. The wheel size is dependent on it which eventually decides how slow or fast you can ride.
| BRAND | TYPE | WHEEL SIZE | HARDNESS |
| Twinbuys | Outdoor Roller Skates | 60MM | 78A |
| Radar | Indoor or Outdoor Recreational Skating | 59MM | 88A |
| Reckless | Indoor Dual-Hardness Roller Skate Wheels | 59MM | 88A |
| Backspin Wheels | Inline Skate Wheel | 59MM | 95A |
| Juice | Indoor Wheels | 59MM | 95A |
| TOBWOLF | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| Tanzfrosch | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| Nezylaf | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| Skylety | Outdoor Quad Roller Skate | 58MM | 82A |
| FOMOTEAM | Indoor or Outdoor Quad Roller Skate | 58MM | 82A |
| Locisne | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| Mopoin | Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| Yeipower | Indoor or Outdoor High-Speed Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| COLICOLY | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| MASHART | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| SIKEMAY | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| Saad and Sons | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| NICODASHEN | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| QICHONE | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| INSOUR | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| Tolkiskins | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| zmr | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| Grekaida | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| Sumind | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| REDESS | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| SKONHED | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| ILMU | Indoor Skating/ Derby Skating | 58MM | |
| SUWJELANY | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| Ikevan | Indoor Quad Roller Skate | 58MM | 82A |
| PURATEN | Indoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| florybercea | Indoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| B&A | Indoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| Firefly | Indoor or Outdoor Quad Roller Skate | 58MM | |
| Lekit | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58MM | 82A |
| VECELO | Double Row Skating | 58MM | |
| Canine Coddler | Inline Skate Wheel | 58MM | 92A |
| Duomu | Double Row Skating | 58MM | |
| Wheeloont | Indoor Double Row Skating | 58mm | 82A |
| Lshield | Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58mm | 82A |
| Vornennen | Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58mm | 82A |
| OIZEN | Double Row Skating | 58mm | 82A |
| CALIDAKA | Indoor Quad Skate | 58mm | 82A |
| Sharova | Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58mm | 82A |
| GZSXXTS | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row/ Quad Skating | 58mm | 82A |
| Cwdew | Quad Roller Skate Wheels | 58mm | 95A |
| KANGQING | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58mm | 82A |
| jessie | Indoor Four-wheel Skates | 58mm | 82A |
| Madiou | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58mm | |
| QWXNRG | Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58mm | 82A |
| NOTHER | Indoor or Outdoor Double Row Skating | 58mm | 82A |
| C7skates | Outdoor | 58mm | 83A |
| Impala | Quad Roller Skate Wheels | 58MM | 82A |
| RollerBones | Indoor Recreational Roller Skate | 57MM | 98A |
| NONMON | Indoor or Outdoor Recreational Roller Skate | 57MM | 82A |
| RC Medallion | Indoor Roller Skates | 57MM | 96A |
| Kang | Indoor Quad Roller Skate Wheels | 54MM | 82A |
| RLD | Quad Double-Row Skate Wheels | 54MM | 82A |
A general wheel ranges from 50mm to 75mm. If you are a beginner in skateboard riding, any wheel between 50-59 mm is good for skating in the street or park.
Above 60mm, the wheels are generally designed for specialty riders who ride on rough surfaces. So, choose accordingly.
- The Durometer of the Wheel
For those who do not know about what a Durometer is, it measures the hardness of the wheel. A Durometer is a 100 point scale that measures the hardness. The higher this value, the harder the wheel is.
Why is it important for choosing the right wheel? The hardness of the wheel has a dual advantage as it allows for more speed and durability.
Generally, harder wheels are faster whereas softer wheels are slower but have better grip. So, softer wheels are best for street skating while harder wheels work best in smooth surfaces like skate parks.
- The Shape of the Wheel
Apart from the above-mentioned features, skaters also look for the shape of the wheel. This includes cruiser wheel shape, narrow lip, and a wide lip.
If you are someone who has just begun skating, I will suggest you go for cruiser wheel shape as it has the best grip. If you are looking for wheels with less friction, narrow lip wheels are your option. And if you want both less friction but a sturdy grip, go for the wide lip wheels.
- The Contact Patch of the Wheel
Contact Patch is basically the area of the wheel that comes in contact with the ground. The larger the contact patch, the better are your wheels.
But why is Contact Patch important? A contact patch tells how your body weight will be distributed over the skateboard. A large contact patch helps in distributing your weight over a large area. This reduces the rolling resistance and thus prevents the slowing down of wheels.
So, the next time you decide to buy skateboard wheels, make sure you check the above-mentioned four features of the wheels. And then, choose the set of wheels for your skateboard.
Final Thoughts
Well, you must have realized by now how important your skateboard wheels are. To summarize what I have mentioned so far: first, make sure you invest in a good quality set of wheels, second clean them regularly, and third and most crucial do not forget to flip and rotate.
I hope you found this article informative and it helped you clear your doubts. Happy Skateboarding!
